Solving for Y when you want X may lead to wasted time

When solving for a problem X, you will likely come up with potential solutions. Let's say you get stuck as part of this troubleshooting—you think if you solve Y, that will help with X. Therefore, you ask for help with Y.

Doing this may mean you get helpful ideas to solve Y, but if Y is not an applicable solution to X, you are never going to solve your problem.

Therefore, Ask to help solve X not Y.