Data Interpretation

Data Interpretation is one of the easy sections of one day competitive Examinations.It is an extension of Mathematical skill and accuracy. Data interpretation is nothing but drawing conclusions and inferences from a
comprehensive data presented numerically in tabular form by means of an illustration, viz.Graphs, Pie Chart etc. Thus the act of organising and interpreting data to get meaningful information is Data Interpretation.

A good grasp of basic geometric as well as arithmetic formula is must to score high in this section. Familiarity with graphical representation of data like Venn diagrams, graphs, pie charts, histogram, polygon etc. should be thought. Once the data are grasped well, questions based on tables and graphs take little time.

In some competitive examinations data are presented in more than one table or graphs. The aim is to test not only quantitative skill but also relative, comparative and analytical ability. The crux of the matter is to find a relationship between the two tables or graphs before attempting the questions.
Some Useful tips:
1 . Data Interpretation questions are based on information given in tables and graphs. These questions test your ability to interpret the information presented and to select the appropriate data for answering a question.

2 . Get a general picture of the information before reading the question. Read the given titles carefully and try to understand its nature.

3 . Avoid lengthy calculations generally, data interpretation questions do not require to do extensive calculations and computations. Most questions simply require reading the data correctly and carefully and putting them to use directly with common sense.

4 . Breakdown lengthy questions into smaller parts and eliminate impossible choices.

5 . Use only the information given and your knowledge of everyday facts, such as the number of hours in a day, to answer the questions based on tables and graphs.

6 . Answer the questions asked and not what you think the questions should be.

7 . Be careful while dealing with units.

8 . To make reading easier and to avoid errors observe graphs keeping them straight.

9 . Be prepared to apply basic mathematical rules, principles and formulae.

10. Since one of the major benefits of graphs and tables is that they present data in a form that enables you to readily make comparisons, use this visual attribute of graphs and tables to help you answer the questions. Where possible, use your eyes instead of your computational skills.

Lets See few Questions on Tables:
I. Directions (Qs. 1-5) study the following table and answer the questions given below it.

1 . In which month the unit B has a contribution of approximately 15% in the total sugar production?
a) August b) June c) July d) April

2 . Which of the following units shows continuous increase in production of sugar over months?
a) A b) B c) C d) D

3 . In the case of Unit E, in which of the following pairs of months the production of sugar was equal?
a) April & June b) June & July c) July & August d) April & May

4 . In the month of June, how many units have a share of more than 25% of the total production of sugar?
a) one b) Three c) Two d) Four

5 . What was approximate percentage decrease in sugar production of unit B in June as compared to April?
a) 8 % b) 1 0% c) 1 5% d) 1 8%

ANSWERS

1 . (c) Total production in April
= 310+180+169+137+140+120=1056
15% of 1056 =(15/100)*1056=158.4
Total Production in June
= 3 2 0 + 1 6 0 + 1 8 8 + 1 7 3 + 1 3 5 + 1 3 0
= 1106
15% 1106 =(15/100)x1106 =165.9
Total production in July
= 326+167+187+146+130=1136
15% of 1136 =(15/100)x1136 = 170.4
Total Production in August
= 327+150+185+178+145+128= 1113
15% of 1113 =(15/100)x1113=166.95 =167
i.e, in Month July, the Unit B has a contribution of approximately 15% in the total sugar production.

2 . a) Unit A shows continuous increase in production of sugar over months.

3 . d) In Unit E, the pair of months that shows equal sugar production is April and May.

4 . a) Total Production in June =
320+160+188+173+135+130 = 1106
25% of 1106=(25/100)x1106 =276.5 units
i.e, Unit A shows more than 25% of the total production of sugar in the month June.

5 . 6) In unit B, the production in June = 160 the production in April = 180 units Decrease in percentage
=((180-160)/180)*100=(20/180)*100=11.11% approx. 10%

2. Once, Raj and Ravi were playing "Book Cricket" using a fifty page book. Ravi batted first. He flipped open the book thrice and every time the unit's place of the page number on the left page was noted. This represented the score made by Ravi on that ball (opening page randomly). {As you know, for any book unit place of page number on left page is 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8. Getting 2, 4 or 6 meant 2, 4 or 6 runs respectively. If one got 8 or 0 it meant getting/scoring 1 run or getting out respectively} In three balls, Ravi made 14 runs. Then Raj opened the book randomly on three occasions and noted his score. It was found that Raj has made more runs than Ravi and hence won the game.

1.       By what margin did Raj win?

          I. 1 run or 2 runs          

          II. 2 runs or 4 runs 

          III. 1 run or 4 runs

          1. I only      

          2. II or III    

          3. I or III   

          4. None of these

1.    What is the probability that Raj can make 18 runs?

          1. 0.008% 

          2. 0.8%     

          3. 0.08%  

         4.  8%