Part I : Data Sufficiency

Data Sufficiency

Introduction
To answer Data Sufficiency question, we do not actually have to calculate the values. We only have to
determine whether the data given in the statements are sufficient for finding the answer.
There are various variations in Data Sufficiency problems
l Options may be jumbled.
l One or two options may be of new type, while remaining are same.
l There may be three or four statements following a question.

Directions For Solving Data Sufficiency Questions

Option (a), If statement (1) by itself is sufficient to answer the question, but statement (2) by itself is not.
Option (b), If statement (2) by itself is sufficient to answer the question, but statement (1) by itself is not.
Option (c), If statements (1) and (2) taken together are sufficient to answer the question, even though
neither statement by itself is sufficient.
Option (d), Both the statements together are not sufficient.
To attempt a question of Data Sufficiency, we should follow a systematic approach. A good way is to use a
flow chart.

First check statement (1)

Yes No Either (b) or (c) or (d) is the

Answer is (a) Is it sufficient?
correct answer

Now, check the statement (2)

Yes
Answer is (b) Is it sufficient ?

No
Check both the statements together

Yes Are both the

Answer is (c) statements together
sufficient?

No
Answer is (d)
4 Analytical Ability : Data Sufficiency

Direction (1 to 4) Each of the questions below consists of a question and two

statements numbered I and II given below it. You have to decide whether the data provided
in the statements are sufficient to answer the question. Read both the statements and give
the answer.
(a) Statement I alone is sufficient, but statement II alone is not sufficient
(b) Statement II alone is sufficient, but statement I alone is not sufficient
(c) Both statements together are sufficient
(d) Both statements together are insufficient

Illustration 1 A train cross another train running in the opposite direction in x second.
What is the speed of the train?
I. Both the trains have the same length and are running at the same speed.
II. One train crosses a pole in 5 s.
Solution. (d) When the trains are running in opposite direction, time taken to cross each other
L 1+ L 2
=
S1 + S 2
Where,
L 1 = Length of I train
S1 = Speed of I train
L 2 = Length of II train
S 2 = Speed of II train
I. L 1 = L 2 = L (let)
S1 = S 2 = S (let)
2L L
2S = S =
x x
L
II. S =
5
We cant find the value of S even with the help of both statements.

Illustration 2 50% of the people in a Steeltown have blue eyes and blond hair. What per
cent of the people in Steeltown have blue eyes but do not have blond hair?
I. 70% of the people in Steeltown have blond hair.
II. 60% of the people in Steeltown have blue eyes.
Solution. (b)

A B C

A = People having only blue eyes

C = People having only blond hair
B = People having blue eyes and blond hair
and B = 50%
I. B + C = 70% II. A + B = 60%
We have to find A
\ Statement II alone is sufficient.

Illustration 3 What is the area of 1 m wide pathway constructed around all the sides of
a rectangular field?
I. Area of the field and the path together is 187 sq cm.
II. Breadth and the length of the field are in the ratio of 3 : 5 respectively.
Andhra ICET MBAComplete Success Package 5

Solution. (c)

b
I
a
1
b 3
I. (a + 2) (b + 2) = 187 II. =
a 5
With the help of both statements, we can calculate b.

Illustration 4 What was the total compound interest on a sum after three years?
I. The interest after one year was ` 100 and the sum was ` 1000.
II. The difference between simple and compound interests on a sum at the end of two years
was ` 10.
Solution. (a)
r
I. Interest and sum are given and I = P 1 + - P r can be calculated.
100
CI after three years can be found.
Hence, statement I alone is sufficient to answer the question.
2
r
II. Since, difference between SI and CI = P
100
Since, the value of P is not known so r cannot be calculated.
Hence, CI after three years can be found.
Hence, statement II also alone is not sufficient to answer the question.

Direction The following question is accompanied by three statements I, II and III. You
have to determine which statement(s) is/are sufficient/necessary to answer the question.
Read the statements and give the answer.

Illustration 5 What is Rs share of profit in a joint venture?

I. Q started a business investing ` 80000.
II. R joined him after 3 months.
III. P joined after 4 months with a capital of ` 120000 and got ` 6000 as his share of profit.
(a) I and III are sufficient
(b) II and III are sufficient
(c) All I, II and III together are necessary
(d) Even with all I, II and III, the answer cannot be arrived at
Solution. (d) Amount invested by R is not given. Therefore, question cannot be answered even
with the help of all I, II and III.

