# REASONING FOR ALL COMPETITIVE EXAMS

**\- Data Sufficiency**

**Description :** Data sufficiency section consists of problems in which a question on any topic such as coding-decoding, blood relations, direction sense test, ranking and time sequence test, arithmetical reasoning etc. is given, followed by certain statements containing facts providing hints to solve the question. The candidate is required to find out which of the given statements is/are sufficient to answer the question.

Concept : The coding and decoding test is set up to judge the candidate’s capacity to interpret the rule that codes a specific word/message and break the code to interpret the word.

Blood relations is all about the various relations exists in a family. These questions are to test the knowledge and skill of a candidate.

Distance and direction sense test questions comprise of a kind of direction and/or distance riddle. Clearly, such questions are intended to judge the competitor’s capacity to follow, take after and perceive the direction, described in somewhat complicated language, effectively.

In number, ranking and time sequence test, questions are managed which are taken after with a grouping comprising numbers, positioning and time. Also need to discover answers on the basis of given condition.

Arithmetical reasoning questions are based on calculations on problems, data based, ages, Venn-diagrams. This is to test the ability of candidate.

And so on.

**Model Problems**

**Model 1:**

Statement: Among A, U, J, P and C who reached first last?

I: U and Q reached office together.

II: Only A and R reached office ahead of Q. Choose the correct option from below:

a) Only I sufficient, while II is not sufficient.

b) Only II sufficient, while I is not sufficient.

c) Alone I and alone II are sufficient.

d) Both I and II not Sufficient.

e) Both I and II together are sufficient.

Solution:

**Given that:**

I: U and Q reached office together.

II: Only A and R reached office ahead of Q. So, from I and II, conclude that only a and R reached office ahead of Q and thus, U.

This indicates that C reached last.

Therefore, the data in both I and II together are required to answer the given question.

**Model 2:**

Statement: What is the total monthly salary of Audrey?

I: Audrey’s basic salary is Rs. 100 more than Cooper’s salary who also serves in Audrey’s company.

II: Other allowances drawn by Cooper besides his basic salary are Rs. 2000 per month which is Rs. 50 less than Audrey’s salary.

III: Cooper’s basic salary is Rs. 1550 per month.

Choose the option from below:

a) Only II

b) Only II and III

c) Only I and II

d) Only I and III

e) All I, II and III

**Solution:**

**Given**

From III, Cooper’s basic salary = Rs. 1550.

From I, Audrey’s basic salary = Rs. (1500 + 100) = Rs. 1650.

From II, Cooper’s other allowances = Rs. 2000.

And Audrey’s other allowances = Rs. 2050.

Therefore, Audrey’s monthly salary = Rs. (1650 + 2050) = Rs. 3700.

Hence, option(e) is right one i.e. all I, II and III.

**Model 3:**

Statement: On which date in March was Ford born?

I: Ford’s mother remembers that Ford was born nineteenth but after fifteenth.

II: Ford’s brother remembers that Ford was born seventeenth but after twelfth.

Choose the correct option from below:

a) Only I sufficient, while II is not sufficient.

b) Only II sufficient, while I is not sufficient.

c) Alone I and alone II are sufficient.

d) Both I and II not Sufficient.

e) Both I and II together are sufficient.

**Solution:**

From I, conclude that Ford was born on any one of the dates among 16th, 17th, and 18th.

From II, conclude that Ford was born on any one of the dates among 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th.

Therefore, from both the I and II, conclude that Ford was born on 16th March.

**Model 4:**

Statement: Among M, N, D, P and K, who earns more than only the least earner among them?

I: N earns more than M and P but less than only D.

II: M earns more than P who earns less than K.

Choose the correct option from below:

a) Only I sufficient, while II is not sufficient.

b) Only II sufficient, while I is not sufficient.

c) Alone I and alone II are sufficient.

d) Both I and II not Sufficient.

e) Both I and II together are sufficient.

**Solution:**

From I, N > M, N > P, D > N.

Then D > N > M > P or D > N > P > M

From II, M earns more than P i.e. D > N > M > P

Also, since P earns less than K and N earns less than only D.

So, D > N > K > M > P or D > N > M > K > P

Therefore, either K or M earns more than only the least earner i.e. P.

Hence, both I and II not Sufficient.

General Mental Ability - Model Problems

1\. In which year was Rahul born ?

Statements: Rahul at present is 25 years younger to his mother.

Rahul's brother, who was born in 1964, is 35 years younger to his mother.

A. I alone is sufficient while II alone is not sufficient

B. II alone is sufficient while I alone is not sufficient

C. Either I or II is sufficient

D. Neither I nor II is sufficient

E. Both I and II are sufficient

**Answer: E**

Explanation: From both I and II, we find that Rahul is (35 - 25) = 10 years older than his brother, who was born in 1964. So, Rahul was born in 1954.

2\. What will be the total weight of 10 poles, each of the same weight ?

Statements: One-fourth of the weight of each pole is 5 kg.

The total weight of three poles is 20 kilograms more than the total weight of two poles.

A. I alone is sufficient while II alone is not sufficient

B. II alone is sufficient while I alone is not sufficient

C. Either I or II is sufficient

D. Neither I nor II is sufficient

E. Both I and II are sufficient

**Answer: C**

Explanation: From I, we conclude that weight of each pole = (4x5) kg = 20 kg.

So, total weight of 10 poles = (20 x 10) kg = 200 kg.

From II, we conclude that:

Weight of each pole = (weight of 3 poles) - (weight of 2 poles) = 20 kg.

So, total weight of 10 pojes = (20 x 10) kg = 200 kg.

3\. How many children does M have ?

Statements: H is the only daughter of X who is wife of M.

K and J are brothers of M.

A. I alone is sufficient while II alone is not sufficient

B. II alone is sufficient while I alone is not sufficient

C. Either I or II is sufficient

D. Neither I nor II is sufficient

E. Both I and II are sufficient

**Answer: D**

Explanation: From I, we conclude that H is the only daughter of M. But this does not indicate that M has no son. The information given in II is immaterial.

4\. How much was the total sale of the company ?

Statements: The company sold 8000 units of product A each costing Rs. 25.

This company has no other product line.

A. I alone is sufficient while II alone is not sufficient

B. II alone is sufficient while I alone is not sufficient

C. Either I or II is sufficient

D. Neither I nor II is sufficient

E. Both I and II are sufficient

**Answer: E**

Explanation: From I, total sale of product A = Rs. (8000 x 25) = Rs. 200000.

From II, we know that the company deals only in product A.

This implies that sale of product A is the total sale of the company, which is Rs. 200000.

5\. The last Sunday of March, 2006 fell on which date ?

Statements: The first Sunday of that month fell on 5th.

The last day of that month was Friday.

A. I alone is sufficient while II alone is not sufficient

B. II alone is sufficient while I alone is not sufficient

C. Either I or II is sufficient

D. Neither I nor II is sufficient

E. Both I and II are sufficient

**Answer: C**

Explanation: From I, we conclude that 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th of March, 2006 were Sundays.

So, the last Sunday fell on 26th.

From II, we conclude that 31st March, 2006 was Friday. Thus, 26th March, 2006 was the last Sunday of the month.