Previous Year CAT Questions for Data Sufficiency

1. CAT 2008 QA | Data Sufficiency CAT Question

What is the number of matches played by the champion?

A: The entry list for the tournament consists of 83 players.
B: The champion received one bye.

(a)
1
(b)
2
(c)
3
(d)
4
(e)
5

2. CAT 2008 QA | Data Sufficiency CAT Question

If the number of players, say n, in the first round was between 65 and 128, then what is the exact value of n?

A. Exactly one player received a bye in the entire tournament.
B. One player received a bye while moving on to the fourth round from the third round

(a)
1
(b)
2
(c)
3
(d)
4
(e)
5

Answer: Option D

Text Explanation :

From statement (A) alone:

Exactly 1 player received a bye in the entire tournament. We get many values of n between 65 and 128 that satisfy this condition.

For example, n can have the value 124 in round 1, to follow the pattern, [124-62-31-16-8-4-2-1].

Also, n can have the value 127 in round 1, to follow the pattern, [127-64-32-16-8-4-2-1].

∴ We cannot answer the question on the basis of statement (A) alone.

From statement (B) alone:

One player received a bye while moving on to the fourth round from the third round.

Here also, we get multiple values of n.

For example, n can have the value 124 in round 1, where 1 player received a bye while moving from round 3 to round 4 following the pattern, [124-62-31-16-8-4-2-1].

Also, n can have the value 122 in round 1, where 1 player received a bye while moving from round 3 to round 4 following the pattern, [122-61-31-16-8-4-2-1].

∴ We cannot answer the question on the basis of statement (B) alone.

From statements (A) and (B) together:

n can only have the value 124 in round 1, where exactly 1 player received a bye while moving from round 3 to round 4 following the pattern [124-62-31-16-8-4-2-1].

∴ We can answer the question using both the statements (A) and (B) together.

Hence, option (d).

Note: An analysis of how 124 was arrived at when using both conditions together:

Let the number of players in the first round be n. Since only one player gets a bye, and that too when moving from the third to the fourth round, hence we have the following conditions:

1. There will be n players in the first round, where n is even.

2. There will be n/2 players in the second round, where n/2 is even.

3. There will be n/4 players in the third round, where n/4 is odd.

4. There will be $\frac{\frac{n}{4} + 1}{2} = \frac{n + 4}{8}$ players in the fourth round, where $\frac{n + 4}{8}$ should be even.

5. All numbers of players in the subsequent rounds should also be even.

From condition 3, we can conclude that:

$\frac{n + 4}{8} = 2 k,$ where k is an integer

Hence, n = 16k – 4; so, within the given range, n could be 76 or 92 or 108 or 124.

Writing the pattern for each of the above possible values of n, we have:

76: [76-38-19-10-5-3-2-1]

92: [92-46-23-12-6-3-2-1]

108: [108-54-27-14-7-4-2-1]

124: [124-62-31-16-8-4-2-1]

We see that only 124 satisfies condition 5.

Hence, option (d).

3. CAT 2007 QA | Data Sufficiency CAT Question

Each question is followed by two statements A and B. Answer each question using the following instructions.
Mark (1) if the question can be answered by using statement A alone but not by using statement B alone.
Mark (2) if the question can be answered by using statement B alone but not by using statement A alone.
Mark (3) if the question can be answered by using both the statements together but not by using either of the statements alone.
Mark (4) if the question cannot be answered on the basis of the two statements.

The average weight of a class of 100 students is 45 kg. The class consists of two sections, I and II, each with 50 students. The average weight, W_I, of Section I is smaller than the average weight, W_II, of Section II. If the heaviest student, say Deepak, of Section II is moved to Section I, and the lightest student, say Poonam, of Section I is moved to Section II, then the average weights of the two sections are switched, i.e., the average weight of Section I becomes W_II and that of Section II becomes W_I. What is the weight of Poonam?

