GMAT - Graduate Management Admission Data Insights: Graphics Interpretation Questions and Answers

Question 1

The stacked bar chart below shows the annual revenue in millions of dollars for a technology company, broken down by division, for Year 1 and Year 2.

\[Image of a stacked bar chart showing revenue for 'Software', 'Hardware', and 'Services' for two consecutive years. Year 1: Software=$50M, Hardware=$30M, Services=$20M. Year 2: Software=$60M, Hardware=$35M, Services=$30M.]

Which division experienced the greatest percentage increase in revenue from Year 1 to Year 2?

Accepted Answer

Services

Answer

To find the percentage increase, use the formula: ((New Value - Old Value) / Old Value) * 100.
- Software: (($60M - $50M) / $50M) * 100 = ($10M / $50M) * 100 = 20%.
- Hardware: (($35M - $30M) / $30M) * 100 = ($5M / $30M) * 100 ≈ 16.7%.
- Services: (($30M - $20M) / $20M) * 100 = ($10M / $20M) * 100 = 50%.
The Services division had the highest percentage increase at 50%.

Question 2

The line graph below tracks the monthly number of active users for three different social media platforms over a six-month period.

\[Image of a line graph with three lines representing Platform A, Platform B, and Platform C. Month 1: A=5000, B=8000, C=7000. Month 6: A=7500, B=9000, C=6000. Platform B's line shows the most fluctuation (volatility) between months.]

Which of the following statements is best supported by the data in the graph?

Accepted Answer

Platform B was the most volatile in terms of its number of active users.

Answer

Volatility refers to the degree of variation or fluctuation. By visually inspecting the graph, Platform B's line shows the most significant ups and downs from month to month compared to the relatively smoother trends of A and C, indicating it was the most volatile. Platform C's decrease (1000 users) was smaller than Platform A's increase (2500 users). At the end of Month 6, Platform B had the most users (9000). The term 'uninterrupted growth' cannot be confirmed for Platform A without seeing data points for every single day; monthly data can hide intra-month dips.

Question 3

The scatter plot below shows the relationship between the number of hours a student studied per week and their final exam score, along with a line of best fit for the data.

\[Image of a scatter plot with 'Hours Studied per Week' on the x-axis (0 to 15) and 'Final Exam Score' on the y-axis (0 to 100). A line of best fit is drawn through the data points, passing through approximately (4 hours, 65 score) and (12 hours, 95 score).]

Based on the line of best fit, what would be the predicted exam score for a student who studied 10 hours per week?

Accepted Answer

88

Answer

First, determine the equation of the line of best fit using two approximate points on the line, for example, (4, 65) and (12, 95). The slope (m) is (95 - 65) / (12 - 4) = 30 / 8 = 3.75. Using the point-slope form: y - 65 = 3.75(x - 4), which simplifies to y = 3.75x - 15 + 65, or y = 3.75x + 50. Now, substitute x = 10 into the equation: y = 3.75(10) + 50 = 37.5 + 50 = 87.5. The closest answer is 88.

Question 4

The two pie charts below show the market share of laptop brands in Year 1 and Year 2. The total number of laptops sold was 1.5 million in Year 1 and 2.0 million in Year 2.

\[Image of two pie charts. Year 1 (Total: 1.5M units): Brand A=20%, Brand B=50%, Others=30%. Year 2 (Total: 2.0M units): Brand A=30%, Brand B=45%, Others=25%]

What was the absolute increase in the number of units sold by Brand A from Year 1 to Year 2?

Accepted Answer

300,000

Answer

To find the absolute increase, you must first calculate the number of units sold by Brand A in each year and then find the difference.
- Year 1 units for Brand A: 20% of 1,500,000 = 0.20 * 1,500,000 = 300,000.
- Year 2 units for Brand A: 30% of 2,000,000 = 0.30 * 2,000,000 = 600,000.
- Absolute increase: 600,000 - 300,000 = 300,000 units.

Question 5

The table below provides efficiency data for four different manufacturing plants.

| Plant Location | Units Produced per Day | Operating Cost per Day | Number of Employees |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| North | 1,200 | $15,000 | 50 |
| South | 1,500 | $16,500 | 60 |
| East | 900 | $10,800 | 40 |
| West | 1,600 | $20,000 | 80 |

Which plant has the lowest operating cost per unit produced?

Accepted Answer

South

Answer

To find the operating cost per unit, divide the 'Operating Cost per Day' by the 'Units Produced per Day' for each plant.
- North: $15,000 / 1,200 units = $12.50 per unit.
- South: $16,500 / 1,500 units = $11.00 per unit.
- East: $10,800 / 900 units = $12.00 per unit.
- West: $20,000 / 1,600 units = $12.50 per unit.
The South plant has the lowest cost per unit at $11.00.

GMAT Practice Test

GMAT Practice Test

GMAT - Graduate Management Admission Data Insights: Graphics Interpretation Questions and Answers