Data Interpretation

BAR CHARTS

Introduction: Bar charts are one of the important types of DI as questions on Bar Graphs in the State Bank of India (SBI) Probationary Officers exams have been asked frequently. After Analysing previous year question papers we can say the data interpretation section will consist of 2–3 Bar Graphs. It is beneficial to every student to understand the concepts of Bar Graphs so that they can secure good marks in the section.

Bar Graphs: These graphs are one of the oldest methods to present a data. The bar graphs consist of bars, each of which is a thick box. The value of the reading the bar is determined by the height of the bar. The bar graphs are generally presented with different colors, shades, dots, dashes, etc. 

The questions on the basis of the Bar Graphs are generally asked to find the relation among facts and the figures. The question can be asked to find average, ratio or percentage of some facts and figures related to some other facts and figures.

Now we move onto the different kinds of bar charts and the kinds of data that can be represented on a bar chart:

1. Simple Bar Charts: The Simple bar chart is the ‘simplest’ bar chart which has one continuous variable charted along with one discrete variable. Exercise 1 shows an example.

Ex-1: Directions for Questions 1 to 5 :  Answer the questions based on the following bar graph.

Distribution of Rose production in different states

1.Which of the following state (s) contribute (s) less than 10 percent in the total rose production?

(a) Only Rajasthan 

(b) Rajasthan, Karnataka

(c) Rajasthan, Karnataka, Haryana

(d) Rajasthan, Karnataka, Haryana and Gujarat

(e) Rajasthan and Haryana

2.By what percentage rose production of other states is more than that of the Maharashtra?

(a) 25%

(b) 30%

(c) 20%

(d) 15%

(e) 10%

3.What is the approximate average production of roses (in thousands) across all the states? (Consider others as one state)

(a) 21

(b) 20

(c) 19

(d) 18

(e) 22

4.Approximately what percentage of the total rose production is shared by the other states?

(a) 10%

(b) 12.4%

(c) 17.6%

(d) 16.8%

(e) 15.5%

5.If total percentage contribution of the states having production of roses below twenty thousand is considered, which of the following statements is true?

(a) It is little above 35%

(b) it is exactly 35%

(c) It is below 35%

(d) It is more than 45%

(e) Cannot be determined

Answers (1-5) with Explanation:

2. Composite Bar Charts: If two or more sets of continuous variables are to shown on the same bar chart, we use what is called a composite bar chart. Exercise 2 will make it clear.

Ex-2: Directions for questions 6 to 10 : Study the following graph carefully and answer the questions based on it.

The production of fertilizer in lakh tones by different companies (A, B, C, D and E) for three years 1996, 1997 and 1998

6.The total production by five companies in 1998 is approximately what percent of the total production by companies B & D in 1996?

(a) 100%

(b) 50%

(c) 195%

(d) 207%

(e) 200%

7.What is the ratio between average productions by company B in three years to the average production by company C in three years?

(a) 6 : 7

(b) 8 : 7

(c) 7 : 8

(d) 7 : 6

(e) 6 : 5

8.For which of the following companies the rise or fall in production of fertilizer from 1996 to 1997 was the maximum?

(a) A

(b) B

(c) C

(d) D

(e) E

9.What is the percentage drop in production by company D from 1996 to 1998?

(a) 30%

(b) 43%

(c) 26%

(d) 35%

(e) 28%

10.The average production for three years was maximum for which of the following companies?

(a) D only

(b) E only

(c) B & D both

(d) D & E both

(e) E & B both

Answers (6-10) with Explanation:

3. Representation of percentage on a stacked bar chart:  Sometimes stacked bars can also be used to represent the break-up of some continuous variable. Exercise 3 will make it clearer.

Such a use of bar charts is quite convenient for comparing two or more sets of data.

Ex-3: Directions for Questions 11 to 15 : The following chart shows the composite of the GDP of two countries(India and Bangladesh)

11.What fraction of India's GDP is accounted for by services?

12.If the total GDP of Bangladesh is Rs10,000 crore, then the GDP accounted for by Manufacturing is:

(a) Rs200 crore

(b) Rs600 crore

(c) Rs2,000 crore

(d) Rs6,000 crore

(e) None of the above

13.If the total GDP of India is Rs30,000 crore, then the GDP accounted for by Agriculure, Services and Miscellaneous together is:

(a) Rs200 crore

(b) Rs600 crore

(c) Rs2,000 crore

(d) Rs9,000 crore

(e) None of the above

14.which country accounts for higher earning out of services and Miscellaneous together is?