A. W_II – W_I = 1.0
B. Moving Deepak from Section II to I (without any move from I to II) makes the average weights of the two sections equal.

(a)
1
(b)
2
(c)
3
(d)
4

4. CAT 2007 QA | Data Sufficiency CAT Question

Each question is followed by two statements, I and II. Answer each question using the following instructions:

Mark (1) if the question can be answered by using statement I alone but not by using statement II alone.
Mark (2) if the question can be answered by using statement II alone but not by using statement I alone.
Mark (3) if the question can be answered by using either of the statements alone.
Mark (4) if the question can be answered by using both the statements together but not by either of the statements alone.
Mark (5) if the question cannot be answered by using any of the statements.

In a football match, at the half-time, Mahindra and Mahindra Club was trailing by three goals. Did it win the match?

I. In the second-half Mahindra and Mahindra Club scored four goals.
II. The opponent scored four goals in the match.

(a)
1
(b)
2
(c)
3
(d)
4
(e)
5

5. CAT 2007 QA | Data Sufficiency CAT Question

Each question is followed by two statements, I and II. Answer each question using the following instructions:

Mark (1) if the question can be answered by using statement I alone but not by using statement II alone.
Mark (2) if the question can be answered by using statement II alone but not by using statement I alone.
Mark (3) if the question can be answered by using either of the statements alone.
Mark (4) if the question can be answered by using both the statements together but not by either of the statements alone.
Mark (5) if the question cannot be answered by using any of the statements.

In a particular school, sixty students were athletes. Ten among them were also among the top academic performers. How many top academic performers were in the school?

I. Sixty per cent of the top academic performers were not athletes.
II. All the top academic performers were not necessarily athletes.

(a)
1
(b)
2
(c)
3
(d)
4
(e)
5

6. CAT 2007 QA | Data Sufficiency CAT Question

Each question is followed by two statements, I and II. Answer each question using the following instructions:

Mark (1) if the question can be answered by using statement I alone but not by using statement II alone.
Mark (2) if the question can be answered by using statement II alone but not by using statement I alone.
Mark (3) if the question can be answered by using either of the statements alone.
Mark (4) if the question can be answered by using both the statements together but not by either of the statements alone.
Mark (5) if the question cannot be answered by using any of the statements.

Five students Atul, Bala, Chetan, Dev and Ernesto were the only ones who participated in a quiz contest. They were ranked based on their scores in the contest. Dev got a higher rank as compared to Ernesto, while Bala got a higher rank as compared to Chetan. Chetan’s rank was lower than the median. Who among the five got the highest rank?

I. Atul was the last rank holder.
II. Bala was not among the top two rank holders.

(a)
1
(b)
2
(c)
3
(d)
4
(e)
5

7. CAT 2007 QA | Data Sufficiency CAT Question

Each question is followed by two statements, I and II. Answer each question using the following instructions:

Mark (1) if the question can be answered by using statement I alone but not by using statement II alone.
Mark (2) if the question can be answered by using statement II alone but not by using statement I alone.
Mark (3) if the question can be answered by using either of the statements alone.
Mark (4) if the question can be answered by using both the statements together but not by either of the statements alone.
Mark (5) if the question cannot be answered by using any of the statements.

Thirty percent of the employees of a call centre are males. Ten per cent of the female employees have an engineering background. What is the percentage of male employees with engineering background?

I. Twenty five per cent of the employees have engineering background.
II. Number of male employees having an engineering background is 20% more than the number of female employees having an engineering background.

(a)
1
(b)
2
(c)
3
(d)
4
(e)
5

8. CAT 2004 QA | Data Sufficiency CAT Question

Each question is followed by two statements, A and B. Answer each question using the following instructions

Choose 1 if the question can be answered by using one of the statements alone but not by using the other statement alone.
Choose 2 if the question can be answered by using either of the statements alone.
Choose 3 if the question can be answered by using both statements together but not by either statement alone.
Choose 4 if the question cannot be answered on the basis of the two statements.

