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AMC 10

Common Mistakes on the AMC 10

Success on the AMC 10 often comes from avoiding simple errors as much as it does from clever solutions. Awareness of these common pitfalls can significantly improve your score.

Problem-Solving Traps

  • Misreading constraints like 'positive integer' vs. 'non-negative integer'. Underline key conditions in the problem statement before you start solving.
  • Making unchecked assumptions from a diagram, like assuming a triangle is right-angled. Rely only on given information and proven geometric theorems, not on appearance.
  • Spending too much time on a single difficult problem early in the test. If you are stuck for more than a few minutes, mark the problem and return to it later.
  • Performing complex algebra when a simpler, more elegant solution exists. Pause and consider if number theory, logic, or a geometric insight could simplify the problem.
  • Forgetting to check for extraneous solutions in problems with square roots or variables in denominators. Always substitute your final answer(s) back into the original equation to verify them.