LR - Selection & Distribution - Previous Year CAT/MBA Questions
You can practice all previous year CAT questions from the topic LR - Selection & Distribution. This will help you understand the type of questions asked in CAT. It would be best if you clear your concepts before you practice previous year CAT questions.
Answer the next 5 questions based on the information given below:
A few salesmen are employed to sell a product called TRICCEK among households in various housing complexes. On each day, a salesman is assigned to visit one housing complex. Once a salesman enters a housing complex, he can meet any number of households in the time available. However, if a household makes a complaint against the salesman, then he must leave the housing complex immediately and cannot meet any other household on that day. A household may buy any number of TRICCEK items or may not buy any item. The salesman needs to record the total number of TRICCEK items sold as well as the number of households met in each day. The success rate of a salesman for a day is defined as the ratio of the number of items sold to the number of households met on that day. Some details about the performances of three salesmen - Tohri, Hokli and Lahur, on two particular days are given below.
1. Over the two days, all three of them met the same total number of households, and each of them sold a total of 100 items.
2. On both days, Lahur met the same number of households and sold the same number of items.
3. Hokli could not sell any item on the second day because the first household he met on that day complained against him.
4. Tohri met 30 more households on the second day than on the first day.
5. Tohri’s success rate was twice that of Lahur’s on the first day, and it was 75% of Lahur’s on the second day.
What was the total number of households met by Tohri, Hokli and Lahur on the first day?
Answer: 84
Explanation :
From (4): Let Tohri visit x houses on day 1, hence he visits (x + 30) houses on day 2.
⇒ Total houses visited in 2 days = 2x + 30
Let Tohri visit n houses on day 2, hence he visits (100 – n) houses on day 1.
From (1) & (2): Lahur visited half the total houses on both days = x + 15
From (2): Lahur sold half the products on each day = 50
From (1) & (3): Hokli sold all 100 items on day 1, while he visited only 1 house on day 2.
Hence he visited (2x + 29) houses on day 1.
From (5): = 2
⇒ 100x + 1500 – nx – 15x = 100x
⇒ nx + 15x = 1500
⇒ n = ...(1)
From (5): =
⇒ 4nx + 60n = 150x + 4500
⇒ 4x × + 60 × = 150x + 4500
⇒ 4x × + 60 × = x + 30
⇒ 40x + 600 = (x + 15)(x + 30)
⇒ 40x + 600 = x2 + 45x + 450
⇒ x2 + 5x - 150 = 0
⇒ (x + 15)(x - 10) = 0
⇒ x = 10 (-15 is rejected)
From (1)
⇒ n = = 60
∴ The table can be filled as follows:
∴ Total number of households met by Tohri, Hokli and Lahur on the first day = 10 + 49 + 25 = 84.
Hence, 84.
Workspace:
How many TRICCEK items were sold by Tohri on the first day?
Answer: 40
Explanation :
Consider the solution to first question of this set.
TRICCEK items were sold by Tohri on the first day = 40.
Hence, 40.
Workspace:
How many households did Lahur meet on the second day?
- A.
more than 35
- B.
between 21 and 29
- C.
between 30 and 35
- D.
20 or less
Answer: Option B
Explanation :
Consider the solution to first question of this set.
Number of households met by Lahur on 2nd day = 25.
Hence, option (b).
Workspace:
How many households did Tohri meet on the first day?
- A.
between 11 and 20
- B.
10 or less
- C.
more than 40
- D.
between 21 and 40
Answer: Option B
Explanation :
Consider the solution to first question of this set.
Number of households met by Tohri on 1st day = 10.
Hence, option (b).
Workspace:
Which of the following statements is FALSE?
- A.
Tohri had a higher success rate on the first day compared to the second day.
- B.
Among the three, Tohri had the highest success rate on the first day.
- C.
Among the three, Lahur had the lowest success rate on the first day.
- D.
Among the three, Tohri had the highest success rate on the second day.
Answer: Option D
Explanation :
Consider the solution to first question of this set.
Option (d) is wrong.
Hence, option (d).
Workspace:
Answer the next 4 questions based on the information given
Ganga, Kaveri, and Narmada are three women who buy four raw materials (Mango, Apple, Banana and Milk) and sell five finished products (Mango smoothie, Apple smoothie, Banana smoothie, Mixed fruit smoothie and Fruit salad). Table-1 gives information about the raw materials required to produce the five finished products. One unit of a finished product requires one unit of each of the raw materials mentioned in the second column of the table.