Ravi spent less than Rs.75 to buy one kilogram each of potato, onion, and gourd. Which one of the three vegetables bought was the costliest?

A. 2 kg potato and 1 kg gourd cost less than 1 kg potato and 2 kg gourd.
B. 1 kg potato and 2 kg onion together cost the same as 1 kg onion and 2 kg gourd.

(a)
1
(b)
2
(c)
3
(d)
4

9. CAT 2004 QA | Data Sufficiency CAT Question

Each question is followed by two statements, A and B. Answer each question using the following instructions

Choose 1 if the question can be answered by using one of the statements alone but not by using the other statement alone.
Choose 2 if the question can be answered by using either of the statements alone.
Choose 3 if the question can be answered by using both statements together but not by either statement alone.
Choose 4 if the question cannot be answered on the basis of the two statements.

Tarak is standing 2 steps to the left of a red mark and 3 steps to the right of a blue mark. He tosses a coin. If it comes up heads, he moves one step to the right; otherwise he moves one step to the left. He keeps doing this until he reaches one of the two marks, and then he stops. At which mark does he stop?

A. He stops after 21 coin tosses.
B. He obtains three more tails than heads.

(a)
1
(b)
2
(c)
3
(d)
4

10. CAT 2004 QA | Data Sufficiency CAT Question

Each question is followed by two statements, A and B. Answer each question using the following instructions

Choose 1 if the question can be answered by using one of the statements alone but not by using the other statement alone.
Choose 2 if the question can be answered by using either of the statements alone.
Choose 3 if the question can be answered by using both statements together but not by either statement alone.
Choose 4 if the question cannot be answered on the basis of the two statements.

Nandini paid for an article using currency notes of denominations Re. l, Rs. 2, Rs. 5, and Rs. 10 using at least one note of each denomination. The total number of five and ten rupee notes used was one more than the total number of one and two rupee notes used. What was the price of the article?

A. Nandini used a total of 13 currency notes.
B. The price of the article was a multiple of Rs. 10.

(a)
1
(b)
2
(c)
3
(d)
4

11. CAT 2004 QA | Data Sufficiency CAT Question

Each question is followed by two statements, A and B. Answer each question using the following instructions

Choose 1 if the question can be answered by using one of the statements alone but not by using the other statement alone.
Choose 2 if the question can be answered by using either of the statements alone.
Choose 3 if the question can be answered by using both statements together but not by either statement alone.
Choose 4 if the question cannot be answered on the basis of the two statements.

Four candidates for an award obtain distinct scores in a test. Each of the four casts a vote to choose the winner of the award. The candidate who gets the largest number of votes wins the award. In case of a tie in the voting process, the candidate with the highest score wins the award. Who wins the award?

A. The candidates with the top three scores each vote for the top scorer amongst the other three.
B. The candidate with the lowest score votes for the player with the second highest score.

(a)
1
(b)
2
(c)
3
(d)
4

12. CAT 2004 QA | Data Sufficiency CAT Question

Each question is followed by two statements, A and B. Answer each question using the following instructions

Choose 1 if the question can be answered by using one of the statements alone but not by using the other statement alone.
Choose 2 if the question can be answered by using either of the statements alone.
Choose 3 if the question can be answered by using both statements together but not by either statement alone.
Choose 4 if the question cannot be answered on the basis of the two statements.

In a class of 30 students, Rashmi secured the third rank among the girls, while her brother Kumar studying in the same class secured the sixth rank in the whole class. Between the two, who had a better overall rank?

A. Kumar was among the top 25% of the boys merit list in the class in which 60% were boys.
B. There were three boys among the top five rank holders, and three girls among the top ten rank holders.

