DI/Reasoning

Strategy &
Types of Graph

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 DATA INTERPRETATION

What is Data Interpretation?

The very basic objective of data is to assist in obtaining
the required information to take decisions. This act of
organizing and interpreting data to get meaningful
information under a given set of conditions is Data
Interpretation.
Why is D.I. important in Entrance Exams?
It checks the ability of a person to calculate fast and
comprehend relevant information which is essential for
potential managers.
What does it require to master D.I.?
D.I. requires only the concept of arithmetic and
statistics; most problems entail the comparison of
numbers; very few problems require formulae.
The most important key to solve D.I. is filtering out the
useful information from a big basket of information. In
this step, we identify the rest of the data as trash ; Now
with lesser data to work with things become easier.
Note: D.I. requires a good practice of dealing in numbers,
viz. percentages i.e. 37.5 is what % of 70, 20 amounts to
33.3% in a total of how much, what is % increase etc.

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Knowledge of multiplication tables, squares, cubes etc.
reduces calculation time drastically.
Types of DI Problems
Numerical data pertaining to any situation can be
presented in the following ways.
i. Numerical data tables
ii. Line Graphs
iii. Bar Chart * Vertical
* Horizontal
iv. Pie Chart
v. Case-lets
vi. Combination graph Line + Bar / Line + Pie/Bar + Pie
vii. Venn diagram (Set theory).
viii. Directional graphs
ix. 3d Triangular Diagram
x. Network diagram
We’ll study each of the above in detail below.

2
Numerical Data Tables
Characteristics
1. Simplest and most convenient tool for presenting
data.
2. Easiest and most accurate way to define data in non-
graphical manner using systematic rows and
columns.
3. These require close scanning and are time
consuming to interpret.
4. Title of table: Describes the contents of table and
precisely defines the kind of data and period for
which it occurred.
Column heading defines the information contained in
various columns and also specifies the unit of
measurement in some cases.
Note: Generally the information is arranged in a table in
alphabetic order or chronological order, zero is indicated by
O. In case of — (dash) or blank, it is interpreted that the
corresponding data is not available.

3
Illustration
DIRECTIONS for questions 1-5: Study the following Graph
& table given below and answer the question that
follows.
Oil Sales by Type of Use and Production Loss (MT)
Oil Used
Oil
Metro
Suburban Production
City
Loss
House
Year Transport Industrial
Hold
1996 10 700 1794 104 650
1997 16 920 1864 114 732
1998 22 1012 1732 104 834
1999 22 1054 1668 90 1102
2000 20 1092 1700 108 702
2001 22 1320 1752 168 492
2002 14 1854 1618 172 386
2003 6 2046 1270 178 444
2004 16 2118 1480 208 506
2005 4 2252 1132 230 1032
2006 4 2384 1228 210 1142
2007 8 2096 1672 254 1454
2008 0.2 2240 1646 266 1428

4
1. During which year the Oil used for House Hold as a
percentage of Total Oil Used is highest?
1. 1998 2. 1999 3. 2000 4. 2001
2. During which year the ‘Oil Production Loss’ as a
proportion of Total Oil Produced’ is the lowest?
1. 2002 2. 2003 3. 2004 4. 2006
3. During which year use of oil by ‘Suburban’ as a
proportion of Total Oil Used’ was the highest?
1. 2005 2. 2006 3. 2007 4. 2008
4. For how many number of years the growth rate in
’Production of Oil’ is more than the growth rate in
total Oil Used’?
1. 3 years 2. 8 years 3. 5 years 4. 6 years
5. Which of the below statements are true, based on
the data in the above table?
1. Oil used for Transport’ purpose by Metro City is
increasing every year since 1996.
2. Oil used for ‘Industrial’ purpose by Metro City
increasing every year since 1996
3. Oil used by ‘Suburban’ is increasing every year
since 2000.
4. Total Oil Produced’ is increasing every year
since 2003

