CAT 2021 Slot 1 · DILR · Set 4: Sales by Product Subcategory

The full set and all 4 questions (Q17–Q20) from CAT 2021 Slot 1, with answers and solutions.

The horizontal bars in the above diagram represent 2020 aggregate sales (in ₹ million) of a company for the different subcategories of its products. The top four product subcategories (Bookcases, Chairs, Furnishings, Tables) belong to furniture product category; the bottom four product subcategories (Accessories, Copiers, Machines, Phones) belong to the technology product category while all other product subcategories belong to the office supply product category. For each of the product subcategories, there is a vertical line indicating the sales of the corresponding subcategory in 2019.

Question 17 · Reasoning Based DI

The total sales (in ₹ million) in 2019 from products in office supplies category is closest to
  1. A
    18.0
  2. B
    16.5
  3. C
    13.5
  4. D
    12.5
Pick an option, then check.
Answer & solution

Answer: Option C

Solving the set

Step 1 – Read each subcategory's 2020 bar (length) and 2019 marker (vertical line) from the chart (₹ million).

Category

Subcategory

2019

2020

% change

Furniture

Bookcases

1.9

2.2

+15.8%

Chairs

6.15

7.0

+13.8%

Furnishings

2.0

2.05

+2.5%

Tables

4.35

4.5

+3.4%

Office supply

Binders

3.65

5.3

+45.2%

Art

0.45

0.6

+33.3%

Appliances

1.9

3.1

+63.2%

Envelopes

0.4

0.2

−50%

Fasteners

0.05

0.1

+100%

Labels

0.2

0.3

+50%

Paper

1.5

2.0

+33.3%

Storage

4.3

5.1

+18.6%

Supplies

1.05

1.2

+14.3%

Technology

Accessories

3.05

4.4

+44.3%

Copiers

3.65

4.6

+26.0%

Machines

4.1

3.2

−22.0%

Phones

5.8

7.7

+32.8%

Step 2 – Category totals and improvement indices.

Category

2019 total

2020 total

Change

Improvement index (max subcategory %)

Furniture

14.4

15.75

+9.4%

15.8% (Bookcases)

Office supply

13.5

17.9

+32.6%

100% (Fasteners)

Technology

16.6

19.9

+19.9%

44.3% (Accessories)

This question

Office supply 2019 = 3.65 + 0.45 + 1.9 + 0.4 + 0.05 + 0.2 + 1.5 + 4.3 + 1.05 = 13.5.

Hence, the answer is option 3.

Question 18 · Reasoning Based DI

The percentage increase in sales in Furniture category from 2019 to 2020 is closest to
  1. A
    20%
  2. B
    8%
  3. C
    25%
  4. D
    1%
Pick an option, then check.
Answer & solution

Answer: Option B

Solving the set

Step 1 – Read each subcategory's 2020 bar (length) and 2019 marker (vertical line) from the chart (₹ million).

Category

Subcategory

2019

2020

% change

Furniture

Bookcases

1.9

2.2

+15.8%

Chairs

6.15

7.0

+13.8%

Furnishings

2.0

2.05

+2.5%

Tables

4.35

4.5

+3.4%

Office supply

Binders

3.65

5.3

+45.2%

Art

0.45

0.6

+33.3%

Appliances

1.9

3.1

+63.2%

Envelopes

0.4

0.2

−50%

Fasteners

0.05

0.1

+100%

Labels

0.2

0.3

+50%

Paper

1.5

2.0

+33.3%

Storage

4.3

5.1

+18.6%

Supplies

1.05

1.2

+14.3%

Technology

Accessories

3.05

4.4

+44.3%

Copiers

3.65

4.6

+26.0%

Machines

4.1

3.2

−22.0%

Phones

5.8

7.7

+32.8%

Step 2 – Category totals and improvement indices.

