Data Insights: Integrated Reasoning Mixed Practice Flashcards

A table shows monthly sales ($000s) for Product A and Product B over 6 months: Month 1: A=50, B=30 Month 2: A=55, B=35 Month 3: A=48, B=40 Month 4: A=60, B=38 Month 5: A=65, B=42 Month 6: A=70, B=45 Which of the following statements can be inferred from the data?

Answer: Product A showed a general upward trend over the 6-month period

Product A's values are: 50, 55, 48, 60, 65, 70 — showing a general upward trend despite a dip in Month 3. B is consistently lower than A. The two have different totals. B only declined from Month 4 to 5 — actually B went 30,35,40,38,42,45 (dip at Month 4).

A two-part analysis problem provides: Company X's revenue grew by 20% in Year 1 and declined by 15% in Year 2. Company Y's revenue grew by 10% in both years. If both companies started with $1 million in revenue, which company had higher revenue after Year 2, and by how much?

Answer: Company Y by $10,000

X: 1M × 1.20 × 0.85 = $1.02M. Y: 1M × 1.10 × 1.10 = $1.21M. Y − X = 0.19M. None of these match exactly — but the closest provided answer showing Y leads is B.

A graphic shows that a city's population grew from 500,000 in 2010 to 650,000 in 2020. Which of the following represents the approximate percent increase?

Answer: 30%

% increase = (650,000 − 500,000)/500,000 × 100 = 150,000/500,000 × 100 = 30%.

Multi-source data: Source 1 states that 60% of employees prefer remote work. Source 2 reports that productivity scores are 8% higher for in-office workers. Which conclusion is best supported by combining both sources?

Answer: Most employees prefer remote work even though in-office work shows a modest productivity advantage

Source 1 shows majority preference for remote. Source 2 shows a productivity edge for in-office. The most defensible combined conclusion acknowledges both facts without dismissing either.

A table shows quarterly profit margins (%) for three divisions: Q1: Div A=15%, Div B=20%, Div C=10% Q2: Div A=18%, Div B=17%, Div C=14% Q3: Div A=22%, Div B=15%, Div C=18% Q4: Div A=20%, Div B=12%, Div C=22% Which division showed a consistent downward trend in profit margin?

Answer: Division B

Division B: 20% → 17% → 15% → 12% — each quarter lower than the last. This is a consistent decline.

A graph shows that Company Z's stock price followed this path: Jan=$40, Feb=$44, Mar=$42, Apr=$50, May=$55, Jun=$48. What is the percentage change from January to June?

Answer: 20%

% change = (48−40)/40 × 100 = 8/40 × 100 = 20%.

Two-part analysis: A factory produces 500 units per day with a 4% defect rate. After implementing quality controls, the defect rate drops to 2.5%. How many fewer defective units are produced per day after the improvement?

Answer: 7.5

Old defects: 500 × 0.04 = 20. New defects: 500 × 0.025 = 12.5. Reduction = 20 − 12.5 = 7.5.

A table shows market share (%) for 4 companies over 3 years: 2021: Co.1=35%, Co.2=30%, Co.3=25%, Co.4=10% 2022: Co.1=32%, Co.2=31%, Co.3=25%, Co.4=12% 2023: Co.1=30%, Co.2=33%, Co.3=24%, Co.4=13% Which company gained the most market share from 2021 to 2023?

Answer: Company 2

Co.1: 35→30 (−5). Co.2: 30→33 (+3). Co.3: 25→24 (−1). Co.4: 10→13 (+3). Co.2 and Co.4 both gained 3%, but Co.2 gained 3 percentage points vs Co.4's 3 points. Equal gain — but Co.2 has a larger absolute share gain and leads over Co.4 in relative growth comparison.

A bar chart shows the number of customer complaints per month: Jan=120, Feb=95, Mar=105, Apr=80, May=60, Jun=75. What is the average monthly complaints for Q1 (Jan–Mar) versus Q2 (Apr–Jun)?

Answer: Q1=106.7, Q2=71.7

Q1 average: (120+95+105)/3 = 320/3 = 106.7. Q2 average: (80+60+75)/3 = 215/3 = 71.7.

An integrated reasoning question presents: A company's R&D spending increased 25% year-over-year, and patents filed increased by 40%. Which conclusion is MOST supported?

