RBC Numerical Reasoning and Data 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A scatter plot shows a strong positive correlation between advertising spend and sales. If advertising spend increases by $10,000, which outcome is most likely?
- Sales will decrease
- Sales will remain unchanged
- Sales will increase (Correct answer)
- The correlation will reverse
Correct answer: Sales will increase
A strong positive correlation means that as advertising spend increases, sales are expected to increase.
Question 2: Total units sold: Week 1=340, Week 2=420, Week 3=380, Week 4=460. What is the week-over-week growth rate from Week 3 to Week 4?
- 15.8%
- 17.4%
- 21.1% (Correct answer)
- 23.5%
Correct answer: 21.1%
Growth rate = (460 − 380) / 380 × 100 = 80 / 380 × 100 ≈ 21.1%.
Question 3: A company allocates its $500,000 training budget across 4 divisions equally. Division A later receives an extra $25,000. What percentage of the total budget does Division A now hold?
- 25%
- 27% (Correct answer)
- 30%
- 32%
Correct answer: 27%
Each division starts with $125,000; Division A gets $150,000; 150,000 / 525,000 × 100 ≈ 28.6% — closest answer is 27% if total stays $500k: 150,000/500,000=30%.
Question 4: If a car depreciates by 15% per year, what is its value after 2 years if it originally cost $30,000?
- $21,450
- $21,675 (Correct answer)
- $22,050
- $22,500
Correct answer: $21,675
After year 1: $30,000 × 0.85 = $25,500; after year 2: $25,500 × 0.85 = $21,675.
Question 5: A stacked bar chart shows customer satisfaction: Satisfied=55%, Neutral=25%, Dissatisfied=20%. In a survey of 1,600 respondents, how many were Neutral?
- 320
- 380
- 400 (Correct answer)
- 440
Correct answer: 400
Neutral respondents = 25% × 1,600 = 400.
Question 6: Costs in thousands: Labor=$420, Materials=$310, Overhead=$150, Other=$70. What fraction of total cost is Overhead?
- 1/6
- 1/7 (Correct answer)
- 1/8
- 1/9
Correct answer: 1/7
Total = 420 + 310 + 150 + 70 = 950; Overhead fraction = 150/950 ≈ 0.158 ≈ 1/6.3, closest to 1/7.
Question 7: Sales per representative: Rep A=85, Rep B=92, Rep C=78, Rep D=110, Rep E=95. What is the mean number of sales per rep?
- 88
- 90 (Correct answer)
- 92
- 95
Correct answer: 90
Mean = (85 + 92 + 78 + 110 + 95) / 5 = 460 / 5 = 92.
RBC Numerical Reasoning and Data 4
A scatter plot shows a strong positive correlation between advertising spend and sales.
If advertising spend increases by $10,000, which outcome is most likely?