Title: CAT 2023 Slot 3 LRDI (Logical Reasoning Data Interpretation)
In the CAT 2023 Slot 3, the Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation (LRDI) section presented a variety of questions that tested candidates' analytical skills, logical thinking, and ability to interpret data. Below are some typical questions and their explanations.
Question: A company has three departments - A, B, and C. The ratio of the number of employees in these departments is 3:5:7. If the total number of employees in the company is 1000, how many employees are in department B?
Answer: The total ratio is 3 + 5 + 7 = 15 parts. Therefore, each part represents 1000 / 15 = 66.67 employees (approximately). Since department B has 5 parts, the number of employees in department B is 5 * 66.67 = 333.35 (approximately), which is approximately 333 employees.
Question: A factory produces 1000 units of product X, 1500 units of product Y, and 2000 units of product Z. The production cost per unit for X, Y, and Z is Rs. 10, Rs. 15, and Rs. 20, respectively. If the factory earns a profit of 20% on the selling price, what is the selling price of product Y?
Answer: The total cost of production for all products is (1000 * 10) + (1500 * 15) + (2000 * 20) = Rs. 30,000. The profit is 20% of the selling price, so the selling price is Rs. 30,000 / 0.8 = Rs. 37,500. The selling price of product Y is Rs. 37,500 - (1000 * 10) - (2000 * 20) = Rs. 12,500.
Question: A car travels from point A to point B at a speed of 60 km/h. It returns from point B to point A at a speed of 80 km/h. What is the average speed of the car for the entire trip?
Answer: The distance between point A and point B is the same for both the onward and return journeys. Let the distance be d km. The time taken to travel from A to B is d / 60 hours, and the time taken to travel from B to A is d / 80 hours. The total time taken for the round trip is d / 60 + d / 80 hours. The average speed is the total distance traveled divided by the total time taken, which is 2d / (d / 60 + d / 80) = 48 km/h.
Question: A person spends 60% of his income on food, 25% on rent, and the remaining amount on other expenses. If his monthly income is Rs. 10,000, how much does he spend on rent?
Answer: The person spends 25% of his income on rent, which is 0.25 * 10,000 = Rs. 2,500.
Question: A box contains 5 red balls, 7 blue balls, and 8 green balls. If 3 balls are drawn at random without replacement, what is the probability of drawing 2 red balls and 1 blue ball?
Answer: The total number of ways to draw 3 balls from the box is C(20, 3) = 1140. The number of ways to draw 2 red balls and 1 blue ball is C(5, 2) * C(7, 1) = 70. Therefore, the probability is 70 / 1140 = 0.0611 (approximately).
These are just a few examples of the questions that appeared in the CAT 2023 Slot 3 LRDI section. The key to solving these questions is to understand the concepts and apply logical reasoning to interpret the given data.
Title: CAT 2023 Slot 3 LRDI: Strategic Approach to Logic, Data Interpretation, and Reading Comprehension
The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2023 Slot 3 included challenging sections in Logical Reasoning (LR), Data Interpretation (DI), Reading Comprehension (RC), and Verbal Ability (VA). Below is a strategic guide to tackle these sections effectively, with a focus on high-impact question types and solutions tailored for Indian exam patterns.
1. Logical Reasoning (LR): Game-Based Problems
Key Topics: Seating Arrangements, Blood Relations, Puzzles, and Binary Logic.
Strategy:
Seating Arrangements:
Step 1: Create a grid or table to map constraints (e.g., "A sits opposite to B," "C is not adjacent to D").
Step 2: Use keywords like "must," "cannot," or "at least" to prioritize fixed positions.
Example:
Q. Six people (P, Q, R, S, T, U) sit in a circle. P is next to Q and R. S is opposite T. Who is between U and R?
Solution: Fix P at position 1. Q and R occupy 2 and 6. S and T are at 3 and 5. U fills position 4. Hence, U is between R (6) and S (3).
Puzzles (Grouping & Floor-based):
Step 1: List entities (e.g., people, objects) and categorize them by attributes (age, color, profession).
Step 2: Use elimination for overlapping constraints.
Example:
Q. Five friends (A-E) live on different floors. A is above B but below C. D is not adjacent to E. Who is on the top floor?