5
 Solutions
Q. Key Explanation
No
1. 2 Going by options
For 1998, reqd % = (22/2870) × 100% = 0.766%
approx
For 1999, reqd % = (22/2834) × 100% = 0.776%
approx
For 2000, reqd % = (20/2920) × 100% = 0.685%
approx
For 2001, reqd % = (22/3262) × 100% = 0.674%
approx
2. 1 Going by options
For 2002, reqd % = (386/4044) × 100% = 9.54%
approx
For 2003, reqd % = (444/3944) × 100% = 11.26%
approx
For 2004, reqd % = (506/4328) × 100% = 11.69%
approx
For 2006, reqd % = (1142/4968) × 100% = 22.98%
approx
3. 4 Going by options
For 2005, reqd % = (230/3618) × 100% = 6.36%
approx
For 2006, reqd % = (210/3826) × 100% = 5.49%
approx
For 2007, reqd % = (254/4030) × 100% = 6.30%

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 approx
For 2008, reqd % = (266/4152.2) × 100% = 6.4%
approx
4-

Growth rate in oil

Growth rate in oil

5.

Total Production

Total oil used

produced in%

used in %
1996 10 700 1794 104 650 3258 2608
1997 16 920 1864 114 732 3646 11.91 2914 11.73
1998 22 1012 1732 104 834 3704 1.59 2870 -1.51
1999 22 1054 1668 90 1102 3936 6.26 2834 -1.25
2000 20 1092 1700 108 702 3622 -8.13 2914 2.82
2001 22 1320 1752 168 492 3754 3.82 3262 11.94
2002 14 1854 1618 172 386 4044 7.73 3658 12.14
2003 6 2046 1270 178 444 3944 -2.47 3500 -4.32
2004 16 2118 1480 208 506 4328 9.74 3822 9.20
2005 4 2252 1132 230 1032 4650 7.44 3618 -5.34
2006 4 2384 1228 210 1142 4968 6.84 3826 5.75
2007 8 2096 1672 254 1454 5484 10.39 4030 5.33
2008 0.2 2240 1646 266 1428 5580.2 1.75 4152.2 3.03

4. 2 There are 8 years in which the growth rate in

’Production of Oil’ is more than the growth rate in
total Oil Used’
5. 4 Total production is increasing since 2003.

7
Line Graphs
Characteristics
A. As against the data being defined precisely in tables,
a line graph (or as a matter of fact all graphical
representations. give only an approximate idea.
B. The picture it gives is more vivid in showing the
trends and comparisons than mere numbers.
C. It indicates the variation of a parameter w.r.t. another.
These parameters are calibrated on the X and Y axis.
Note: Slope is the most important observation in this case.
It helps in comparing the magnitude of change between any
two consecutive points on graph. E.g. Steeper the slope,
greater is the change in magnitude between two
consecutive points.

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Illustration
DIRECTIONS for questions 1-5: Study the graph below to
answer the questions that follow:
Inflation, Average consumer prices in Percentage World
Economic Outlook Database, October 2019

1. Which country/group saw the minimum change in

inflation over the period covered in the graph?
1. World 2. Advanced economies
3. Emerging market and developing economies
4. India

9
2. Which country/ group had no change in two
consecutive years?
1. World in 2019 and 2020
2. Advanced economies in 2018 and 2019
3. Emerging market and developing economies in
2018 and 2019
4. India in 2018 and 2019
3. In which year was there the maximum difference
between the world and advanced economies?
1. 2017 2. 2018 3. 2019 4. 2020
4. In which year was the inflation in the emerging
market and developing economies a little over
three times that in advanced economies?
1. 2017 2. 2018 3. 2019 4. 2020
5. In which year was there the greatest difference
between inflation in India and the World?
1. 2017 2. 2018 3. 2019 4. 2020

