CAT 2024 Slot 3 · DILR · Question 15

CAT 2024 Slot 3 previous year question on Tables, with the answer and a step-by-step solution.

TablesData InterpretationMultiple choiceMedium

Set 4: GDP and Population Growth of Ten Countries — this question belongs to a set. Read the full set with all 4 questions →

Out of 10 countries -- Country 1 through Country 10 -- Country 9 has the highest gross domestic product (GDP), and Country 10 has the highest GDP per capita. GDP per capita is the GDP of a country divided by its population. The table below provides the following data about Country 1 through Country 8 for the year 2024.

• Column 1 gives the country's identity.

• Column 2 gives the country’s GDP as a fraction of the GDP of Country 9.

• Column 3 gives the country’s GDP per capita as a fraction of the GDP per capita of Country 10.

• Column 4 gives the country’s annual GDP growth rate.

• Column 5 gives the country’s annual population growth rate.

Country	GDP	GDP per capita	GDP growth rate	Population growth rate
Country 1	0.15	0.41	0.2%	-0.12%
Country 2	0.14	0.25	0.9%	-0.41%
Country 3	0.13	0.02	6.5%	0.70%
Country 4	0.12	0.38	0.5%	0.49%
Country 5	0.1	0.36	0.7%	0.31%
Country 6	0.08	0.08	3.2%	0.61%
Country 7	0.08	0.3	0.7%	-0.11%
Country 8	0.07	0.41	1.2%	0.71%

Assume that the GDP growth rates and population growth rates of the countries will remain constant for the next three years.

The ratio of Country 4’s GDP to Country 5’s GDP in 2026 will be closest to

A
1.195
B
0.963
C
1.314
D
1.032

Pick an option, then check.

Answer & solution

Answer: Option A

Solving the set

Step 1 – Let Country 9's GDP be G and Country 10's GDP per capita be p. Then each country's GDP = (column 2) × G and GDP per capita = (column 3) × p.

Step 2 – Population = GDP ÷ GDP per capita = (column 2 ÷ column 3) × G/p. Since G/p is the same for every country, populations can be compared using column 2 ÷ column 3.

Country	GDP (× G)	GDP per capita (× p)	Population = GDP ÷ GDP per capita (× G/p)	GDP growth	Population growth
1	0.15	0.41	0.366	0.2%	−0.12%
2	0.14	0.25	0.560	0.9%	−0.41%
3	0.13	0.02	6.500	6.5%	0.70%
4	0.12	0.38	0.316	0.5%	0.49%
5	0.10	0.36	0.278	0.7%	0.31%
6	0.08	0.08	1.000	3.2%	0.61%
7	0.08	0.30	0.267	0.7%	−0.11%
8	0.07	0.41	0.171	1.2%	0.71%

Step 3 – Future values. After n years, GDP = GDP₂₀₂₄ × (1 + GDP growth)ⁿ and population = Population₂₀₂₄ × (1 + population growth)ⁿ. GDP per capita rises if the GDP growth rate is higher than the population growth rate.

This question

2026 is 2 years after 2024.

Country 4's GDP in 2026 = 0.12G × (1.005)² = 0.12G × 1.010025 ≈ 0.12120G.

Country 5's GDP in 2026 = 0.10G × (1.007)² = 0.10G × 1.014049 ≈ 0.10140G.

Ratio = 0.12120/0.10140 ≈ 1.195.

Hence, the answer is option 1.

CAT 2024 Slot 3 · DILR · Question 15

More Tables questions