Analytical Problem Solving Flashcards

A project requires 6 workers to finish in 10 days. If 4 workers leave after 4 days, how many additional days will the remaining workers need to finish the project?

Answer: 15

Total work = 60 worker-days; completed = 6×4=24; remaining=36 worker-days ÷ 2 workers = 18 more days.

Study results show that 70% of people who exercise daily report better sleep. A researcher concludes that exercise causes better sleep. What is the flaw in this reasoning?

Answer: Correlation does not imply causation

An association between two variables does not establish that one causes the other without controlled experimental evidence.

Sequence: 2, 6, 18, 54, ___. What is the next number?

Answer: 162

Each term is multiplied by 3; 54 × 3 = 162.

A survey of 200 students found 120 like math, 90 like science, and 40 like both. How many students like neither subject?

Answer: 30

By inclusion-exclusion: 120+90−40=170 like at least one; 200−170=30 like neither.

Three boxes contain apples, oranges, and a mix. All labels are wrong. You pick one fruit from the 'Mix' box and it is an apple. What is in the box labeled 'Oranges'?

Answer: Mix

Since all labels are wrong, the 'Mix' box has only apples; the 'Apples' box can't have apples, so it has oranges; leaving 'Oranges' with the mix.

If PENCIL is coded as 653179, how is CLIP coded using the same cipher?

Answer: 1976

PENCIL→653179 gives P=6,E=5,N=3,C=1,I=7,L=9; so CLIP = C(1),L(9),I(7),P(6) = 1976.

An analyst must rank projects A, B, C, D by priority. A must rank higher than C. B must rank lower than D. C must rank higher than B. Which ranking is valid?

Answer: D, A, C, B

D, A, C, B satisfies A>C (positions 2>3), D>B (positions 1>4), and C>B (positions 3>4).