Data Sufficiency - Quant/Math - CAT 2013
Question 4 the day:
May 24, 2004
The question for the day is a data sufficiency question.
- About 5 to 10 questions in the quantitative section / Data Interpretation section of the CAT is of Data sufficiency type.
Instructions
This data sufficiency problem consists of a question and two statements, labeled (A) and (B), in which certain data are given. You have to decide whether the data given in the statements are sufficient for answering the question. Using the data given in the statements, plus your knowledge of mathematics and everyday facts (such as the number of days in a leap year or the meaning of the word counterclockwise), you must indicate whether
(1) |
The question can be answered using either statement (A) alone but not statement (B) or statement (B) alone but not statement (A).
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(2) |
If either of the two statements individually is sufficient to answer the question
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(3) |
If both statements (A) and (B) together are required to answer the question
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(4) |
The question cannot be answer despite using the information provided in statements (A) and (B) taken together.
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Note:
In data sufficient problems that ask for the value of a quantity the data given in the statements are sufficient only when it is possible to determine exactly one numerical value for the quantity.
If a salesman received a commission of 3% of the sales that he has booked in a month, what was the sales booked by the salesman in the month of November 2003?
(A) The sales booked by the salesman in the month of November 2003 minus salesman’s commission was Rs.245,000
(B) The selling price of the sales booked by the salesman in the month of November 2003 were 125 percent of the original purchase price of Rs.225,000.
Correct choice - (2)
Explanatory answer
From statement (1), we know that the sales value after the salesman’s commission. If his commission is 3% of the sales booked. Then the net sales value is 100 – 3 = 97% of the sales booked.
From statement (1), we know that 97% of sales booked = Rs.245,000. So we can find out the sales booked. Statement (1) alone is sufficient.
From statement (2), we know that the original cost of the products is Rs.225,000. We know the sales booked = 1.25 * 225,000. Hence, statement (2) is also sufficient.
As each of the two statements are independently sufficient to answer the question, choice (2) is the best answer.
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