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jnorton1547
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I will post this topic in both threads since it deals with both question types.
On one my first practice CATS, I came across the following data sufficiency question:
"Can the positive integer "a" be written as the sum of two different prime numbers?"
The solution I worked toward took the meaning of "can" to mean, "can it - even one time - be sum of two different prime numbers given whatever combination of the statements may lead to?" Low and behold, I answered incorrectly and the explanation provided that because neither statement was "always yes" or "always no", neither was sufficient.
So I tucked the fact that "can" doesn't negate the "always" aspect of these questions in my memory bank and moved on.
Fast forward to today. I just finished another set of practice problems and I came across this problem solving question:
"The average of a series of consecutive integers is an even integer. Which of the following could be true?
I. There is an even number of integers in the series.
II. The smallest number in the series is odd.
III. The product of the smallest and largest number in the series is odd."
Now, I have flashes of memory going off to disregard the "could" (as a relative of "can"), and to answer the question on the basis of being absolute. However, I did take in that this was a problem solving question, and in this case, I rightfully disregarded this new rule - to disregard "can" ( so now I'm in a double negative situation where I'm disregarding rules to disregard)- and answered correctly.
HOWEVER - it brings up this "do I disregard something, and what do I disregard" dilemma that I worry about unless I'm given some kind of rule or logic to apply in these cases.
So here is what I'm currently setting out to operate with, and I would appreciate any feedback:
In ALL data sufficiency questions, no matter what the test makers may be trying to do by including a word like "can" in the question stem, I should abide by the "always yes" or "always no" philosophy.
Then, with respect to problem solving questions, I should take the queues provided in the question, whether that is "could", "can", "may be", etc, and answer the question accordingly.
-Jud
On one my first practice CATS, I came across the following data sufficiency question:
"Can the positive integer "a" be written as the sum of two different prime numbers?"
The solution I worked toward took the meaning of "can" to mean, "can it - even one time - be sum of two different prime numbers given whatever combination of the statements may lead to?" Low and behold, I answered incorrectly and the explanation provided that because neither statement was "always yes" or "always no", neither was sufficient.
So I tucked the fact that "can" doesn't negate the "always" aspect of these questions in my memory bank and moved on.
Fast forward to today. I just finished another set of practice problems and I came across this problem solving question:
"The average of a series of consecutive integers is an even integer. Which of the following could be true?
I. There is an even number of integers in the series.
II. The smallest number in the series is odd.
III. The product of the smallest and largest number in the series is odd."
Now, I have flashes of memory going off to disregard the "could" (as a relative of "can"), and to answer the question on the basis of being absolute. However, I did take in that this was a problem solving question, and in this case, I rightfully disregarded this new rule - to disregard "can" ( so now I'm in a double negative situation where I'm disregarding rules to disregard)- and answered correctly.
HOWEVER - it brings up this "do I disregard something, and what do I disregard" dilemma that I worry about unless I'm given some kind of rule or logic to apply in these cases.
So here is what I'm currently setting out to operate with, and I would appreciate any feedback:
In ALL data sufficiency questions, no matter what the test makers may be trying to do by including a word like "can" in the question stem, I should abide by the "always yes" or "always no" philosophy.
Then, with respect to problem solving questions, I should take the queues provided in the question, whether that is "could", "can", "may be", etc, and answer the question accordingly.
-Jud
