CAT 2024 Slot 3 · DILR · Question 4

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

Caselet DIData InterpretationMultiple choiceMedium

Set 1: ATMs on a Road Network — this question belongs to a set. Read the full set with all 5 questions →

The figure below shows a network with three parallel roads represented by horizontal lines R-A, R-B, and R-C and another three parallel roads represented by vertical lines V1, V2, and V3. The figure also shows the distance (in km) between two adjacent intersections. Six ATMs are placed at six of the nine road intersections. Each ATM has a distinct integer cash requirement (in Rs. Lakhs), and the numbers at the end of each line in the figure indicate the total cash requirements of all ATMs placed on the corresponding road. For example, the total cash requirement of the ATM(s) placed on road R-A is Rs. 22 Lakhs.

The following additional information is known.

1. The ATMs with the minimum and maximum cash requirements of Rs. 7 Lakhs and Rs. 15 Lakhs are placed on the same road.

2. The road distance between the ATM with the second highest cash requirement and the ATM located at the intersection of R-C and V3 is 12 km.

What best can be said about the road distance (in km) between the ATMs having the second highest and the second lowest cash requirements?

A
4 km
B
7 km
C
5 km
D
Either 4 km or 7 km

Pick an option, then check.

Answer & solution

Answer: Option D

Solving the set

Step 1 – Totals. Rows: 22 + 20 + 20 = 62; columns: 15 + 21 + 26 = 62. So the six distinct requirements add up to 62. The minimum is 7 and the maximum is 15, so every value lies between 7 and 15.

Step 2 – Number of ATMs on each road. One ATM gives at most 15; three ATMs give at least 7 + 8 + 9 = 24.

Road	Total (Rs L)	Possible number of ATMs	Reason
R-A	22	2	1 ATM ≤ 15 < 22; 3 ATMs ≥ 7 + 8 + 9 = 24 > 22
R-B	20	2	1 ATM ≤ 15 < 20; 3 ATMs ≥ 24 > 20
R-C	20	2	Same as R-B
V1	15	1 (15) or 2 (7 + 8)	3 ATMs ≥ 24 > 15
V2	21	2	1 ATM ≤ 15 < 21; 3 ATMs ≥ 24 > 21
V3	26	2 or 3	1 ATM ≤ 15 < 26

So each row has exactly two ATMs, V2 has two, and V1 and V3 share the remaining four: either V1 = 2 and V3 = 2, or V1 = 1 and V3 = 3.

Step 3 – Fact 2 says there is an ATM at (R-C, V3).

Step 4 – Case I: V1 has two ATMs. 15 = 7 + 8 is the only possibility. 15 cannot be on V2 (its partner would be 6), so 15 is on V3 with 11 (26 = 15 + 11). 7 and 15 are on the same road (fact 1), so they share a row; 7 + 15 = 22 means that row is R-A. V2's two ATMs (sum 21) must avoid 7, 8, 11 and 15, so they are 9 and 12. The ATM at (R-C, V3) must be 11, so R-C = 11 + 9 and R-B = 8 + 12.

Step 5 – Case II: V1 has one ATM, 15. Then V3 has three ATMs adding to 26 and including 7 (the 7 must share a row with 15, and that row is R-A since 7 + 15 = 22). V3 = 7, 8, 11 or 7, 9, 10.

• V3 = 7, 8, 11: V2 = 9 and 12. Rows B and C each need one V2 ATM and one V3 ATM adding to 20: 12 + 8 and 9 + 11. Fact 2: the second highest (12) must be 12 km from (R-C, V3). If 12 were in R-C, the distance would be only 7 km; so 12 is at (R-B, V2), 8 at (R-B, V3), 9 at (R-C, V2), 11 at (R-C, V3). Distance = 5 + 7 = 12 km ✓.

• V3 = 7, 9, 10: V2 = 8 and 13, but no V2 + V3 pair makes 20. Not possible.

Case	V1	V3	V2 (sum 21)	Rows B and C (sum 20 each)	Result
I	7, 8	15, 11	9, 12	R-B = 8 + 12, R-C = 9 + 11	Valid (12 to R-C/V3 = 5 + 7 = 12 km)
II (a)	15	7, 8, 11	9, 12	R-B = 12 + 8, R-C = 9 + 11	Valid (12 to R-C/V3 = 12 km)
II (a′)	15	7, 8, 11	9, 12	R-B = 9 + 11, R-C = 12 + 8	Invalid (12 to R-C/V3 = 7 km)
II (b)	15	7, 9, 10	8, 13	No pair adds to 20	Invalid

Step 6 – The two valid arrangements:

Arrangement 1	V1	V2	V3	Row total
R-A	7	—	15	22
R-B	8	12	—	20
R-C	—	9	11	20
Column total	15	21	26	62

Arrangement 2	V1	V2	V3	Row total
R-A	15	—	7	22
R-B	—	12	8	20
R-C	—	9	11	20
Column total	15	21	26	62

This question

Second highest = 12 at (R-B, V2) in both arrangements. Second lowest = 8:

• Arrangement 1: 8 at (R-B, V1), distance along R-B = 4 km.

• Arrangement 2: 8 at (R-B, V3), distance along R-B = 7 km.

So the distance is either 4 km or 7 km.

Hence, the answer is option 4.

CAT 2024 Slot 3 · DILR · Question 4

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