(a) India

(b) Bangladesh

(c) Both spend equal amounts

(d) Cannot be determined

15.If the total GDP is the same for both the countries,then what percentage is Bangladesh's income through agriculture over India's income through services?

(a) 100%

(b) 200%

(c) 133.33%

(d) 125%

(e) 150%

Answers (11-15) with Explanation:

Data Interpretation

Directions (1-5): Study the table and answer the given questions.

Data related to salary structure of five individuals from different organisations in March 

Individuals	Basic Salary	Total Allowance	Total Deduction	Net Salary
P	Rs. 21800	Rs. 28600	-	-
Q	-	-	Rs. 4350	Rs. 25850
R	Rs. 10400	Rs. 12400	Rs. 2800	Rs. 20000
S	Rs. 11200	Rs. 13800	-	-
T	-	Rs. 21600	Rs. 5700	-

(i) Total deduction = Provident Fund Deduction (which is 10% of basic salary) + Other deductions 

(ii) Net salary = Basic salary + Total allowance - Total deduction 

(iii) Few values are missing in the table (indicated by). A candidate is expected to calculate the missing value, if it is required to answer the given question, on the basis of the given data and information. 

Q1. If other deductions of P was Rs. 4720, then what was his net salary?    

(a) Rs. 42500

(b) Rs. 43500

(c) Rs. 43000

(d) Rs. 41500

(e) Rs. 42000 

S1. Ans.(b) 

Sol.  We know that,

Net salary = Basic salary + Total allowance - Total deduction 

Total deduction = PF deduction (10% of basic salary) + Other deduction 

= 10% of 21800 + 4720 = 2180 + 4720 = 6900 

Net salary = 21800 + 28600 - 6900 = Rs. 43500  

Q2. If Q’s total allowance was Rs. 3000 more than his basic salary, what was his total allowance?  

(a) Rs. 17000

(b) Rs. 17500

(c) Rs. 16000

(d) Rs. 16600

(e) Rs. 15500 

S2. Ans.(d)

Sol. Let the basic salary of Q be Rs. x 

∴ Total allowance of Q is Rs. (x + 3000) 

Net salary = Basic salary + Total allowance - Total deduction 

⇒ 25850 = x + x + 3000 - 4350 

⇒ 25850 = 2x - 1350 ⇒ 2x = 25850 + 1350 

⇒ 2x = 27200 

⇒ x = Rs. 13600 

∴ Total allowance of Q is 13600 + 3000 = Rs. 16600. 

Q3. If the respective ratio of Provident Fund deduction and other deductions of S was 7 : 13, then what was S’s other deduction?  

(a) Rs. 2160

(b) Rs. 2080

(c) Rs. 2120

(d) Rs. 2040

(e) Rs. 1980 

S3. Ans.(b)

Sol. Let the PF deduction and other deduction of S be 7x and 13x 

It is given that, 10% of 11200 = PF deduction 

⇒ 10/100×11200 = PF deduction 

⇒ PF deduction = Rs. 1120 

∴ Other deduction of S =13x/7x×1120 = Rs. 2080   

Q4. Basic salary of S is what per cent more than the basic salary of R?  

 

Q5. If other deductions of T was Rs. 4000, what was his net salary?  

(a) Rs. 32500

(b) Rs. 32900

(c) Rs. 32700

(d) Rs. 31700

(e) Rs. 32300 

S5. Ans.(b)

Sol. Total deduction of T = PF deduction + 4000 

Let the basic salary of T be Rs. x 

So, 5700 = 10% of x + 4000 

⇒ x/10 = 5700 - 4000

⇒ x/10=1700 

⇒ x = Rs. 17000 

Net salary = 17000 + 21600 - 5700 = 38600 - 5700 = Rs. 32900  

Directions (6-10): This data is regarding total number of employees working in administration (admin), operations (ops.) and Other departments of corporate division of companies. A and B study the data carefully and answer the questions given below it.