Table - 1
One unit of milk, mango, apple, and banana cost ₹5, ₹3, ₹2, and ₹1 respectively. Each unit of a finished product is sold for a profit equal to two times the number of raw materials used to make that product. For example, apple smoothie is made with two raw materials (apple and milk) and will be sold for a profit of ₹4 per unit. Leftover raw materials are sold during the last business hour of the day for a loss of ₹1 per unit. The amount, in rupees, received from sales (revenue) for each woman in each of the four business hours of the day is given in Table-2.
Table - 2
The following additional facts are known.
- No one except possibly Ganga sold any Mango smoothie.
- Each woman sold either zero or one unit of any single finished product in any hour.
- Each woman had exactly one unit each of two different raw materials as leftovers.
- No one had any banana leftover.
What BEST can be concluded about the number of units of fruit salad sold in the first hour?
- A.
Either 0 or 2
- B.
Exactly 2
- C.
Exactly 1
- D.
Either 1 or 2
Answer: Option D
Explanation :
One unit of milk, mango, apple, and banana cost ₹5, ₹3, ₹2, and ₹1 respectively
We can make the following table for Cost price, Profit and Selling price of each of the products.
Now, we can make the following table for types of products sold be each of the three based on selling price
Note: No one except Ganga sells Mango Smoothie.
After the last hour each woman had exactly one unit each of two different raw materials as leftovers but no one had any banana.
Also, leftover raw materials are sold during the last business hour of the day for a loss of ₹1 per unit
∴ Items left could be
(Milk + Mango) ⇒ CP = 8 ⇒ sold at Rs. 6
(Milk + Apple) ⇒ CP = 7 ⇒ sold at Rs. 5
(Apple + Mango) ⇒ CP = 5 ⇒ sold at Rs. 3
Ganga sells items worth Rs. 30 in last hour, out of these
Case 1: Rs. 6 could be earned from left-overs hence Rs. 24 would be earned from finished products. This is possible by selling Mango Smoothie and Fruit Salad.
Case 2: Rs. 5 could be earned from left-overs hence Rs. 25 would be earned from finished products. This is not possible.
Case 3: Rs. 3 could be earned from left-overs hence Rs. 27 would be earned from finished products. This is not possible.
Hence, Ganga sells Mango Smoothie and Fruit Salad in the last hour and the left-over items are one unit of Milk and Mango each .
Kaveri sells items worth Rs. 27 in last hour, out of these
Case 1: Rs. 6 could be earned from left-overs hence Rs. 21 would be earned from finished products. This is possible by selling Apple Smoothie and Banana Smoothie.
Case 2: Rs. 5 could be earned from left-overs hence Rs. 22 would be earned from finished products. This is possible by selling Banana Smoothie and Fruit Salad.
Case 3: Rs. 3 could be earned from left-overs hence Rs. 24 would be earned from finished products. This is not possible.
Hence, we have 2 cases for Kaveri.
Narmada sells items worth Rs. 22 in last hour, out of these
Case 1: Rs. 6 could be earned from left-overs hence Rs. 16 would be earned from finished products. This is not possible.
Case 2: Rs. 5 could be earned from left-overs hence Rs. 17 would be earned from finished products. This is not possible.
Case 3: Rs. 3 could be earned from left-overs hence Rs. 19 would be earned from finished products. This is possible by selling Mixed Fruit Smoothie.
Hence, Narmada sells Mixed Fruit Smoothie in the last hour and if left with one unit of Apple and Mango each.
Hence, we have the following final table
Narmada sells one unit of Fruit Salad while Ganga may or may not sell one unit of Fruit Salad.
∴ Number of Fruit Salads sold in first hour can be either 1 unit or 2 units.
Hence, option (d).
Workspace:
Which of the following is NECESSARILY true?
- A.
Kaveri sold one unit of leftover mangoes.
- B.
Ganga did not sell any leftover apples.
- C.
Narmada sold one unit of leftover milk.
- D.
Ganga did not sell any leftover mangoes.
Answer: Option B
Explanation :
Consider the solution to first question of this set.
Hence, option (b).
Workspace:
What BEST can be concluded about the total number of units of milk the three women had in the beginning?
- A.
Either 18 or 19 or 20 units.
- B.
Either 19 or 20 units.
- C.
Either 17 or 18 or 19 units.
- D.
Either 18 or 19 units.
Answer: Option A
Explanation :
Consider the solution to first question of this set.
Number of units of milk with
Ganga = 1/2 (Hour 1) + 2 (Hour 2) + 2 (Hour 3) + 1 (Hour 3) + 1 (Left-over) = 7/8 units
Kaveri = 1 (Hour 1) + 1 (Hour 2) + 2 (Hour 3) + 1/2 (Hour 3) + 1 (Left-over) = 6/7 units
Narmada = 1 (Hour 1) + 2 (Hour 2) + 1 (Hour 3) + 1 (Hour 3) + 0 (Left-over) = 5 units
∴ Number of units of milk initially could be 18 or 19 or 20.