(a)
1
(b)
2
(c)
3
(d)
4

13. CAT 2004 QA | Data Sufficiency CAT Question

Each question is followed by two statements, A and B. Answer each question using the following instructions

Choose 1 if the question can be answered by using one of the statements alone but not by using the other statement alone.
Choose 2 if the question can be answered by using either of the statements alone.
Choose 3 if the question can be answered by using both statements together but not by either statement alone.
Choose 4 if the question cannot be answered on the basis of the two statements.

Zakib spends 30% of his income on his children’s education, 20% on recreation and 10% on healthcare. The corresponding percentages for Supriyo are 40%, 25%, and 13%. Who spends more on children’s education?

A. Zakib spends more on recreation than Supriyo.
B. Supriyo spends more on healthcare than Zakib.

(a)
1
(b)
2
(c)
3
(d)
4

Answer: Option A

Text Explanation :

Let Zakib’s and Supriyo’s incomes be z and s respectively.

Consider statement A:

0.2z > 0.25s

$∴ \frac{z}{s} < 1.25$

∴ z > s

Zakib and Supriyo spend 0.3z and 0.4s on children’s education.

$\frac{0.3 z}{0.4 s} > 0.3 \times \frac{1.25}{0.4} \frac{0.3 z}{0.4 s} > 0.9375$

∴ Statement A alone is not sufficient.

Consider statement B:

0.13s > 0.1z

$∴ \frac{z}{s} < 1.3$

$\frac{0.3 z}{0.4 s} < 0.975$

∴ Supriyo spends more than Zakib on children’s education.

∴ Statement B alone is sufficient.

Hence, option (a).

14. CAT 2003 QA - Leaked | Data Sufficiency CAT Question

Each question is followed by two statements, A and B. Answer each question using the following instructions

Choose 1 if the question can be answered by using one of the statements alone but not by using the other statement alone.
Choose 2 if the question can be answered by using either of the statements alone.
Choose 3 if the question can be answered by using both statements together but not by either statement alone.
Choose 4 if the question cannot be answered on the basis of the two statements.

Is a⁴⁴ < b¹¹, given that a = 2 and b is an integer?

b is even
b is greater than 16

(a)
1
(b)
2
(c)
3
(d)
4

15. CAT 2003 QA - Leaked | Data Sufficiency CAT Question

What are the unique values of b and c in the equation 4x² + bx + c = 0 if one of the roots of the equation is (−1/2)?

A. The second root is 1/2
B. The ratio of c and b is 1

(a)
1
(b)
2
(c)
3
(d)
4

16. CAT 2003 QA - Leaked | Data Sufficiency CAT Question

Each question is followed by two statements, A and B. Answer each question using the following instructions

Choose 1 if the question can be answered by using one of the statements alone but not by using the other statement alone.
Choose 2 if the question can be answered by using either of the statements alone.
Choose 3 if the question can be answered by using both statements together but not by either statement alone.
Choose 4 if the question cannot be answered on the basis of the two statements.

AB is a chord of a circle. AB = 5 cm. A tangent parallel to AB touches the minor arc AB at E. What is the radius of the circle?

A. AB is not a diameter of the circle
B. The distance between AB and the tangent at E is 5 cm

(a)
1
(b)
2
(c)
3
(d)
4

17. CAT 2003 QA - Leaked | Data Sufficiency CAT Question

Each question is followed by two statements, A and B. Answer each question using the following instructions

Choose 1 if the question can be answered by using one of the statements alone but not by using the other statement alone.
Choose 2 if the question can be answered by using either of the statements alone.
Choose 3 if the question can be answered by using both statements together but not by either statement alone.
Choose 4 if the question cannot be answered on the basis of the two statements.

Is $(\frac{1}{a^{2}} + \frac{1}{a^{4}} + \frac{1}{a^{6}} + . . .) > (\frac{1}{a} + \frac{1}{a^{3}} + \frac{1}{a^{5}} + . . .) ?$

A. −3 ≤ a ≤ 3
B. One of the roots of the equation 4x2 − 4x + 1 = 0 is a

(a)
1
(b)
2
(c)
3
(d)
4

Answer: Option A

Text Explanation :

R.H.S. and L.H.S. are infinite GP's with common ratio = $\frac{1}{a^{2}}$ .

