Data Sufficiency is a very important topic for many bank exams like the IBPS PO, SO, SBI PO etc. Data sufficiency questions are asked at moderate to easy level. It covers topics like geometry, algebra, logarithms, etc. There is no one set of rule that you need to prepare for, to solve data sufficiency questions. The only way you can achieve more accuracy in this type of question is through practice.
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Preparing For Data Sufficiency
First and foremost thing you need to remember is the basics. Therefore prepare the formula and basics well. There are also calculative questions asked but those questions will be very few. In data sufficiency, you need to analyze the question properly and decide whether the data given in the options is sufficient to find an answer or not. They can vary from mathematical calculations to coding and decoding, blood relations, and many more.
Data Sufficiency
For each question given, there will be statements along with it. You need to check whether the statements are sufficient to find the answer to the question. These statements will be followed by five statements. These five statements are more or less common in every competitive exam. Here are those five statements:
- Data in statement 1 is sufficient alone to determine the answer.
- Data in statement 2 is sufficient alone to determine the answer.
- Data in either of the statements is sufficient to determine the answer.
- Data provided in both the statements together are not sufficient to determine the answer.
- Data in both statements are required to determine the answer.
You have got a general sense of what data sufficiency is. Now we will help you with the questions that can be asked in data sufficiency. We will try to cover as much as different types of question as we can. For all these questions we will provide you with the solution and understanding. After this, there will be practice questions. You can use these questions for practice and develop an approach towards solving it.
Some Examples of Data Sufficiency
Example 1: A, B, C, D, and E scored different marks in different exams. From statements given below determine who has secured the last position.
The statement I: D has scored fewer marks than C and E.
Statement II: B has scored more marks than A.
- Data in statement 1 is sufficient alone to determine the answer.
- Data in statement 2 is sufficient alone to determine the answer.
- Data in either of the statements is sufficient to determine the answer.
- Data provided in both the statements together are not sufficient to determine the answer.
- Data in both statements are required to determine the answer.
From the statement I, you can determine that marks scored by D < marks scored by C and E. While from the statement II you can see that marks scored by N > marks scored by M. No statement alone can determine who has scored the least marks. Using two statements together you can see that either D or M must have scored the least marks. But there is no definite answer. And thus option (4) is the correct answer.
Q. Determine the father of X.
The statement I: P and Q are brothers.
Statement II: Q’s wife is the sister of X’s wife.
Options to all the questions will be as per the above question.
The statement I gives the relation between P and Q. So statement I alone cannot determine the answer. Through statement II we can determine that Q is the brother-in-law of X. Thus using both the statements you cannot determine the father of X. Thus correct answer is the option (4).
Q. Four players P, Q, R, and S are playing cards. Who is R’s partner in the game?
The statement I: Q is to the right of P and left of S.
Statement II: S is opposite to the P.
From statement II you can determine that Q and R are opposite to each other. Thus statement II can alone determine the answer. From statement I also you can determine that Q and R opposite to each other. Thus both the statements alone can determine the answer. Thus correct answer is the option (3).
Practice Questions
Q. Parth was on which date in the month of February 2004?
The statement I: Parth’s birth date falls on the prime number.
StatementII: Parth was born on the even date of the month.
- Statement 1 is sufficient alone.
- Statement 2 is sufficient alone.
- Either of the statements is sufficient.
- Both the statements together are not sufficient.
- Data in both statements are required.
The answer is the option (5).
Q. Y is the brother of X. How are they related?
The statement I: X is the sister of Z.
Statement II: W is the husband of X.
- Statement 1 is sufficient alone.
- Statement 2 is sufficient alone.
- Either of the statements is sufficient.
- Both the statements together are not sufficient.
- Data in both statements are required.
The answer is the option (3).
Q. How many students in the class play cricket?
Statement: Only boys play cricket.
Statement II: There are thirty boys and forty girls in the class.
- Statement 1 is sufficient alone.
- Statement 2 is sufficient alone.
- Either of the statements is sufficient.
- Both the statements together are not sufficient.
- Data in both statements are required.
The answer is the option (4).
Q. How many children does A have?
The statement I: B and C are brothers of A.
Statement II: D is the only daughter of E who is the wife of A.
- Statement 1 is sufficient alone.
- Statement 2 is sufficient alone.
- Either of the statements is sufficient.
- Both the statements together are not sufficient.
- Data in both statements are required.
The answer is the option (4).
Most answer I guess were wrong. Like Last 3 questions.