Hence, option (a).
Workspace:
If it is known that three leftover units of mangoes were sold during the last business hour of the day, how many apple smoothies were sold during the day?
Answer: 6
Explanation :
Consider the solution to first question of this set.
Since, 3 units of leftover mangoes were sold at the end of the day, hence Kaveri sold leftover mango that means she sold Apple Smoothie in the 4th hour.
We can make the following table with the additional information.
Number of apple smoothies sold by
Ganga = 2, Kaveri = 1 and Narmada = 2
⇒ Total Apple Smoothies sold = 2 + 2 + 2 = 6
Hence, 6.
Workspace:
Answer the next 6 questions based on the information given
A journal plans to publish 18 research papers, written by eight authors (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H) in four issues of the journal scheduled in January, April, July and October. Each of the research papers was written by exactly one of the eight authors. Five papers were scheduled in each of the first two issues, while four were scheduled in each of the last two issues. Every author wrote at least one paper and at most three papers. The total number of papers written by A, D, G and H was double the total number of papers written by the other four authors. Four of the authors were from India and two each were from Japan and China. Each author belonged to exactly one of the three areas — Manufacturing, Automation and Logistics. Four of the authors were from the Logistics area and two were from the Automation area. As per the journal policy, none of the authors could have more than one paper in any issue of the journal.
The following facts are also known.
- F, an Indian author from the Logistics area, wrote only one paper. It was scheduled in the October issue.
- A was from the Automation area and did not have a paper scheduled in the October issue.
- None of the Indian authors were from the Manufacturing area and none of the Japanese or Chinese authors were from the Automation area.
- A and H were from different countries, but had their papers scheduled in exactly the same issues.
- C and E, both Chinese authors from different areas, had the same number of papers scheduled. Further, E had papers scheduled in consecutive issues of the journal but C did not.
- B, from the Logistics area, had a paper scheduled in the April issue of the journal.
- B and G belonged to the same country. None of their papers were scheduled in the same issue of the journal.
- D, a Japanese author from the Manufacturing area, did not have a paper scheduled in the July issue.
- C and H belonged to different areas.
What is the correct sequence of number of papers written by B, C, E and G, respectively?
- A.
1, 2, 2, 3
- B.
1, 3, 3, 1
- C.
3, 1, 1, 3
- D.
1, 2, 2, 1
Answer: Option A
Explanation :
The information given in the question can be written as follows
Point (2) & (3): A has to be from India
The total number of papers written by A, D, G and H was double the total number of papers written by the other four authors
⇒ A + D + G + H = 2(B + C + E + F)
Also, A + D + G + H + B + C + E + F = 18
⇒ 3(B + C + E + F) = 18
⇒ B + C + E + F = 6 …(1)
⇒ A + D + G + H = 12 …(2)
Point (5): C = E ≥ 2 (since E has papers scheduled in consecutive issues, E must have written more than 1 paper)
From (1) we can conclude that E must have written exactly 2 papers. C would also have written exactly 2 papers.
∴ B + 2 + 2 + 1 = 6
⇒ B = 1
Also, A + D + G + H = 12. Since each person can write a maximum of 3 papers, hence the only possible value of A, D, G and H will be 3 each.
Point (7): B and G both can only be from India. Hence, H has to be from Japan.
Point (5) & (3): C and E cannot be from Automation since they are Chinese. Hence, one of C or E is from Manufacturing and the other from Logistics.
Now, since H is from Japan he cannot be from Automation, hence H can only be from Logistics.
Since, C and H have to be from different areas (9), C has to be from Manufacturing and E from Logistics.
This leaves us with G who has to be from Automation.
A has to write 3 papers and an author can write only one paper in a single issue, hence A must have written one paper each in Jan, Apr and Jul issue.
A and H had papers scheduled in same issues (4). Hence, must have written one paper each in Jan, Apr and Jul issue.
Similarly, D must have written one paper each in Jan, Apr and Oct issue.
Point (7): None of B and G’s papers were scheduled in the same issue of the journal. Hence, G must have written papers in Jan, Jul and Oct.
Point (5): E wrote papers in successive issues while C did not write in successive issues. Only possible way this can happen is when E writes in Apr and Jul while C writes in Jan and Oct.
Number of papers written by B, C, E and G is 1, 2, 2 and 3 respectively.
Hence, option (a).
Workspace:
How many papers were written by Indian authors?
Answer: 8
Explanation :
Consider the solution to first question of this set.