∴ We need to find whether

$\frac{\frac{1}{a^{2}}}{1 - \frac{1}{a^{2}}} < \frac{\frac{1}{a}}{1 - \frac{1}{a^{2}}}$

$∴ \frac{1}{a^{2}} > \frac{1}{a}$ ...(i)

This statement (i) is always true for a < 1.

Using statement A alone:

It does not give any conclusion regarding value of a i.e. whether it is less than 1 or not.

So, statement A alone is not sufficient to answer the question.

Using statement B alone:

4a²− 4a + 1 = 0 …(ii)

∴ a = 1/2

So, statement B alone is sufficient to answer the question.

Hence, option (a).

18. CAT 2003 QA - Leaked | Data Sufficiency CAT Question

D, E, F are the mid-points of the sides AB, BC and CA of triangle ABC respectively. What is the area of DEF in square centimetres?

A. AD = 1 cm, DF = 1 cm and perimeter of DEF = 3 cm
B. Perimeter of ABC = 6 cm, AB = 2 cm, and AC = 2 cm

(a)
1
(b)
2
(c)
3
(d)
4

19. CAT 2003 QA - Leaked | Data Sufficiency CAT Question

At the end of year 1998, Shepard bought nine dozen goats. Henceforth, every year he added p% of the goats at the beginning of the year and sold q% of the goats at the end of the year where p > 0 and q > 0. If Shepard had nine dozen goats at the end of year 2002, after making the sales for that year, which of the following is true?

(a)
p = q
(b)
p < q
(c)
p > q
(d)
p = q/2

20. CAT 2003 QA - Leaked | Data Sufficiency CAT Question

In each question there are two statements: A and B.

Choose 1 if the question can be answered by one of the statements alone but not by the other.
Choose 2 if the question can be answered by using either statement alone.
Choose 3 if the question can be answered by using both the statements together but cannot be answered using either statement alone.
Choose 4 if the question cannot be answered even by using both the statements A and B.

A game consists of tossing a coin successively. There is an entry fee of Rs. 10 and an additional fee of Re. 1 for each toss of the coin. The game is considered to have ended normally when the coin turns heads on two consecutive throws. In this case the player is paid Rs. 100. Alternatively, the player can choose to terminate the game prematurely after any of the tosses. Ram has incurred a loss of Rs. 50 by playing this game. How many times did he toss the coin?

A. The game ended normally.
B. The total number of tails obtained in the game was 138.

(a)
1
(b)
2
(c)
3
(d)
4

21. CAT 2003 QA - Leaked | Data Sufficiency CAT Question

In each question there are two statements: A and B.

Choose 1 if the question can be answered by one of the statements alone but not by the other.
Choose 2 if the question can be answered by using either statement alone.
Choose 3 if the question can be answered by using both the statements together but cannot be answered using either statement alone.
Choose 4 if the question cannot be answered even by using both the statements A and B.

Each packet of SOAP costs Rs. 10. Inside each packet is a gift coupon labelled with one of the letters S, O, A, and P. If a customer submits four such coupons that make up the word SOAP, the customer gets a free SOAP packet. Ms. X kept buying packet after packet of SOAP till she could get one set of coupons that formed the word SOAP. How many coupons with label P did she get in the above process?

A. The last label obtained by her was S and the total amount spent was Rs. 210.
B. The total number of vowels obtained was 18.

(a)
1
(b)
2
(c)
3
(d)
4

Answer: Option C

Text Explanation :

From Statement A,

Number of soaps purchased by Ms. X = $\frac{210}{10}$ = 21

Also the last label obtained by her is S.

But this is not sufficient to get the number of P's.

∴ Statement A alone is not sufficient.

From Statement B,

The number of O's and A's is 18.