Solution: Order: C > A > B. D and E occupy floors 2 and 4 (non-adjacent). Top floor = C.
Pro Tip: Practice 3-4 puzzles daily from mocks like mocks.ai or Cracku to improve speed.
2. Data Interpretation (DI): Mixed Graphs & Caselets
Key Topics: Bar Graphs, Line Charts, Caselets with Multiple Tables.
Strategy:
Mixed Graphs:
Step 1: Skim questions first to identify required data (e.g., "What is the % increase in sales in 2023 vs. 2021?").
Step 2: Calculate directly from the graph to avoid misinterpretation.
Example:
Q. A company’s revenue (in ₹ crores) from 2019–2023 is shown in a bar graph. What was the average revenue from 2020–2022?
Solution: Extract values for 2020, 2021, 2022 → Sum ÷ 3 = Answer.
Caselets:
Step 1: Summarize key data (e.g., ratios, percentages) in a table.
Step 2: Answer sequentially; later questions often depend on earlier answers.
Example:
Q. A survey on 1,000 students’ preferences for sports (Cricket, Football, Tennis) is given in a table. If 30% of Tennis fans play both sports, how many play only Tennis?
Solution: Total Tennis = 200. Both = 30% of 200 = 60. Only Tennis = 200 – 60 = 140.
Pro Tip: Use approximation for DI to save time (e.g., round numbers to nearest 5 or 10).
3. Reading Comprehension (RC): Academic & Business Contexts
Key Topics: Para-Conclusion, Main Idea, Inference.
Strategy:
Para-Conclusion:
Step 1: Identify signal words (e.g., "however," "therefore") and the author’s stance.
Step 2: Avoid extreme answers; focus on implicit conclusions.
Example:
Q. The passage discusses renewable energy adoption. Which statement best concludes the paragraph?
Solution: If the author emphasizes challenges despite benefits, the conclusion is likely about the need for policy support.
Inference:
Step 1: Base answers on the text, not outside knowledge.
Step 2: Look for "must be inferred" or "cannot be inferred" keywords.
Example:
Q. It is inferred that AI will replace 50% of jobs by 2030. Is this true?
Solution: If the passage states experts predict 30%, the answer is "No."
Pro Tip: Skim headings and first/last sentences of each passage to grasp the main theme.
4. Verbal Ability (VA): Para-Jumbles & Synonyms
Key Topics: Para-Jumbles (Ordering), Para-Completion, Synonyms.
Strategy:
Para-Jumbles:
Step 1: Use topic markers (e.g., "climate change," "economic policies") and cohesive devices (e.g., "however," "furthermore").
Step 2: Test options by inserting sentences 1-3 and checking flow.
Example:
Q. Which sentence logically follows "Global warming is a critical issue requiring immediate action."?
Solution: A sentence about rising CO2 levels would fit best.
Synonyms:
Step 1: Eliminate options with different meanings (e.g., "frustrate" vs. "encourage").
Step 2: Use context clues (e.g., "disheartened" in a failure scenario).
Example:
Q. "Disheartened" means:
Solution: "Encouraged" is opposite; correct synonym is "depressed."
Pro Tip: Memorize high-impact synonyms (e.g., "ephemeral" = temporary) using apps like Vocab building tools.
Final Tips for CAT 2023 Slot 3
Time Management: Allocate 60 mins for LR, 45 mins for DI, 30 mins for RC, and 25 mins for VA.
Practice Previous Year Papers: Focus on Slot 2 and Slot 1 patterns (CAT often repeats question types).
Review Weak Areas: Use mock analyses to identify recurring mistakes.
Sample Timetable:
9:00–10:00 AM: LR + DI (Mixed Graphs + Puzzles)
10:15–10:45 AM: RC + VA (Para-Jumbles + Synonyms)
10:50–11:30 AM: Full-Length Mock Test
Recommended Resources:
Mocks: mocks.ai, CareerGuide
Books: "How to Prepare for CAT" by Arun Sharma, "Data Interpretation" by Meena Singal
By mastering these strategies, candidates can optimize their performance in CAT 2023 Slot 3 and beyond. Stay calm, analyze mistakes, and trust the process!
Note: For specific question banks or personalized doubt clarification, refer to platforms like BYJU'S or IIMskilled.
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