Sequences, Data Sufficiency MIscellaneous questions, and Understanding of Critical Reasoning Strategies- Day 5

Part-1: Quantitative Aptitude for CAT exam

CAT 2024 Syllabus Topic: Strategy to prepare “Series (QA)”, Alphabet Test for CAT and Arithmetic Progression

Important Concept/Formula Used in Series

The concepts used in Series for Alphabet Test CAT and CAT Series Question are given below:

Series can be

• Purely Number Series
  Eg: 1, 3, 5, 7, …

• Alphabetical Series
  Eg: AZ, CX, EV, …

• Alphanumeric Series: (Contains both alphabets and Numbers)
  Eg: A4, C9, E16, …

CAT exam 2024: Series Arithmatical Problems Arithmetic Progression Alphabet Test

As the CAT 2024 entrance test approaches, make sure you've thoroughly covered 'Number and letter series questions with answers for CAT preparation.' Our article not only offers solutions but also presents effective strategies for conquering these challenging problems.

Alphabet TestSeries for CAT Preparation From CAT Previous Years Papers

Q1. Alphabet Test Reasoning Questions are given below:

10000, 11000, 9900, 10890, 9801,? [PGDTM, 2006]

1. 10241

2. 10423

3. 10781

4. 10929

Answer: [3]

Add 10% of the first term to the first term to get the second term.

Subtract 10% of the second term from the second term to get the third term.

Add 10% of the third term to the third term to get the fourth term and so on.

So, the answer is option (3)

Q2. Alphabet Test Reasoning Practice Questions are given below:

1, 4, 27, 16,? , 36, 343 [SNAP PYQ]

1. 25

2. 87

3. 120

4. 125

Ans: [4]

Two alternate series are there.

4, 16, 36 [squares of 2, 4 and 6]

1, 27, ?, 343 [cubes of 1, 3, 5 and 7]

So, the answer must be a cube of 5 = 125.

Tips/Tricks for CAT questions on Number And Letter Series

Tips and tricks: Number And Letter Series questions for CAT Preparation are given below:

1. Take the difference of consecutive terms to make a difference series.
2. Try to find the pattern in the newly formed series.
3. Series can be based on squares, cubes, the difference of squares/cubes, and square/cube roots.
4. Series can be a combination of two sequences.
5. Learn the position of the alphabet from the left-hand side and right-hand side.
6. Practise previous years questions from various MBA entrance Exams to get an idea of the pattern of questions being asked.

CAT entrance exam: Prerequisite to Number And Letter Series

1. Basics of Coding-Decoding
2. Squares, Cube , Prime etc
3. Analytical Skills

CAT study material: References to Study (Theory) Number And Letter Series

1. R S Agrawal
2. CATKing.in (YouTube)

CAT study material: References to Alphabet Test Reasoning Practice Questions

Study sources of CAT Alphabet Test Questions are given below:

1. MBA Entrance Previous years Papers and Sample Papers.
2. Unacademy CAT4MBA
3. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3lDOtlFzL4&t=2030s)

Part-2: CAT 2024 Preparation Tips: CAT DILR tips Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation)

CAT Exam Important Topic: Strategy to Prepare ”Data sufficiency questions for CAT-2024”s

Important Concept/Formula Used in CAT data sufficiency reasoning

Concepts and Formulas Used in CAT data sufficiency reasoning are given below:

Data Sufficiency question, have the answer options which generally feature in this question type:

Give answer (A) if the data in Statement I alone are sufficient to answer the question, while the data in Statement II alone are not sufficient to answer the question.

Give answer (B) if the data in Statement II alone are sufficient to answer the question, while the data in Statement I alone are not sufficient to answer the question.

Give answer (C) if the data either in Statement I or in Statement II alone are sufficient to answer the question.

Give answer (D) if the data even in both Statements I and II together are not sufficient to answer the question.

Give answer (E) if the data in both Statements I and II together are necessary to answer the question.

CAT exam 2024:

Data Sufficiency In Quantitative Aptitude: CAT Previous Years Questions On Data Sufficiency

General Instructions for Data Sufficiency Questions for CAT exam:

Choose option A: If Statement 1 ALONE is sufficient; statement 2 is not sufficient

Choose option B: If Statement 2 ALONE is sufficient; statement 1 is not sufficient.

Choose option C: If Statements 1 & 2 TOGETHER are sufficient but are not sufficient independently.

Choose option D: If Each statement is INDEPENDENTLY sufficient.

Choose option E: If Statements together are NOT sufficient. Additional data is required.

Q1. Is the positive integer P prime?

Statement 1: 2P+1 is prime

Statement 2: P - 8 is a perfect square less than 25 [CAT Level]

1. A

2. B

3. C

4. D

5. E

Solution: C

Statement 1: 2P+1 is prime

Prime numbers are 2, 3, 5,7, 11, 13, 17, …….

If 2P+1 = 3, then P = 1 which is not a prime number.

If 2P+1 = 5, then P= 2 which is a prime number.

If 2P+1 = 7, then P= 3 which is a prime number.

If 2P+1 = 11, then P= 5 which is a prime number.

We can never get a prime number further.

So, we cannot say that the P is a prime or not.

Therefore, statement 1 is not sufficient.

Statement 2:

P - 8 is a perfect square

i.e. P- 8 = x², where x is a positive integer.

