Part IV — Quantitative Aptitude: Data Interpretation

Chapter 4: Data Interpretation Across All Major Formats

4.1 Tabular and Bar Graph DI

Tabular DI presents data in rows and columns (e.g., sales figures across years and products), requiring extraction and comparison of specific cells or computed ratios/percentages. Bar graph DI presents comparable quantities as bars, testing similar extraction and comparison skills visually rather than numerically.

4.2 Line Chart and Pie Chart DI

Line chart DI shows a trend over a continuous variable (typically time), useful for questions on rate of change, percentage growth/decline between two points, and identifying maximum/minimum periods. Pie chart DI represents proportions of a whole as sectors, where the central angle of a sector equals (value/total) × 360°.

4.3 Caselet DI

Caselet DI presents data in paragraph form rather than a chart or table, requiring careful reading to extract the relevant numerical relationships before any calculation can begin — considered more time-intensive due to the reading and structuring effort involved.

4.4 Radar/Web Chart DI

Radar (web) chart DI displays multiple variables on axes radiating from a central point, connected to form a polygon — useful for comparing several categories across multiple entities simultaneously (e.g., several companies' performance across several metrics).

4.5 General DI Strategy

Across all DI formats, the core strategy is: read the given data/context fully before attempting any calculation, note the specific units and any footnoted assumptions, and use approximation techniques for large numbers when the answer options are sufficiently spread apart to permit it.

4.6 Practice Set — Data Interpretation (16 MCQs)

Table: A company's annual sales (in ₹ lakh) across four years:

Year	Product A	Product B	Product C
2022	120	150	90
2023	140	160	100
2024	160	180	110
2025	200	190	130

1. What is the total sales of Product A across all four years?
   (a) 600 lakh (b) 620 lakh (c) 640 lakh (d) 660 lakh
2. What is the percentage increase in Product A's sales from 2022 to 2025?
   (a) 60.0% (b) 66.7% (c) 70.0% (d) 62.5%
3. In 2024, what is the ratio of Product B's sales to Product C's sales?
   (a) 18:11 (b) 9:5 (c) 16:11 (d) 8:5
4. What is the average annual sales of Product C across the four years?
   (a) 100 lakh (b) 105 lakh (c) 107.5 lakh (d) 110 lakh
5. In which year did Product B record its highest sales?
   (a) 2022 (b) 2023 (c) 2024 (d) 2025

Pie Chart: A survey of 360 respondents' preferred mode of transport is represented as a pie chart: Car (30%), Bus (25%), Train (20%), Bicycle (15%), Walking (10%).

6. How many respondents prefer the Train?
   (a) 62 (b) 68 (c) 72 (d) 78
7. What is the central angle (in degrees) of the "Car" sector?
   (a) 90° (b) 100° (c) 108° (d) 120°
8. How many more respondents prefer Car over Bicycle?
   (a) 48 (b) 50 (c) 54 (d) 58
9. What is the combined percentage of respondents preferring either Bus or Train?
   (a) 40% (b) 45% (c) 50% (d) 55%

Line Chart: A city's average monthly temperature (°C) over 5 months: Jan=15, Feb=18, Mar=22, Apr=30, May=35.

10. What is the percentage increase in temperature from January to May?
    (a) 100.0% (b) 116.7% (c) 120.0% (d) 133.3%
11. Between which two consecutive months was the increase in temperature the largest?
    (a) Jan-Feb (b) Feb-Mar (c) Mar-Apr (d) Apr-May
12. What is the average temperature over the 5 months?
    (a) 22°C (b) 24°C (c) 20°C (d) 26°C

Caselet: A caselet states: "Company X sold 3200 units in Q1. In Q2, sales grew by 25% over Q1. In Q3, sales fell by 10% from Q2. In Q4, sales grew by 20% over Q3."

13. What were Company X's sales in Q2?
    (a) 3800 units (b) 3900 units (c) 4000 units (d) 4100 units
14. What were Company X's sales in Q3?
    (a) 3400 units (b) 3500 units (c) 3600 units (d) 3700 units
15. What were Company X's sales in Q4?
    (a) 4200 units (b) 4320 units (c) 4400 units (d) 4520 units
16. What is the overall percentage change in sales from Q1 to Q4?
    (a) 32% (b) 35% (c) 38% (d) 40%

Answer Key

1.(b)

2.(b)

3.(a)

4.(c)

5.(d)

6.(c)

7.(c)

8.(c)

9.(b)

10.(d)

11.(c)

12.(b)

13.(c)

14.(c)

15.(b) 16.(b)