10
 Solutions
Q. Key Explanation
No
1. 2 World: 3.6(2020) - 3.2(2017) = .4
Advanced economies: 1.8(2020) - 1.7(2017) = .1
Emerging market and developing economies
4.8(2020) – 4.3(2017) = .5
India: 4.1(2020) – 3.6(2017) = .5
2. 4 India in 2018 and 2019 had an unchanged inflation
rate of 3.4%
3. 3 2017: 3.2(World) – 1.7(Advanced economies) = 1.5
2018: 3.6(World) – 2.0(Advanced economies) = 1.6
2019: 3.4(World) – 1.5(Advanced economies) = 1.9
2020: 3.6(World) – 1.8(Advanced economies) = 1.8
4. 3 2017 - (Advanced economies) 1.7 × 3 = 5.1 and 4.3
(Emerging market and developing economies)
2018 - (Advanced economies) 2 × 3 = 6 and 4.8
(Emerging market and developing economies )
2019 – (Advanced economies) 1.5 × 3 = 4.5 and
4.7 (Emerging market and developing economies)
2020 - (Advanced economies) 1.8 × 3 = 5.4 and 4.8
(Emerging market and developing economies)
Therefore, the correct answer is option (c): 2019
5. 4 2017: World 3.2 – India 3.6; Difference = .4
2018: World 3.6 – India 3.4; Difference = .2
2019: World 3.4 – India 3.4; Difference = 0
2020: World 3.6 – India 4.1; Difference = .5

11
Bar Charts
Characteristics
A. The data is plotted on X and Y axes as bars. The
thick line (bar) whose width is shown is only for pictorial
attention.
B. These are much more accurate than line graphs since
they do not involve any interpolation or extrapolation
between two points and data measurement.
C. The data is represented in discrete packets.

12
Illustration
DIRECTIONS for questions 1-5: Analyse the graph/s given
below and answer the question that follows.

1. The total number of items sold in all shops is ____.

1. 660 2. 540 3. 740 4. Can’t say
2. If in shop number I, I were to sell twice the number
of ties and thrice the number of all other items,
then the total number of items sold by it would be
____________.
1. 300 2. 225 3. 340 4. 475

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3. If every item sold earns a profit of Rs. 10 on which
a tax of 50% is levied, the profit after tax of shop IV
is Rs. _________.
1. 500 2. 700 3. 750 4. 1025
4. The total number of trousers sold by all shops is
________.
1. 108 2. 125 3. 95 4. 170
5. Total sales of ties are how much less than the
total sales of shirts?
1. 15 2. 31 3. 35 4. 40
Solutions
Q. Key Explanation
No
1. 1 The total number of items sold in all shops = 120 +
160 + 240 + 140 = 660
2. 3 The total items sold = 40 + 300 = 340.
3. 2 Total profit of Shop IV = 140 × 10 = Rs 1400
The profit after tax = 50% of 1400 = Rs 700.
4. 4 The total number of trousers sold by all the shops
= 20 + 40 + 70 + 40 = 170
5. 4 The total ties sold = 20 + 30 + 90 + 20 = 160
The total shirts sold = 50 + 60 + 40 + 50 = 200
The required difference = 200 – 160 = 40.

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Pie Charts
Characteristics
A. The total quantity in question is distributed over a
total angle of 360which is one complete circle or pie.
B. The data is plotted w.r.t. to only one parameter and
hence the usage is restricted.
C. Useful in representing proportions or percentages or
shares of various elements w.r.t. total quantity.
Illustration
DIRECTIONS for questions 1-5: Go through the pie
chart/s given below and answer the question that
follows.
The pie-chart gives the distribution of land (in degrees)
under various food crops Wheat, Barley, Jowar,Bajra,
Maize, Rice and Others.

