CAT 2025 Slot 2 · DILR · Question 8

CAT 2025 Slot 2 previous year question on Reasoning Based DI, with the answer and a step-by-step solution.

Reasoning Based DIDATA INTERPRETATION -High LevelMultiple choiceMedium

Set 2: Research Papers by Four Authors — this question belongs to a set. Read the full set with all 4 questions →

The following charts depict details of research papers written by four authors, Arman, Brajen, Chintan, and Devon. The papers were of four types, single-author, two-author, three-author, and four-author, that is, written by one, two, three, or all four of these authors, respectively. No other authors were involved in writing these papers.

The following additional facts are known.

1. Each of the authors wrote at least one of each of the four types of papers.

2. The four authors wrote different numbers of single-author papers.

3. Both Chintan and Devon wrote more three-author papers than Brajen.

4. The number of single-author and two-author papers written by Brajen were the same.

Which of the following statements is/are NECESSARILY true?

i. Arman wrote three-author papers only with Chintan and Devon.

ii. Brajen wrote three-author papers only with Chintan and Devon.

  1. A

    Only ii

  2. B

    Both i and ii

  3. C

    Only i

  4. D

    Neither i or ii

Pick an option, then check.
Answer & solution

Answer: Option B

There are 3 three-author papers. Chintan and Devon are each on 3 of them, so both are on every three-author paper.

Each three-author paper is therefore Chintan + Devon + one more author. Arman's one paper is Arman–Chintan–Devon, and Brajen's two papers are both Brajen–Chintan–Devon.

Both statements are necessarily true.

Shortcut: two authors who appear on every three-author paper leave room for only one more name on each.

Hence, the answer is option 2.

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