Direction The following question is accompanied by three statements I, II and III. You
have to determine which statement(s) is/are sufficient/necessary to answer the question.
Read the statements and give the answer.
Illustration 6 In how many days can a work be completed by A and B together?
I. A alone can complete the work in 8 days.
II. If A alone works for 5 days and B alone works for 6 days, the work get completed.
III. B alone can complete the work in 16 days.
(a) Any two of three statements are sufficient (b) II and either I or III are sufficient
(c) I and II are sufficient (d) II and III are sufficient
Solution. (a)
1
I. Work done by A in one day = th part of whole work.
8
5
II. Work done by A in 5 days = th part of the whole work.
8
6 Analytical Ability : Data Sufficiency

5 3
Remaining work = 1 - = th part of whole work, which is done by B in 6 days.
8 8
3 1 1
\Work done by B in one day = = th part of whole work.
8 6 16
1
III. Work done by B in one day = th part of whole work.
16
Hence, by combining any two of the three, the required number of days can be determined.

Direction The following question is accompanied by three statements I, II and III. You
have to determine which statement(s) is/are sufficiently necessary to answer the question.
Read the statements and give the answer.
Illustration 7 What is the sum of two numbers?
I. The bigger of these two numbers is 6 more than the smaller number.
II. 40% of the smaller number is equal to 30% of the bigger number.
III. The ratio between half of the bigger number and one-third of the smaller number is 2 : 1.
(a) II and III are sufficient
(b) I and II are sufficient
(c) I and either II or III is sufficient
(d) All, I, II and III together are sufficient
Solution. (c) Let the smaller number is x and bigger number is y.
I. y = x + 6 (i)
x 3
II. 0.4x = 0.3 y = (ii)
y 4
y /2 2 y 4 x 3
III. = = = (iii)
x /3 1 x 3 y 4
Obviously, question can be solved by using I and either II or III because equations (ii) and (iii) are
same.

Direction The following question is accompanied by three statements I, II and III. You
have to determine which statement(s) is/are sufficiently necessary to answer the question.
Read the statements and give the answer.
Illustration 8 How many articles were sold?
I. Total profit earned was ` 1596. II. Cost price per article was ` 632.
III. Selling price per article was ` 765.
(a) II and III are sufficient
(b) I and II are sufficient
(c) All I, II and III together are necessary
(d) Even with all I, II and III, the answer cannot be arrived at.
Solution. (c) Let number of articles = N
II. Total CP = 632 N III. Total SP = 765 N
I. N (765 - 632) = 1596
Hence, number of articles can be determined by using all the three statements I, II and III together.

Directions (9 to 25) Each of the questions below consists of a question and two
statements numbered I and II given below it. You have to decide whether the data provided
in the statements are sufficient to answer the question. Read both the statements and give
the answer.
(a) If the data in statement I alone are sufficient to answer the question, while the data in
statement II alone are not sufficient to answer the question
(b) If the data in statement II alone are sufficient to answer the question, while the date in
statement I alone are not sufficient to answer the question
(c) If the data in both statements I and II together are necessary to answer the question
(d) Both the statements together are not sufficient
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Illustration 9 The sum of cubes of three consecutive odd numbers is what per cent of the
sum of the squares of the same numbers?
I. The average of those numbers is 21. II. The product of two numbers is 483.
Solution. (a) Let numbers are (x - 2), x and (x + 2).
I. (x - 2) + x + (x + 2) = 3 21
Hence, we can find value of x.
Then, question can be solved using statement I alone.
II. Since, only the product of two numbers is given.
So, question cannot be solved using statement II alone.

Illustration 10 What is the speed of a boat?

I. The boat covers a distance of 48 km in 6 h while running upstream.
II. It covers the same distance in 4 h while running downstream.
Solution. (c) Let the speed of boat = vb km/h and the speed of stream = vs km/h
I. vb - vs = 48 /6 vb - vs = 8 (i)
II. vb + vs = 48 /4 vb + vs = 12 (ii)
On solving Eqs. (i) and (ii), we can determine the value of vb.
Hence, both the statements together are necessary to answer the question.

Illustration 11 What is the number x ?

I. The LCM of x and 18 is 36. II. The HCF of x and 18 is 2.
Solution. (c) Q Product of two numbers = Their HCF LCM
\Both the statements together are necessary to answer the question.

Illustration 12 Is the figure ABCD a rectangle?