The total number of employees working in both the companies together is 4800. The respective ratio of number of employees in companies A and B is 5 : 7. Each employee works in only one of the mentioned departments. In company A, 70% of the total employees are males. 60% of the total male employees work in ‘ops’. Out of the remaining male employees 1/8th work in ‘admin’. Out of the total female employees, 24% work in ‘admin’ and 5/8th of the remaining female employees work in ‘ops’. In company B, 80% of the total employees are males. 65% of the total male employees work in ‘ops’. Number of male employees who work in ‘other departments’ in company B is 20% more than the male employees work in ‘other departments’ in company A. Number of female employees who works in ‘ops’ in company B are less than the number of male employees who work for ‘ops’ in the same company, by 75%. Out of the remaining female employees, 25% work in ‘admin’. 

Q6. What amount of total number of male employees in company A work in other departments?  

(a) 590

(b) 490

(c) 390

(d) 290

(e) 190 

(6-10): 

According to the given information,

	Company A (2000)		Company B (2800)
	Females (600)	Males (1400)	Females (560)	Males (2240)
admin	144	70	49	196
ops	285	840	364	1456
other departments	171	490	147	588

S6. Ans.(b)

Sol. Number of male employees in company A working in others department = 490

Q7. What is the difference between the number of female employees working in Admin department in company A and the number of female employees working in ‘admin’ department in company B?   

(a) 92

(b) 98

(c) 95

(d) 94

(e) 99 

S7. Ans.(c) 

Sol. ∴ Required difference = 144 - 49 = 95 

Q8. What is the total number of female employees who work in ops in company A and B together?  

(a) 681

(b) 781

(c) 689

(d) 649

(e) 788 

S8. Ans.(d)

Sol. Total number of female employees working in ops, company A and company B together 

= 285 + 364 = 649  

Q9. What is the difference between the average number of males working in admin in both the companies together and average number of females working in other departments in both the companies together?   

(a) 26

(b) 36

(c) 16

(d) 24

(e) 14 

 

S9. Ans.(a)

Sol. Average number of males working in admin department in both the companies together =(70 + 196)/2=133 

Average number of females working in other department in both the companies together =(171 + 147)/2=159 

∴ Required difference = 159 - 133 = 26 

Q10. In company B, what is the respective ratio between the total number of employees (both male and female), who work in admin and the total number of employees (both male and female) who work in other department in the same company?  

(a) 2 : 3 

(b) 1 : 3 

(c) 1 : 4 

(d) 3 : 5 

(e) 1 : 5 

S10. Ans.(b)

Sol. Total number of employees (both male and female) who work in admin in company B = 196 + 49 = 245 

Total number of employees (both male and female) who works in other department in company B = 588 + 147 = 735 

∴ Required ratio = 245 : 735 = 49 : 147 = 1 : 3 

Directions (11-16): Refer to the graph and answer the given questions. 

 

Q11. Out of the total number of projects handled by company A in 2005 and 2006 together, 20% were governmental projects. What was the total number of governmental projects handled by company A in 2005 and 2006 together?  

(a) 108

(b) 132

(c) 128

(d) 116

(e) 122 

S11. Ans.(e)

Sol. Number of governmental projects handled by company A in 2005 

And 2006 together = 20% of (360 + 250) =20/100×610=122  

Q12. The project handled by company can be broadly classified into types : governmental projects and non-governmental projects. If the average number of non-governmental projects handled by company B in 2003 and 2004 is 127, then what is the total number of governmental projects handled by the same company in 2003 and 2004 together?  

(a) 204

(b) 188

(c) 192

(d) 196

(e) 212 

S12. Ans.(d)

Sol. Number of non- governmental projects handled by company B in 2003 and 2004 

= 127 × 2 = 254

Number of governmental projects handled by company B in 2003 and 2004 = (130 + 320) -254 = 450 - 254 = 196  

Q13. Number of projects handled by company B decreased by what per cent from 2004 to 2006?  

 S13. Ans.(e)

Sol. Number of projects handled by company B in 2004 = 320 

Number of projects handled by company B in 2006 = 190

Q14. If the number of projects handled by company A increased by 20% from 2007 to 2008 and by 5% from 2008 to 2009, then what was the number of projects handled by company A in 2009?   

(a) 378 

(b) 372

(c) 384

(d) 396

(e) 368 

S14. Ans.(a)

Sol. Number of projects handled by company A in 2008 

= 120% of 300 

=120/100×300=360 

Number of projects handled by company A in 2009 

= 105% of 360 

=105/100×360=378 

Q15. What is the difference between the total number of projects handled by company A in 2003 and 2004 together and total number of projects handled by company B in 2005 and 2007 together?  