15
1. Which combination of three crops contributes to
50% of the total area under the food crops?
1. Wheat, Barley & Jowar
2. Rice, Wheat & Jowar
3. Rice, Wheat & Barley
4. Bajra, Maize & Rice

16
2. If the total area under Jowar was 1.5 million acres,
then what was the area (in million acres) under
Rice?
1. 6 2. 7.5 3. 9 4. 4.5
3. If the production of wheat is 6 times that of Barley,
then what is the ratio between the yield per acre of
Wheat and Barley?
1. 3:2 2. 3:1 3. 12:1 4. 2:3
4. If the per acre yield of Rice was 50% more than
that of Barley, then the production of Barley is
what percent of that of Rice?
1. 30% 2. 33.33% 3. 35% 4. 36%
5. If the total area goes up by 5% and the area under
wheat production goes up by 12%, then what will
be the angle for Wheat in the new pie-chart?
1. 62.4° 2. 76.8° 3. 80.6° 4. 84.2°

17
 Solutions
Q. Key Explanation
No
1. 3 Rice, wheat and Barley contribute 72 + 72 + 36 =
180° out of 360° which is 50% of total area.
2. 1 A.T.Q
18 72

1.5 x
x = 6 million
3. 2 Output per acre =
output
Area
6x x
 : =3:1
72 36
4. 2 Ratio of rice and barley in terms of output per acre
= 1.5 : 1
Area’s ratio = 72 : 36 = 2 : 1
Production ratio = 2 × 1.5 : 1 × 1
=3:1
Required percentage = 1/3 × 100 = 33.33:
5. 2 Let total area = x
72 x
Wheat  x
360 5
x
New wheat area   1.12
5
New total area = 1.05x
x
 1.12
New angle of wheat = 5  360  76.8
1.05x

18
Caselets
Characteristics
A. The data is usually in the form of a paragraph.
B. It is one of the most difficult to manage since the
interpretation of required data in a meaningful manner is
left to the student’s ability to comprehend the hidden
facts.
Illustration
BILT has 10% market share in paper and sells 1000
pieces for Rs. 10 each. It launches a new product to
captivate the customer. The overall market grows by
20% each year for the next 2 years and BILT is able to
increase its market by gaining 20% market share every
year for the next 2 years. It raises prices by Rs. 5 every
year. The cost structure has a fixed and variable
component. Its fixed costs are Rs. 5,000 every year.
Variable costs are Rs. 5 in the first year and this
increases by Rs. 3 every year. The market share here
refers to share by volume, i.e. number of items sold.
Revenues = Number of items sold  Price
Profits = Revenue – Total costs

19
1. What is the market size in the second year?
1. 3600 2. 12000
3. 1200 4. Data insufficient
2. What is BILT’s revenue in the first year?
1. 1000 2. 5000 3. 0 4. 10000
3. What was BILT’s average revenue over the 3
years?
1. 66000 2. 66330 3. 69330 4. 75000
4. What is the profit made by the company in the 3rd
year (in Rs.)?
1. 26800 2. 59800 3. 64800 4. 46300
5. What would BILT’s S.P. in the 3rd year have been,
had the profits in the 3rd year been the same as
the second year’s profit?
1. 15 2. 20
3. 14.5 4. Data insufficient

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Solutions
Make table on basis of data given
Year BILT Mkt. BILT Price Revenues
share Size Sales
1 0.1 10,000 1,000 10 10,000
2 0.3 12,000 3,600 15 54,000
3 0.5 14,400 7,200 20 144,000

Year Revenues Fixed at BILT Sales Profit

1 10,000 5,000 5,000
2 54,000 5,000 28,800 20,200
3 144,000 5,000 79,200 59,800

Therefore; Answer to Ques. 1 is 2nd option.

Answer to Ques. 2 is 4th option.
Answer to Ques. 3 is 3rd option.
Answer to Ques. 4 is 2nd option.
Sol. 5: Profit in year 3 = 20,200, fixed cost = 5,000
Therefore, Variable cost = 79,200
Total cost = 84,200
Profit = 20,200
Therefore Revenues = 104,400 for 7200 items
Therefore Price = 14.5.

