General question about DS section

This topic has expert replies
Source: — Data Sufficiency |

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1556
Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2012 11:18 pm
Thanked: 448 times
Followed by:34 members
GMAT Score:650

by theCodeToGMAT » Sat Oct 19, 2013 8:25 pm
richardle wrote:If you find that Statement (1) is not sufficient but Statement (2) is sufficient, is the correct answer always B?
Yes, "B"

What if you combine Statements (1) and (2) and the statements together are sufficient?
We always give priority to Statement 1 & 2 "alone". After testing Statements 1 & 2 "alone" we find that we can conclude an answer.. we mark "A" or "B" or "D"(if both statements are sufficient").
If we cannot find any concrete solution from statements separately, then we combine.. if combining results in concrete answer.. mark "C".. else "E"


A --> When only Statement 1 is sufficient
B --> When only Statement 2 is sufficient
C --> When both the statements combined are sufficient
D --> When both the statements alone are sufficient
E --> When combining of the statement still doesn't provide any concrete answer
R A H U L

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 269
Joined: Thu Sep 19, 2013 12:46 am
Thanked: 94 times
Followed by:7 members

by mevicks » Sat Oct 19, 2013 8:42 pm
Always use AD/B/CE approach for DS questions:

Here is a quick flowchart for the same:
Direct Link: AD/B/CE approach
(let me know if you need some more elaborate steps)

Key points: Always start with statement (1), Figure out the target question before hand, Simplify the given information if possible.

Image

richardle wrote:If you find that Statement (1) is not sufficient but Statement (2) is sufficient, is the correct answer always B?

What if you combine Statements (1) and (2) and the statements together are sufficient?
So referring to the above flow chart, the moment you reach an ANSWER you have to stop. If (1) is NOT SUFFICIENT and (2) is sufficient you stop at B.

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
Elite Legendary Member
Posts: 10392
Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2013 6:38 pm
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Thanked: 2867 times
Followed by:511 members
GMAT Score:800

by [email protected] » Sat Oct 19, 2013 11:36 pm
Hi richardle,

Both Rahul and mevicks have provided information that you can use to assess DS questions/answers.

The short answer to your question is this: If EITHER of the Statements is SUFFICIENT on its own, then you DON'T need to combine them.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Contact Rich at [email protected]
Image

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 16207
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pm
Location: Vancouver, BC
Thanked: 5254 times
Followed by:1268 members
GMAT Score:770

by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Sun Oct 20, 2013 10:48 am
If you're interested, we have a free video on The Elimination Method that mevicks posted: https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat- ... cy?id=1096

Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
Image

Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Oct 14, 2013 8:49 pm

by richardle » Sun Oct 20, 2013 5:46 pm
Thank you all