Introduction

In tables, data is arranged in the form of rows and columns. In DI table questions, you are required to read data from table/s, analyze the same and answer the given questions on the basis of the same.

What does a Data Interpretation Table chart represent?

Data Interpretation questions based on tables are common in competitive exams and it is becoming a regular pattern in 11 Plus exams. The boxes of the table consist of different types of information such as marks of a student, income of a company, production of some firm, expenditure on different items and so on. Generally the first row and column of the table denote the titles. The level of questions in tables may be higher or lower as compared to the other form of graphs. This is largely dependent upon the data given in the table and the way questions are framed.

Data Interpretation – Tips

Before solving a question, read the information given in the table very carefully as even minute detail may change the question entirely. Understand the instructions carefully to avoid wastage of time while calculating data.

Be attentive about the units given in the table and also about those asked in answer options. A mistake in units may result in different or wrong answers.

Also pay attention to whether the answer options are given in decimal or percentage. This type of error easily occurs in DI - Tables and is easily avoidable.

Try to use approximation technique i.e. if the answer options are wide, then time should not be wasted to calculate the exact figures. But if one of the options is 'none of the above', a close approximation will suffice.

Shares traded in England, Wales, Scotland (In GBP)

Example 1. The average for the high rates of England for all the companies was

  1. £192.9
  2. £202.9
  3. £169.9
  4. £178

Sol: Option (1)

The average for all the high involved with the England region was (438+148+28+190.5+160)/5 which gives 192.9.

Example 2. Total of low value of the Wales region exceeds the total of the low value of the region of Scotland by how much?

  1. 17.75
  2. 15.67
  3. 15.57
  4. None of these

Sol: Option(1)

Total value for the low of the Wales region for the given companies is 395+180+23+177.5+140.5=916 whereas the total for the low of the Scotland region is 413.75+180+24.5+177.5+102.5=898.25. So it exceeds by 916 – 898.25=17.75.

Example 3. Low for RCOM for all the given states/UT form what percent of the low for ZARA for the same?

1.98.4%

2.101%

3.106.4%

  1. None of these

Sol: Option(3)

The total of lows for the RCOM for all the given states/ UT are given to be 532 and the ZARA has the total for their lows to be 500.Thus ATQ (532/500)*100 = 106.4%

Example 4. High for England for BT form what percent of the High for BT for Wales and Scotland combined?

  1. 50%
  2. 44%
  3. 40%
  4. 55%

Sol: Option(1)

High for the company "BT" in England was 160 and Total of high in Wales and Scotland happen to be 319.25. So, ATQ the percentage required will be (160/319.25)*100=50% approx.

Example 5. Total of high for all the companies in all the States/UT are more than the lows for all the states/UT by how much?

  1. 260
  2. 170
  3. 270
  4. 280.25

Sol: Option(4)

The total of high for all the given places is 2973.25 whereas the low totals to 2693. So the given data differ by 280.25.

DIRECTIONS for questions 6 - 10: Study the following table carefully and answer the questions given below. Number of candidates appeared (App.) and percentage of candidates qualified (Qual.) under different disciplines over the years.

Example 6. Approximately, what was the percentage increase in the number of candidates who appeared under the German stream from 2013 to 2014(approx)?

  1. 230
  2. 23
  3. 40
  4. 30

Sol: Option(2)

Number of students in the year 2013 were 985 and they increased to 1215, so there was a net increase of 230.Talking of percentage there was an increase of 230 in the initial value 985, so the increase will be (230/985)*100 = 23.35

Example 7. How many students were qualified for the Chinese stream in the year 2014?

  1. 450
  2. 950
  3. 650
  4. 900

Sol: Option(2)

The actual no. of candidates that were qualified under Chinese stream = 45% of 2113 = 950.

Example 8. According to the given data which were the 2 years under which the number of students who qualified in the Greek stream is the same(approx.)?

  1. 2013, 2014
  2. 2014, 2015
  3. 2012, 2013
  4. 2011 & 2016

Sol: Option(2)

In the year 2014 i.e. (39% * 720) = 280(approx). For 2015 i.e. (48% * 586) = 281(approx). They are approximately equal.


Example 9. The number of students who qualified in the year 2011 under the streams Greek and French combined was

  1. 505
  2. 545
  3. 530
  4. 560

Sol: Option(2)

Students who qualified under the stream Greek in 2011 (42% of 843) = 354(approx) Students who qualified under the stream French in 2011 (21% of 908) = 191(approx) Total for the years 354+191=545

Example 10. Which will be the pair of years in German whose total equals to the number of students who appeared in the Chinese discipline in 2014?

  1. 2016, 2015
  2. 2013, 2016
  3. 2016, 2014
  4. 2016, 2012

Sol: Option(2)

In the year 2013 the number of candidates who were in German = 985. For the year 2016, the total no of candidates in German happens to be = 1128 So Total = 985 + 1128 = 2113. Students who appeared under the Chinese stream in 2014 = 2113


DIRECTIONS for questions 11-14: Study the following graph carefully and answer the questions given below: Production (in Lakhs) of Widgets & Percentage defect over the years in five factories A, B, C, D, E.

Example 11. The average production for the given data will be maximum for which factory?

  1. B
  2. E
  3. A
  4. D

Sol: Option(3)

If we look closely then we will find that the production of factory A happens to be maximum and thus its average will also be highest. We can also verify this by calculating the number of widgets individually and dividing it by the number of given years i.e. 6.


Example 12. What was the difference in defected widgets of factory C for the year 2006 and defected widgets of factory E for the year 2003?

  1. 2800
  2. 4000
  3. 3500
  4. 3100

Sol: Option(4)

Reqd. No. = (15% of 42000) - (8% of 40000) = 6300 - 3200 = 3100

Example 13. The average number of widgets that were produced in the year 2002 formed what percent of the widgets that were produced in the year 2006?

  1. 94%
  2. 90%
  3. 85%
  4. 99%

Sol: Option(1)

The total of the widgets that were produced in the year 2002 was 263(Lakhs) and the ones produced in the year 2006 were 280(Lakhs). The percentage value is (263/280) x 100 = 94 % (approx). Note: We have taken the total in place of average as the result in both the cases will be same. The reason is in case of average, we have to divide both numerator and denominator by 6 which will not make any difference in final result.

Example 14. What was the difference in the number of widgets of factory C which were free from any defect in the years 2004 and 2006?

  1. 300
  2. 150
  3. 260
  4. 400

Sol: Option(3)

Required difference = (87% of 42000) – (92% of 40000) = 36540 – 36800 = -260 So the difference is 260.