Indian authors have written 8 papers.
Hence, 8.
Workspace:
Which of the following statement(s) MUST be true?
Statement A: Every issue had at least one paper by author(s) from each country.
Statement B: Every issue had at most two papers by author(s) from each area.
- A.
Neither of the statements
- B.
Both the statements
- C.
Only Statement A
- D.
Only Statement B
Answer: Option C
Explanation :
Consider the solution to first question of this set.
Only statement A is correct.
Hence, option (c).
Workspace:
Which of the following statements is FALSE?
- A.
Every issue had at least one paper by author(s) from Automation area.
- B.
Every issue had exactly two papers by Indian authors.
- C.
Every issue had exactly two papers by authors from Logistics area.
- D.
Every issue had exactly one paper by a Chinese author.
Answer: Option C
Explanation :
Consider the solution to first question of this set.
Hence, option (b).
Workspace:
Which of the following statements is FALSE?
- A.
There was exactly one paper by an author from Manufacturing area in the April issue.
- B.
There was exactly one paper by an author from Logistics area in the October issue.
- C.
There were exactly two papers by authors from Manufacturing area in the January issue.
- D.
There were exactly two papers by authors from Manufacturing area in the July issue.
Answer: Option D
Explanation :
Consider the solution to first question of this set.
Hence, option (d).
Workspace:
Which of the following is the correct sequence of number of papers by authors from Automation, Manufacturing and Logistics areas, respectively?
- A.
6, 6, 6
- B.
6, 5, 7
- C.
6, 7, 5
- D.
5, 6, 7
Answer: Option B
Explanation :
Consider the solution to first question of this set.
Hence, option (b).
Workspace:
Answer the next 6 questions based on the information given
Ravi works in an online food-delivery company. After each delivery, customers rate Ravi on each of four parameters – Behaviour, Packaging, Hygiene, and Timeliness, on a scale from 1 to 9. If the total of the four rating points is 25 or more, then Ravi gets a bonus of ₹20 for that delivery. Additionally, a customer may or may not give Ravi a tip. If the customer gives a tip, it
is either ₹30 or ₹50.
One day, Ravi made four deliveries - one to each of Atal, Bihari, Chirag and Deepak, and received a total of ₹120 in bonus and tips. He did not get both a bonus and a tip from the same customer.
The following additional facts are also known.
- In Timeliness, Ravi received a total of 21 points, and three of the customers gave him the same rating points in this parameter. Atal gave higher rating points than Bihari and Chirag in this parameter.
- Ravi received distinct rating points in Packaging from the four customers adding up to 29 points. Similarly, Ravi received distinct rating points in Hygiene from the four customers adding up to 26 points.
- Chirag gave the same rating points for Packaging and Hygiene.
- Among the four customers, Bihari gave the highest rating points in Packaging, and Chirag gave the highest rating points in Hygiene.
- Everyone rated Ravi between 5 and 7 in Behaviour. Unique maximum and minimum ratings in this parameter were given by Atal and Deepak respectively.
- If the customers are ranked based on ratings given by them in individual parameters, then Atal’s rank based on Packaging is the same as that based on Hygiene. This is also true for Deepak.
What was the minimum rating that Ravi received from any customer in any parameter?
Answer: 5
Explanation :
Timeliness:
From (1): Ravi’s rating in Timeliness by 4 customers can be either (6, 5, 5, 5) or (9, 4, 4, 4) where Atal’s rating will be higher than the other 3 customers.
Packaging:
From (2): Ravi’s rating in Packaging by 4 customers will be (9, 8, 7, 5) in any order.
From (4): Bihari’s rating in Packaging will be 9.
Hygiene:
From (3 and 4): Chirag gave highest rating in hygiene which is same as his rating in packaging. Since Chirag can not give a rating of 9 in packaging (which is given by Bihari), highest rating Chirag can give in hygiene can be 8 or lower, which is same as the rating given by him in packaging.
From (2 and 3 and 4): Ravi’s rating in Hygiene by 4 customers is (8, 7, 6, 5).
∴ Ratings given by Chirag in packaging and hygiene is 8.
Behaviour:
From (5): Ravi’s rating in Behaviour given by Atal and Deepak is 7 and 5 respectively and rating given by Bihari and Chirag is 6.
We can make the following table from the information we have so far.
From (6): If Atal and Deepak will have the same ranking in packaging and hygiene.
Since Bihari and Chirag are given the two best rating in packaging, Atal and Deepak will give the two least ratings in packaging and hygiene.
∴ Rating given by Bihari in hygiene is 7.