(a) 120

(b) 150

(c) 130

(d) 180

(e) 170 

S15. Ans.(b)

Sol. Total number of projects handled by company A in 2003 and 2004 together = 180 + 230 = 410 

Total number of projects handled by company B in 2005 and 2007 together = 210 + 350 = 560 

∴ Required difference = 560 - 410 = 150  

Data Interpretation

Directions (1-5): Study the graphs carefully to answer the questions that follow.

Total number of children in 6 different schools and the percentage of girls in them

Q1. What is the total percentage of boys in schools R and U together? (rounded off to two digits after decimal)    

(a) 78.55

(b) 72.45

(c) 76.28

(d) 75.83

(e) None of these 

Q2. What is the total number of boys in school T?  

(a) 500

(b) 600

(c) 750

(d) 850

(e) None of these 

Q3. The total number of students in school R, is approximately what per cent of the total number of students in school S?  

(a) 89

(b) 75

(c) 78

(d) 82

(e) 94

Q4. What is the average number of boys in schools P and Q together?  

(a) 1425

(b) 1575

(c) 1450

(d) 1625

(e) None of these 

Q5. What is the respective ratio of the number of girls in schools P to the number of girls in school Q?  

(a) 27 : 20

(b) 17 : 21

(c) 20 : 27 

(d) 21 : 17 

(e) None of these 

Directions (6-10): Study the following pie-chart and table carefully to answer the questions.

Degree wise breakup of employees working in various departments of an organisation and the ratio of men to women

Total number of employees = 3250

Department	Men  : women
Production	4 : 1
HR	12 : 13
IT	7 : 3
Marketing	3 : 2
Accounts	6 : 7

Q6. What is the number of men working in the Marketing department? 

(a) 462

(b) 454

(c) 418

(d) 424

(e) None of these 

Q7. What is the respective ratio of the number of women working in the HR department and the number of men working in the IT department?  

(a) 11 : 12

(b) 17 : 29 

(c) 13 : 28 

(d) 12 : 35 

(e) None of these 

Q8. The number of men working in the Production department of the organisation forms what per cent of the total number of employees working in the department?  

(a) 88

(b) 90

(c) 75

(d) 65

(e) None of these 

Q9. The number of women working in the IT department of the organisation forms what per cent of the total number of employees in the organisation from all departments together? 

(a) 3.2

(b) 4.8

(c) 6.3

(d) 5.6 

(e) None of these 

 

Q10. What is the total number of men working in the organisation? 

(a) 2198

(b) 2147

(c) 2073

(d) 2236

(e) None of these 

Directions (11-17): Study the given graph and table and answer the questions given below: 

In year 1993 the data of different States

regarding population of states

Total population of all states = 25 lakhs

Sex and literacy wise population ratio
States	Sex	Literacy
	M : F	Literate : illiterate
UP	5 : 3	2 : 7
Bihar	3 : 1	1 : 4
AP	2 : 3	2 : 1
Karnataka	3 : 5	3 : 2
Maharashtra	3 : 4	5 : 1
Tamil Nadu	3 : 2	7 : 2
Kerala	3 : 4	9 : 4

Q11. Approximately what is the total number of literate people in Maharashtra and Karnataka together?  

(a) 4.5 lakh 

(b) 6.5 lakh 

(c) 3 lakh 

(d) 3.5 lakh 

(e) 6 lakh 

Q12. Approximately what will be the percentage of total male in UP, Maharashtra and Kerala of the total population of the given states?  

(a) 20%

(b) 18%

(c) 28%

(d) 30%

(e) 24% 

Q13. In the year 1994 there was an increase of 10% population of UP and 12% of Bihar compared to the previous year, then what was the ratio of the population of UP to Bihar in 1994? 

(a) 5 : 4

(b) 40 : 50

(c) 48 : 55 

(d) 55 : 48 

(e) None of these 

Q14. What was the approximate percentage of women of Andhra Pradesh to the women to Tamil Nadu?  

(a) 90%

(b) 112.5%

(c) 120%

(d) 85%

(e) 95%

Q15. What is the ratio of the number of females in Tamil Nadu to the number of females in Kerala?  

(a) 1 : 2

(b) 1 : 1

(c) 2 : 1

(d) 2 : 3 

(e) None of these

Solutions