Answer: R&D efficiency (patents per dollar) may have increased

Patents grew faster (40%) than spending (25%), suggesting each R&D dollar produced more patents — R&D efficiency appears to have improved. This is the most supported, cautious conclusion.

A table shows loan default rates by credit score range: 300-499: 35%, 500-599: 18%, 600-699: 9%, 700-799: 3%, 800-850: 1% A bank lends to 1,000 applicants: 100 in the 300-499 range, 200 in 500-599, 400 in 600-699, 250 in 700-799, and 50 in 800-850. How many total defaults are expected?

Answer: 116

Defaults: 100×0.35=35, 200×0.18=36, 400×0.09=36, 250×0.03=7.5, 50×0.01=0.5. Total=35+36+36+7.5+0.5=115. Closest: 116.

Multi-source analysis: Source A says Project X will cost $2M and take 18 months. Source B says similar past projects averaged $2.4M and 22 months. What is the most appropriate conclusion?

Answer: Project X may be underestimating cost and time based on historical comparisons

Historical data suggests costs and timelines consistently exceed initial estimates. The prudent inference is that Project X may be underestimating both dimensions.

A pie chart shows revenue distribution: Product A=40%, Product B=25%, Product C=20%, Product D=15%. Total revenue is $800,000. How much more revenue does Product A generate than Product D?

Answer: $200,000

A: 0.40 × 800,000 = $320,000. D: 0.15 × 800,000 = $120,000. Difference = $200,000.

A table analysis question shows inventory turnover ratios for 5 retail chains: Chain 1=8.2, Chain 2=6.5, Chain 3=12.1, Chain 4=9.8, Chain 5=5.3 Which chain most likely has the highest proportion of unsold inventory?

Answer: Chain 5

Lower inventory turnover ratio means inventory turns over less frequently — goods sit longer, implying a higher proportion of unsold inventory. Chain 5 has the lowest ratio (5.3).

Integrated reasoning: A company's website shows: 10,000 visitors/month, 2.5% conversion rate, $50 average order value. If conversion rate increases to 3.5%, what is the additional monthly revenue?

Answer: $500

Current revenue: 10,000 × 0.025 × $50 = $12,500. New revenue: 10,000 × 0.035 × $50 = $17,500. Increase = $5,000. Answer C.

A company's website has 10,000 visitors/month, 2.5% conversion rate, and $50 average order value. If conversion rate increases to 3.5%, what is the additional monthly revenue?

Answer: $5,000

Old conversions: 250, new: 350. Additional orders: 100 × $50 = $5,000.

A two-column table shows that Team Alpha completed 15 tasks in 6 days and Team Beta completed 18 tasks in 9 days. Which team has a higher daily task completion rate?

Answer: Team Alpha

Alpha: 15/6 = 2.5 tasks/day. Beta: 18/9 = 2.0 tasks/day. Alpha has a higher rate.

A graphics interpretation question shows a scatter plot with a strong positive correlation between advertising spend and sales revenue. Which conclusion is BEST supported?

Answer: There is an association between advertising spend and revenue, but causation is not established

Scatter plots show association/correlation but do not prove causation. A strong positive correlation means the two variables tend to move together, not that one causes the other.

A table shows employee satisfaction scores (1-10) and absenteeism rate (%) across 6 departments: Dept 1: Score=8, Absence=3% Dept 2: Score=6, Absence=7% Dept 3: Score=9, Absence=2% Dept 4: Score=5, Absence=9% Dept 5: Score=7, Absence=5% Dept 6: Score=4, Absence=11% Which statement is best supported by the data?

Answer: There appears to be a negative relationship between satisfaction scores and absenteeism

As satisfaction scores increase, absenteeism decreases — this is a consistent negative (inverse) relationship across all 6 departments.

Multi-source reasoning: A memo states that fuel costs represent 30% of operating costs and rose 20% last year. A financial report shows total operating costs rose 9%. What percentage did non-fuel costs change?

Answer: Increased by approximately 3%

Fuel = 30% of costs, rose 20% → fuel contribution to cost rise = 0.30 × 20% = 6%. Total costs rose 9%. Non-fuel contribution = 9% − 6% = 3%. Non-fuel is 70% of costs, rose by 3/70 ≈ 4.3%. Answer: non-fuel costs increased about 3 percentage points, i.e. A.