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Combination Graphs

350 315
300
250 210 210
200 175 Expenses
150 140
150 120 Revenue
100
100
50
0
91 92 93 94

Given Profit = Revenue  Expenses. Profit is calculated

as %age of expenses
Illustration
Sales
30
40 Repayment of loans

Interest Ads 50

Distribution of Revenues for

all the given years.

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1. For which year is the profit maximum?
1. 91 2. 92 3. 93 4. 94
2. In which year is the profit expenses as a % of
revenue the minimum?
1. 91 2. 92 3. 93 4. 94
3. The difference of revenues from repayment of loan
in 1994 and interest in 1991 works out to
1. 35 Cr 2. 45 Cr 3. 50 Cr 4. 80 Cr
4. Expenses in which year are equal to the revenue
from interest?
1. 91 2. 92 3. 93 4. 94
5. The total profit over the given 4 yrs as % of total
expenses over the same period is greater than the
% profit of how many of the given years?
1. 1 2. 2 3. 3 4. 4
Solutions
Year 1991 1992 1993 1994
Expenses 100 150 140 210
Revenue 120 210 175 315
Profit 20 60 35 105
% Profit 20 40 25 50

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1. By referring to the table we get, Profit as 20, 60, 35
and 105. Please note that the % profit has not been
asked in this question.
Here Answer is (4)
2. 20/120 = Year 1 = 0.166
60/210 = Year 2 = 0.285
35/175 = Year 3 = 0.200
105/315 = Year 4 = 0.333
Min. is 0.166
Answer (1)
3. Angle representing interest = 360 – (50 + 40 + 30)
= 240o
40 240
Required difference =  315   120 = 35 – 80
360 360
= – 45
A deficit of 45 Cr. Hence Answer is (2)
4. Revenue from interest is 240/360 = 2/3rd.
So we need to look out for years in which
expenses are 2/3rd of revenue.
Expenses in 94 = 210

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 Revenue from interest in 1994 = 315  240/360 =
210. Hence Answer is (4)
5. Total Profit = 20 + 60 + 35 + 105 = 220
Total Expenses = 100 + 150 + 140 + 210 = 600
x
Now 220 =  600
100
x = 36.67% ; 36.67 is > 20 and 25;
Hence Answer is (2)
Venn Diagrams
Characteristics
A. In this, data is represented using Venn diagrams.
B. The block is solved using basic principles of set
theory.
Illustration
Out of a total population of 2800, a survey was
conducted for soft drink preferences:
Number of people drinking only Coke = 650
Number of people drinking only Pepsi = 550
Number of people drinking only Limca = 450
Number of people drinking all three = 100

25
Number of people drinking Pepsi as well as Coke =200
Number of people drinking Pepsi as well as Limca =400
Number of people drinking Coke as well as Limca =300
1. Find the number of people drinking Pepsi?
1. 950 2. 1050 3. 650 4. 550
2. Find the number of People having no soft drink?
1. 450 2. 550 3. 2550 4. 2650
3. Find the number of people drinking exactly 1 drink?
1. 1050 2. 1450 3. 1550 4. 1650
4. Find number of people drinking at least 2 drinks?
1. 400 2. 500 3. 600 4. 700
Solutions
Pepsi 550

300 100
100

Limca Coke
450 200 650

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1. People drinking Pepsi = People drinking only Pepsi
+ People who have 2 drinks Pepsi and Coke +
People who have 2 drinks Pepsi and Limca +
People who have all three drinks.
For calculating People who have 2 drinks Pepsi
and Coke, we need to subtract people who have
all three from the former value, viz; 200 – 100 =
100 people drink 2 drinks Coke and Pepsi.
So the final calculation becomes: 550 + 100 + 100
+ 300 = 1,050; As is clear from the diagram,
required answer is (2)
2. Total sample = 2800; People drinking one or more
drink
= 450 + 550 + 650 + 300 + 100 + 200 + 100 = 2,350
People with no drinking habit = 2,800 - 2,350 = 450.
3. People with one drink only = Pepsi + Coke + Limca
= 550 + 650 + 450 = 1,650. Required answer (4)
4. People with at least 2 drinks =
People with 2 drinks + People with all 3 drinks
= P C  P  L  C  L  2 P C  L  200 + 400 + 300 – 200
= 700. Required answer (4)