But this is also not individually sufficient to arrive at the required answer.

∴ Statement B alone is not sufficient.

After combining both the statements A and B, we can conclude that 18 out of 21 coupons are O's and A's and that the 21st is an S.

∴This means that the remaining two are P's.

Hence, option (c).

22. CAT 2003 QA - Leaked | Data Sufficiency CAT Question

In each question there are two statements: A and B.

Choose 1 if the question can be answered by one of the statements alone but not by the other.
Choose 2 if the question can be answered by using either statement alone.
Choose 3 if the question can be answered by using both the statements together but cannot be answered using either statement alone.
Choose 4 if the question cannot be answered even by using both the statements A and B.

If A and B run a race, then A wins by 60 seconds. If B and C run the same race, then B wins by 30 seconds. Assuming that C maintains a uniform speed, what is the time taken by C to finish the race?

A. A and C run the same race and A wins by 375 metres.
B. The length of the race is 1 km.

(a)
1
(b)
2
(c)
3
(d)
4

Answer: Option C

Text Explanation :

From the question, if A and C participate in a race, A will win by 90 seconds.

From statement A,

∵ A beats C by 375 m or 90 sec.

∴ C's speed = $\frac{375 m}{90 s}$

But the length of the track is not known.

∴ Statement A is not sufficient to find the time taken by C to complete the race.

From Statement B we cannot find the speed of C.

∴ Statement B alone is not sufficient.

After combining both the statements A and B, the time taken by C to complete the race

$= \frac{Length of the track}{C' s speed} = \frac{1000}{(\frac{375}{90})}$ = 240 sec

Hence, option (c).

23. CAT 2003 LRDI - Retake | Data Sufficiency CAT Question

In a cricket match, the ‘man of the match’ award is given to the player scoring the highest number of runs. In case of a tie, the player (out of those locked in the tie) who has taken the higher number of catches is chosen. Even thereafter if there is a tie, the player (out of those locked in the tie) who has dropped fewer catches is selected. Aakash, Biplab and Chirag who were contenders for the award dropped at least one catch each. Biplab dropped 2 catches more than Aakash did, scored 50, and took 2 catches. Chirag got two chances to catch and dropped both. Who was the ‘man of the match’?

A. Chirag made 15 runs less than both Aakash and Biplab.
B. The catches dropped by Biplab are 1 more than the catches taken by Aakash.

(a)
1
(b)
2
(c)
3
(d)
4

24. CAT 2003 LRDI - Retake | Data Sufficiency CAT Question

Four friends, A, B, C and D got the top four ranks in a competitive examination, but A did not get the first, B did not get the second, C did not get the third, and D did not get the fourth rank. Who secured which rank?

A. Neither A nor D were among the first 2.
B. Neither B nor C was third or fourth.

(a)
1
(b)
2
(c)
3
(d)
4

25. CAT 2003 LRDI - Retake | Data Sufficiency CAT Question

The members of a local club contributed equally to pay Rs.600 towards a donation. How much did each one pay?

A. If there had been five fewer members, each one would have paid an additional Rs.10.
B. There were at least 20 members in the club, and each one paid no more than Rs.30.

(a)
1
(b)
2
(c)
3
(d)
4

Answer: Option A

Text Explanation :

From statement A,

Let there are x members in the club.

$∴ \frac{600}{(x - 5)} - \frac{600}{x} = 10$

∴ x = 20

∴ Contribution per head = $\frac{600}{20}$ = Rs. 30

∴ Statement A alone is sufficient.

From statement B,

We get there were at least 20 members in the club and each one paid no more than Rs. 30.

The different possibilities for can be :

30 members × 20 rupees = Rs. 600

40 members × 15 rupees = Rs. 600

60 members × 10 rupees = Rs. 600 and so on.

∴ Statement B alone is not sufficient.

Hence, option (a).

Data Sufficiency - Previous Year CAT/MBA Questions

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