Category

2019 total

2020 total

Change

Improvement index (max subcategory %)

Furniture

14.4

15.75

+9.4%

15.8% (Bookcases)

Office supply

13.5

17.9

+32.6%

100% (Fasteners)

Technology

16.6

19.9

+19.9%

44.3% (Accessories)

This question

Furniture rose from 14.4 to 15.75: (15.75 − 14.4)/14.4 × 100 ≈ 9.4%. Of the options, 8% is closest.

Hence, the answer is option 2.

Question 19 · Reasoning Based DI

How many subcategories had sales of ₹ 4 million or more in 2019 and registered an increase in sales in excess of 25% in 2020?
Answer & solution

Answer: 1

Solving the set

Step 1 – Read each subcategory's 2020 bar (length) and 2019 marker (vertical line) from the chart (₹ million).

Category

Subcategory

2019

2020

% change

Furniture

Bookcases

1.9

2.2

+15.8%

Chairs

6.15

7.0

+13.8%

Furnishings

2.0

2.05

+2.5%

Tables

4.35

4.5

+3.4%

Office supply

Binders

3.65

5.3

+45.2%

Art

0.45

0.6

+33.3%

Appliances

1.9

3.1

+63.2%

Envelopes

0.4

0.2

−50%

Fasteners

0.05

0.1

+100%

Labels

0.2

0.3

+50%

Paper

1.5

2.0

+33.3%

Storage

4.3

5.1

+18.6%

Supplies

1.05

1.2

+14.3%

Technology

Accessories

3.05

4.4

+44.3%

Copiers

3.65

4.6

+26.0%

Machines

4.1

3.2

−22.0%

Phones

5.8

7.7

+32.8%

Step 2 – Category totals and improvement indices.

Category

2019 total

2020 total

Change

Improvement index (max subcategory %)

Furniture

14.4

15.75

+9.4%

15.8% (Bookcases)

Office supply

13.5

17.9

+32.6%

100% (Fasteners)

Technology

16.6

19.9

+19.9%

44.3% (Accessories)

This question

2019 sales of ₹4 million or more: Chairs, Tables, Storage, Machines, Phones. Their changes are +13.8%, +3.4%, +18.6%, −22% and +32.8%. Only Phones grew by over 25%.

Hence, the answer is 1.

Question 20 · Reasoning Based DI

The improvement index for a category is the maximum percentage increase in sales from 2019 to 2020 among any of its subcategories. The correct order of categories in increasing order of this improvement index is
  1. A
    furniture, technology, office supply
  2. B
    technology, furniture, office supply
  3. C
    office supply, technology, furniture
  4. D
    office supply, furniture, technology
Pick an option, then check.
Answer & solution

Answer: Option A

Solving the set

Step 1 – Read each subcategory's 2020 bar (length) and 2019 marker (vertical line) from the chart (₹ million).

Category

Subcategory

2019

2020

% change

Furniture

Bookcases

1.9

2.2

+15.8%

Chairs

6.15

7.0

+13.8%

Furnishings

2.0

2.05

+2.5%

Tables

4.35

4.5

+3.4%

Office supply

Binders

3.65

5.3

+45.2%

Art

0.45

0.6

+33.3%

Appliances

1.9

3.1

+63.2%

Envelopes

0.4

0.2

−50%

Fasteners

0.05

0.1

+100%

Labels

0.2

0.3

+50%

Paper

1.5

2.0

+33.3%

Storage

4.3

5.1

+18.6%

Supplies

1.05

1.2

+14.3%

Technology

Accessories

3.05

4.4

+44.3%

Copiers

3.65

4.6

+26.0%

Machines

4.1

3.2

−22.0%

Phones

5.8

7.7

+32.8%

Step 2 – Category totals and improvement indices.

Category

2019 total

2020 total

Change

Improvement index (max subcategory %)

Furniture

14.4

15.75

+9.4%

15.8% (Bookcases)

Office supply

13.5

17.9

+32.6%

100% (Fasteners)

Technology

16.6

19.9

+19.9%

44.3% (Accessories)

This question

From Step 2, the improvement indices are Furniture 15.8%, Technology 44.3% and Office supply 100%. Increasing order: furniture, technology, office supply.

Hence, the answer is option 1.

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