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Directional Graphs
Characteristics
A. The 4 Directions - N. S. E. W. are represented using
horizontal and vertical lines.
B. Easy to crack using basic formula of Pythagoras
Theorem.
C. Usually asked either in diagram or paragraph form.
Illustration
Sunil started walking towards Sector 17 (east wards.
after walking a distance of 1 Km, he turns southwards
and walks 5 Km.
Again he turns to East and now walks 2 km. Finally, he
turns to the North and walks 9 km. How far is he from
his starting point?

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Solution: D

4 km

O K 9 km
1 km A

5 km
5 km

B C
2 km

Making a diagram on basis of information given; let O be

starting point, then D would be final point via path A, B,
C.
In the triangle O K D
OK = 3 Km
KD = 4 Km
Therefore OD = OK 2  KD2  9  16  5

29
3d Triangular Diagram
Characteristics
A. In this data can be presented on a triangular plane
with the sides of the triangle acting as different axes.
The distance of a point from the vertex in a direction
parallel to the side (axis will be its coordinates)

30
Illustration
O, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W represent colleges
Given triangular bar represents % of students offering
Physics Chemistry and Maths in various colleges.
1. If total number of students in colleges O, Q, R, S are
600, 750, 900, 1200 respectively, which had the
largest number of students offering Chemistry?
1. O 2. Q 3. R 4. S
2. Among U, R, V, and S the colleges where less than
50% of students offered Maths are:
1. S 2. V 3. U 4. U, R, V, S
3. The total number of students in colleges R and V
are 600 and 1000 respectively. How many students
studying physics in R and V?
1. 500 2. 600 3. 450 4. 550
4. College O and T have 600 students each. How
many of these are studying Math?
1. 650 2. 750 3. 950 4. 800

31
5. If the total number of students in the five colleges
O, Q, R, S, T are 400, 600, 800, 300, 1000
respectively, what is the average (per college. of
students offering Chemistry in these colleges?
1. 296 2. 81 3. 165 4. 68
Solutions
1
College % offering Number of Offering
Chemistry Students Chemistry
O 12.5 75
Q 33.33 250
R 25 225
S 62.5 750

Hence Answer (4) This can also be guessed from

diagram since C among O, Q, R, and S is nearest to
C.
2. All colleges below line TQW will have less than 50%
of students offering Maths.
3. As in diagram, in R = 50% are studying Physics in V
= 25% are studying Physics.
Hence 50/100  600 + 25/100  1000 = 550;

32
4. In college O, 75% are studying Maths = 75/100 
600 = 450
In college T, 50% are studying Maths = 50/100 
600 = 300
Hence in college O and T i.e. 450 + 300 = 750 study
Math
5. Total = 826
Therefore Average = 826/5 = 165.2
The number of student’s chemistry in colleges O, Q,
R, S and T are 50, 200, 200, 187.5 and 166.3
respectively.
Sum this up to get 803.8. So average is 803.8/5 =
166. Hence Answer (3)

33
Network Diagram

Characteristics
A. This is a geometrical representation of a route map
B. Using this map we can find the shortest distance
between any two points given under a setup condition
C. Useful in situations where optimization of time and
energy are important.
Illustration
1. The shortest route between 1 and 8 is
1. 1 - 2 - 3 - 6 2. 1 - 4 - 5 - 6
3. 1 - 2 – 4 -7 - 5 - 6 4. None of these