B

A C

D
I. P = 90 II. AB = CD
Solution. (d)
I. P = 90 II. AB = CD
Since, we have no idea about other angles and lengths of sides AD and BC. Therefore, nothing can
be said about ABCD. Hence both the statements together are not sufficient to answer the question.

1
Illustration 13 What is the width of a stone slab of length 4 m and thickness th of the
16
length?
I. Volume of the slab is 2 m 3 . II. Slab is 25 cm thick.
Solution. (a) Given l = 4 m
1 1
h= 4 = m
16 4
Let width of slab = b m
I. l b h = 2
Hence, width of slab can be determined by using I alone.
1
II. h = 0.25 m = m
4
So, question cannot be answered by using II alone.
8 Analytical Ability : Data Sufficiency

Illustration 14 What is the present age of the mother ?

I. Fathers age is 8 yr more than the mothers age. Father got married at the age of 28 yr.
II. Present age of the father is 30 yr. Four years back the ratio of mothers age to fathers age
was 12 : 13.
Solution. (b) Let present age of mother = x yr
Let present age of father = y yr
I. y = x + 8
Hence, from I we cant determine the present age of mother.
x - 4 12
II. y = 30 yr and = .
30 - 4 13
x - 4 12
=
26 13
Hence, present age of mother (x) can be determined by using statement II alone.

Illustration 15 What is the first term of an arithmetic progression of positive integers?

I. Sum of the squares of the first and second term is 116.
II. The fifth term is divisible by 7.
Solution. (a) Statement II is useless.
Statement I shows that the two integers on squaring add up to 116 < 112 which means the integers
are less than 11. We further find the numbers are 10 and 4.

Illustration 16 Navni is three times as efficient as Avantika. In how many days can
Avantika alone do the whole work?
I. Both of them together can complete the work in 15 days.
1
II. Navni takes rd time than Avantika to finish the work.
3
Solution. (a) Let Navni takes to finish the work = x days
Then Avantika takes to finish the work = 3x days
1 1 1
I. + =
x 3x 15
Obviously x can be determined.
\Statement I alone is sufficient to answer the question.
II. Number of days taken by Navni is not given.
Hence, statement II alone is not sufficient to answer the question.

Illustration 17 There are 450 boxes to load on a truck. A and B working independently
but at the same time take 30 min to load the truck. How long should it take B working by
himself to load the truck?
I. A and C can load 400 boxes in 20 min.
II. A would take 45 min by himself.
Solution. (b) Let B alone do the whole work in x min.
1
\ In 1 min, work done by B = th part of whole work.
x
30
\ In 30 min, work done by B = th part of whole work.
x
I. Statement I alone is not sufficient.
II. In 45 min, work done by A = 1
30 2
\ In 30 min, work done by A = th part of whole work = rd part of whole work
45 3
2 30
Now, + =1
3 x
Hence, statement II alone is sufficient to answer the question.
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Illustration 18 What is the rate of interest per cent per annum ?

I. Difference between compound interest and simple interest on an amount for two years is
` 225.
2
II. The amount doubles itself on simple interest in 6 yr.
3
Solution. (b) Let rate of interest = r % per year
2
r
I. Difference between SI and CI = P
100
Hence, r cannot be determined by using statement I alone because P is not given.
II. SI = Amount = P
P r t
and SI =
100
\ r can be determined by using statement II alone.

Illustration 19 Sanju works for 3 days and leaves the job. In how many days, will
Sanju alone finish the entire work?
I. Swamitra finishes the remaining work in 12 days.
II. Sanju and Swamitra together can finish the work in 6 days.
Solution. (c) Let whole work is done by Sanju in x days.
3
\ Work done by Sanju in 3 days = th part of whole work.
x
3 x -3
Remaining work = 1 - =
x x
x -3
I. Swamitras work in 12 days =
x
x -3
Swamitras one day work =
12 x
1 x -3 1
II. + =
x 12x 6
Hence, both statements together are sufficient to answer the question.

Illustration 20 What is the area of a circular region X ?

I. Area of the square inscribed in the circular region X is 98 sq cm.
II. The perimeter of the circular region X is equal to the perimeter of square Z.
Solution. (a) We know that area of the square inscribed in the circle = 2 r 2, where r is the radius
of circle.
I. 2 r 2 = 98
r can be determined.
Area of circle can be determined.
II. Perimeter of square is not given.
Hence, area of circle cannot be determined.

Illustration 21 Find the number of males and females in a party.

