Bar Graphs – Questions and Concepts for CAT Preparation

Data Interpretation section of CAT rotates around unraveling the organized data and getting significant outcomes from the given data. Its importance can't be subverted in this day and age as methodologies are arranged and actualized based on deductions and results decided through this tremendous measure of data. Accordingly, this theme holds an inescapable spot in CAT test and around 16 questions are asked from it. The data can be spoken to in form of lines, graphs or charts, tables, and caselets etc. And, in this blog, we will discuss one extraordinary sort of chart known as structured presentations. Yet, before moving forth with understanding reference charts you ought to likewise have the information on fundamental arithmetic calculations, for example, division, increases, proportion and proportion, rates etc. as the questions that will be asked in the test will include the utilization of this numerical accounting.

A bar graph is a one that speaks to categorial data with rectangular bars with statures or lengths proportional to the worth they speak to. They are utilized to show a correlation between categories of data. They can be either vertical or horizontal. Each bar graph has a title at the top summing up the data spoke to in the graph. Now and again, the graph may incorporate commentaries at the base to clarify the realities not shrouded in the title. One hub speaks to a discrete variable and the different hub speaks to a scale for a couple of constant factors.

Types of Bar Graphs

SIMPLE BAR CHART

This is the most basic form of bar charts that you might have come across sometime or the other. It represents one continuous variable charted along with the one discrete variable.

COMPOSITE BAR CHART

DEVIATION THROUGH BAR CHART

Deviation graphs are useful for graphical presentation of continuous variables which can have both positive and negative values, i.e. surplus or deficit, net profit or loss, net imports or exports.

STACKED BAR GRAPH

Stacked Bar chart are similar to composite bar charts in the sense that they are also used to display information about the sub-groups that make up different categories. In stacked bar chart bars representing the sub-groups are placed on the top of each other to make a single column or side by side to make a single bar. The overall height or length of the bar shows the total size of the category whilst different colors or shadings are used to indicate the relative contribution of the sub-group.

Stacked bar charts are also used to show percentage contribution different sub-groups contribute to each separate category. In this case the bars representing the individual categories are all the same.

Let’s now do a couple of examples

Ques 1: The ratio of the number of years, in which the foreign exchange reserves are above the average reserves, to those in which the reserves are below the average reserves is?

a.) 2:6

b.) 3:4

c.) 3:5

d.) 4:4

Ques 2: The foreign exchange reserves in 2006-07 was how many times that in 2003-04?

a.) 0.7

b.) 1.2

c.) 1.4

d.) 1.5

Ques 3: For each year, the percent increase of foreign exchange reserves over the previous year, is the highest?

a.) 2001-02

b.) 2002-03

c.) 2003-04

d.) 2005-06

Ques 4: The foreign exchange reserves in 2005-06 were approximately what percent of the average foreign exchange reserves over the period under review?

a.) 95%

b.) 110%

c.) 115 %

d.) 125%

Solution: As you can clearly notice that all the questions asked above involves simple mathematic calculations and use of concepts such as averages, ratios, percentages etc. You just need to understand the data given in the graph and find the solution to the questions asked hereafter.

Ans 1: In this case, we first need to find the average forex reserve and then find the ratio between the years when they are above the average and below the average.

Average Forex = (2640 + 3720 + 2520 + 3360 + 3120 + 4320 + 5040 + 3120) / 8 = 3480

Now, the years that are below the average = 2000-01, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2007-08

The years that are above the average = 2001-02, 2005-06, 2006-07

Hence, the ratio will be 3:5

Ans 2: This one is very simple one.

Forex in 2006-07 = 5040

Forex in 2003-04 = 3360

The answer is 5040/3360 = 1.5

Ans 3: In this question we need to use percentages,

First the years in which forex rose compared to previous year = 2001-02, 2003-04, 2005-06, 2006-07

Percentage increase in these years compared to last year, 2001-02 = (3720 – 2640)/ 2640 * 100 = 40.9090%

2003-04 = (3360 – 2520)/ 2520 *100 = 33.33%

2005-06= (4320 – 3120)/ 3120* 100 = 37.88%

2006-07 = (5040 – 4320) / 4320* 100 = 16.67%

Hence, the ans. Is 2001-02

Ans 4: Average forex reserve is 3480. Forex Reserve in 2005-06 = 4320.

Hence, percentage = [4320/ 3480]* 100 = 124.14% = 125%