34
2. The shortest distance between 1 and 6 in Km is
1. 40 2. 36
3. 34 4. None of these
3. The shortest route between 4 and 8 is
1. 4 - 5 - 6 - 8 2. 4 - 7 – 8
3. 4 - 5 - 7 - 8 4. None of these
4. The shortest distance between 2 and 8 in Km is
1. 40 2. 36 3. 42 4. 38
Solutions
1. 1 - 2 - 3 - 6 = 10 + 12 + 18 + 8 = 48 Km
1 - 4 - 5 – 6 = 10 + 16 + 10 + 8 = 44 Km
1 - 2 – 4 - 7 - 5 - 6 =10 + 8 + 18 + 8 + 10 + 8=62 Km.
Shortest route is
1 - 7 – 8 = 22 + 14 = 36 Km.
Hence answer is (4)
2. Shortest distance between 1 and 6 as seen is
1 - 7 - 6 = 22 + 12 = 34 Km. Answer is (3)
3. The shortest distance between 4 and 8 as seen is
4-7-8 = 18 + 14 = 32 Km

35
 4-7-6-8 = 18 + 12 + 8 = 38 Km
4-5-6-8 = 16 + 10 + 8 = 34 Km
4 - 5 - 7 - 8 route is not possible. Answer is 2.
4. All route length between 2 and 8 can be
2-3-6-8 = 12 + 18 + 8 = 38 Km
2-4-5-6-8 = 8 + 16 + 10 + 8 = 42 Km
2-4-7-8 = 8 + 18 + 14 = 40 Km
2 - 4 - 7 - 5 - 6 - 8 = 8 + 18 + 8 + 10 + 8 = 52Km
2-4-7-6-8 = 8 + 18 + 12 + 8 = 46 Km
Hence Answer (4)
Summary
1. Understand the arrangement of data.
2. Read the question carefully.
3. Filter out the information required for the particular
question from the data.
4. Approximate.
5. Eliminate.

36
Things to Master
1. Learn to play with numbers.
Learn tables from 1 to 20 religiously.
Learn squares of numbers from 1 to 35.
Learn cubes of numbers from 1 to 22.
Learn square root of numbers from 1 to 10.
Learn cube root of numbers from 1 to 10.
2. Approximate values judiciously.
3. Look for options. If they are widely placed,
approximate accordingly. See if you can eliminate
2 choices.
4. Prioritize your blocks - be it line, pie, bar, caselet
etc. and work accordingly.
5. Leave lengthy / logical calculation blocks at first
go.
6. Learn reciprocals, percentage by heart.
7. Use your pencil judiciously to set comparisons or.
Draw straight lines.

37
5 Cs of Success in Data interpretation
1. Components: All the information given in the
graph/table is definitely important. Do not ignore
the minor details given because these minor
details may convert your chance of getting a call
into not getting a call. As you have to spend three
to five minutes on a particular block of four/five
questions, so it is better to spend 10 – 15 seconds
on the interpretation and understanding of graphs
only.
2. Co-relation: So many times there are two or three
tables/graphs given. You should always try to co-
relate the graphs given and understand the real
relationship between the graphs, before start
solving the questions.
3. Choices: Before solving any question you must
always see the choices given there under.
Spending 3-4 seconds to see the choices could
reduce your time by 15-30 seconds in each of the
questions. Keep in mind that even a fraction of a
second saved is worth it. Just think that kind of
questions you were supposed to do in five minutes
in the ninth and tenth standard, how the examiner
can assume you to solve those questions in one

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 minute. The simple logic is that here you are
supposed to work smartly by taking the choices
given into consideration.
4. Calculations: Try to reduce the calculation work by
intelligent guessing. Because if you work
intelligently, you will have to do only 50 % of the
calculations that you actually do in the exam. It is
the most significant proportion of your time that
you spend in solving data interpretation section.
Mind it the time spend on this component could be
reduced by 25 – 50 % by intelligent and smart
work. Coming after this is the detailed discussion
on how to approximate and calculate quickly.
5. Confidence: Have confidence in yourself. Any kind
of emotion will not help in this case. In so many
cases when you are sure than first, second and
fourth options cannot be the answer. Then have
confidence in yourself to mark third option as the
answer. Here do not waste your time in verifying
whether third option is really the answer or not.

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