I. The ratio of males and females is 3 : 2.
II. The number of males is 50% more than the number of females.
Solution. (d) Let number of males = M and number of females = F
M 3
I. = (i)
F 2
50 3
II. M = F 1 + = F
100 2
10 Analytical Ability : Data Sufficiency

M 3
= (ii)
F 2
Since, equations (i) and (ii) are same.
Therefore, we cant solve the question even with the help of both statements together.

Illustration 22 What will be the cost of painting the four walls and the roof of a room
with length, width and height as 7 m, 5 m and 2.5 m respectively. The room has one door
and two windows?
I. Cost of painting per square metre is ` 72.
II. Area of window is half of the area of the door.
Solution. (d) Since the dimension of the window and door is not given, therefore, question cant
be solved by using both statements together.

Illustration 23 A, B and C are integers. Is B an even number ?

I. ( A + B) is an odd number. II. (C + B) is an odd number.
Solution. (d)
I. A + B is odd Either A is odd and B is even or A is even and B is odd.
II. C + B is odd Either C is odd and B is even or C is even and B is odd.
Hence, question cant be answered even with the help of two statements. Therefore, both statements
together are not sufficient to answer the question.

Illustration 24 The towns A, B and C lie on a straight line. C is between A and B. The
distance from A to B is 100 mile. How far is it from A to C ?
I. The distance from A to B is 25% more than the distance from C to B.
II. The distance from A to C is less than the distance from C to B.
Solution. (a) AB = 100 mile and AC + CB = 100 mile.
25
I. AB = CB 1 +
100
5
100 = CB CB = 80 mile
4
II. CB is not given.
Hence, AC cannot be determined.

Illustration 25 Plane X flies at r mile per hour from A to B. Plane Y flies at q mile per
hour from B to A. Both planes take off at the same time. Which plane flies at a faster rate?
Town C is between A and B.
I. C is closer to A than it is to B. II. Plane X flies over C before plane Y.
Solution. (d) Since we have no exact idea about distance between A to C and B to C.
Therefore, question cant be answered even with the help of both statements together.

Directions (26 to 29) The following questions are accompanied by three statements I,
II and III. You have to determine which statement(s) is/are sufficient/necessary to answer
the question. Read the statements and give the answer.
Illustration 26 What is the capacity of a cylindrical tank?
I. The radius of the base is half of its height.
II. The area of the base is 616 m 2 .
III. The height of the cylinder is 28 m.
(a) I and II (b) II and III
(c) All I, II and III (d) Any two of the three
Solution. (d) Capacity of a cylindrical tank = pr 2h
Hence, to find the answer, we need either radius of tank or area of the base and height of the
cylinder.
Therefore, any two of three are sufficient to complete it.
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Illustration 27 In how many days can 10 women finish a work ?

I. 10 men can complete the work in 6 days.
3
II. 10 men and 10 women together can complete the work in 3 days.
7
III. If 10 men work for 3 days and thereafter 10 women replace them, the remaining work is
completed in 4 days.
(a) I and II (b) Any two of the three
(c) I and III (d) II and III
Solution. (b)
1
I. One days work of 10 men = th part of whole work.
6
7
II. One days work of 10 men and 10 women = th part of the whole work.
24
3
III. Let whole work done by 10 men in x days Work done by 10 men in 3 days = th part of the whole
x
work.
3 x -3
Remaining work = 1 -
x x
x -3
\ In 4 days, work done by 10 women =
x
x -3
\ In 1 day, work done by 10 women =
4x
Hence, any two statements are sufficient to answer the question.

Illustration 28 What is the staff strength of Company X ?

I. Male and female employees are in the ratio of 2 : 3 respectively.
II. Of the officer employees 80% are males.
III. Total number of officers is 132.
(a) I and III
(b) II and either III or I only
(c) All I, II and III
(d) Question cannot be answered even with the information in all the three statements
Solution. (d) Here, we have no idea of employees in different categories. Therefore, question
cant be solved even using all the statements together.

Illustration 29 What is the monthly salary of Pravin?

I. Pravin earns ` 1200 more than Aman.
II. The ratio between Amans and Vimals monthly salaries is 5 : 3.
III. Vimal earns ` 1000 less than Aman.
(a) Any two of I, II and III are required
(b) I and II are required
(c) II and III are required
(d) All I, II and III together are required
Solution. (d) Let monthly salary of Pravin = ` P and monthly salary of Aman = ` A.
A 5
I. P = A + 1200 II. = , where V is monthly salary of Vimal.
V 3
III. A = V + 1000
Hence, all statements are necessary to answer the question.