Hence, we have two cases
Case 1:
Case 2:
[Note: Ravi gets a bonus of Rs. 20 from a customer if the total of four rating points by that customer is 25 or more. Else Ravi may or may not get a tip amount of Rs. 30 or Rs. 50.]
Consider Case 1: It is not possible for Ravi to earn a total amount of Rs. 120. Hence we can reject case 1.
Consider Case 2: For Ravi to earn a total amount of Rs. 120, he should not receive bonus from Atal.
∴ Ravi gets a total rating of < 25 from Atal. This is possible when Atal gives a rating of 6 for Timeliness.
Also, a total of Rs. 120 will be possible when Atal or Deepak give Ravi a tip amount of Rs. 30 or Rs. 50 in any order.
∴ We get the final table as below.
∴ Minimum rating received by Ravi in any parameter is 5.
i.e., by Deepak in Behaviour, by Atal in Packaging etc.
Hence, 5.
Workspace:
The COMPLETE list of customers who gave the maximum total rating points to Ravi is
- A.
Atal
- B.
Bihari
- C.
Atal and Bihari
- D.
Bihari and Chirag
Answer: Option D
Explanation :
Consider the solution to first question of this set.
Bihari and Chirag give a maximum total rating of 27 to Ravi.
Hence, option (d).
Workspace:
What rating did Atal give on Timeliness?
Answer: 6
Explanation :
Consider the solution to first question of this set.
Atal gave a rating of 6 in Timeliness.
Hence, 6.
Workspace:
What BEST can be concluded about the tip amount given by Deepak?
- A.
Either Rs. 0, or Rs. 30 or Rs. 50
- B.
Either Rs. 30 or Rs. 50
- C.
Rs. 50
- D.
Rs. 30
Answer: Option B
Explanation :
Consider the solution to first question of this set.
Deepak has to give a tip amount of Rs. 30 or Rs. 50.
Hence, option (b).
Workspace:
In which parameter did Atal give the maximum rating points to Ravi?
- A.
Timeliness
- B.
Hygiene
- C.
Behaviour
- D.
Packaging
Answer: Option C
Explanation :
Consider the solution to first question of this set.
Atal gave a maximum rating of 7 in Behaviour.
Hence, option (c).
Workspace:
What rating did Deepak give on Packaging?
- A.
5
- B.
8
- C.
6
- D.
7
Answer: Option D
Explanation :
Consider the solution to first question of this set.
Deepak gave a rating of 7 in packaging.
Hence, option (d).
Workspace:
Answer the next 6 questions based on the information given
Three reviewers Amal, Bimal, and Komal are tasked with selecting questions from a pool of 13 questions (Q01 to Q13). Questions can be created by external “subject matter experts” (SMEs) or by one of the three reviewers. Each of the reviewers either approves or disapproves a question that is shown to them. Their decisions lead to eventual acceptance or rejection of the question in the manner described below.
If a question is created by an SME, it is reviewed first by Amal, and then by Bimal. If both of them approve the question, then the question is accepted and is not reviewed by Komal. If both disapprove the question, it is rejected and is not reviewed by Komal. If one of them approves the question and the other disapproves it, then the question is reviewed by Komal. Then the question is accepted only if she approves it.
A question created by one of the reviewers is decided upon by the other two. If a question is created by Amal, then it is first reviewed by Bimal. If Bimal approves the question, then it is accepted. Otherwise, it is reviewed by Komal. The question is then accepted only if Komal approves it. A similar process is followed for questions created by Bimal, whose questions are first reviewed by Komal, and then by Amal only if Komal disapproves it. Questions created by Komal are first reviewed by Amal, and then, if required, by Bimal.
The following facts are known about the review process after its completion.
- Q02, Q06, Q09, Q11, and Q12 were rejected and the other questions were accepted.
- Amal reviewed only Q02, Q03, Q04, Q06, Q08, Q10, Q11, and Q13.
- Bimal reviewed only Q02, Q04, Q06 through Q09, Q12, and Q13.
- Komal reviewed only Q01 through Q05, Q07, Q08, Q09, Q11, and Q12.
How many questions were DEFINITELY created by Amal?
Answer: 3
Explanation :
Workspace:
How many questions were DEFINITELY created by Komal?
Answer: 1
Explanation :
Workspace:
How many questions were DEFINITELY created by SMEs?
Answer: 3
Explanation :
Workspace:
How many questions were DEFINITELY disapproved by Bimal?
- A.
7
- B.
5
- C.
4
- D.
3
Answer: Option C
Explanation :
Workspace:
Feedback
Help us build a Free and Comprehensive Preparation portal for various competitive exams by providing us your valuable feedback about Apti4All and how it can be improved.