So, P = x² + 8

If x² =1, then P= 9 is not a prime

x² = 4, then P = 12 is not a prime number

x² = 9, then P =17 which is a prime number.

x² = 16, then P =24 which is a prime number.

So, we cannot say that the P is a prime or not.

Therefore, statement 2 is not sufficient.

Combined 1 and 2:

We are not getting any common solution. So, we will say there is no such Prime number.

Therefore, we can say our answer is “No”. Hence, both statements together are sufficient to answer the question.

The answer is option ‘C’.

Q2. What is n (n is an integer)?

Statement 1: n > 10

Statement 2: n² < 144 [Practice Question: Easy]

1. A

2. B

3. C

4. D

5. E

Solution: C

Statement 1: n> 10, n can be anything greater than 10.

No unique answer.

Therefore, statement 1 is not sufficient.

Statement 2:

n² < 144

n= 11, 10, 9, …

n= -11, -10, -9, …

Therefore, statement 2 is not sufficient.

Combined 1 and 2:

We have a unique value in common i.e.. n =11.

The answer is option ‘C’.

Tricks and Tips for CAT questions on data sufficiency problems

Find the CAT tips and tricks for Data Sufficiency Questions below:

1. Never assume anything on your own.

2. Be careful while answering questions like

Is the value of x can be calculated?”

When we get the answer to the question as 'No', we tend to mark the answer as Data Insufficient. But, even 'no' is an answer in some cases and this might mean that the data is sufficient

3. Carefully read the directions.

4. We need not solve the question completely. We must find out whether the answer can be calculated or not.

5. Practise Previous years questions to get familiar with the types of questions being asked.

CAT entrance exam: Prerequisite to solve data sufficiency questions

Prerequisites to data sufficiency reasoning are given below:

1. Knowledge of basics of each topic in quants.

2. Observational Skills

3. Analytical and problem-solving abilities

References to Study (Theory) CAT data sufficiency

Best sources to study data sufficiency for CAT are given below:

1. How to Prepare Quantitative Aptitude by Arun Sharma (7th Edition)

2. StudyIQ: YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvvahYPdYiA&t=745s)

References to Practise data sufficiency problems

Best sources to practise data sufficiency questions and answers are given below:

1. Unacademy CAT4MBA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3lDOtlFzL4&t=2030s)

2. Practice Sample Papers

Part-3: CAT Exam Preparation 2024: CAT exam tips for VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension)

CAT Exam Important Topic: Strategy to Prepare “Flaws and Paradox” (Critical Reasoning) for CAT-2024

Important Concept of CAT Flaws and Paradox (Critical Reasoning questions)

The concepts used in Flaws and Paradox CAT questions are given below:

Paradox question contains two seemingly contradictory statements and you were asked to resolve the discrepancy.

Format of question is generally as follows:

Which of the following, if true, would best explain the discrepancy above?

Or

Which of the following, if true, would best resolve the paradox?

CAT Practice Questions on Flaws and Paradox (critical reasoning questions for CAT)

Flaws and Paradox CAT Sample Question:

A recent archaeological expedition in the American sub-continent revealed many skeletons of animals that were supposed to die about thousands of years ago. Further research suggested that all the skeletons had been exposed to temperatures in excess of 600 degrees Kelvin. This fact provided grounds for speculation that they were killed and cooked by local tribes at that time. However, some of the skeletons belonged to animals that were considered sacred by those tribes and were never hunted or eaten.

Which of the following best explains the apparent discrepancy above?

1. Some of the skeletons found during the expedition belonged to animals that no longer inhabit the area.
2. Skeletons of most animals did not have damages typical of the skeletons of animals that had been killed, cut, and cooked.
3. Tribes that inhabited the American sub-continent 1000 years ago used fire to cook food.
4. Another study indicated that there was a great famine in the American sub-continent at that time, which forced local tribes to look for alternative sources of food.
5. A further study indicated evidence of a large fire that had occurred in the American sub-continent approximately 1000 years ago.

Solution and Strategy for Flaws and Paradox(critical reasoning questions for CAT) are given below:

CAT Strategy 1: Identify the paradox.

Studies revealed that animals were killed and cooked.

Studies also revealed that some skeletons belonged to those animals which were considered sacred.

These are the two contradicting statements. (Paradox)

CAT Strategy 2: Changing a paradox into a simple problem.

One can ask a simple question:

“Why were the scared animals exposed to a temperature in excess of 600-degree kelvin?”

CAT Strategy 3: Elimination of choices that have no relevance:

Go through each option:

Option (1): does not make any sense.

Option (2): Increasing the paradox.

Option (3): It does not answer the question.

Option (4): It does not explain the burning of sacred animals.

Option (5): In a fire, all animals will be burnt irrespective of their sacredness. Hence resolving the paradox.

Tips and Tricks for Flaws and Paradox questions for CAT exam 2024

1. Tips to approach questions on paradoxes

• Understand “the line of reasoning”.

• Find the possible contradictions in the argument.

• Find the assumption which might reconcile and reconnect the contradictions

2. Tips to approach questions on paradoxes

• Understand “the line of reasoning”.

• Find the possible errors in the argument.

3. Practice questions daily (Fewer questions but daily)

CAT 2024: Prerequisite to Flaws and Paradox

1. Knowledge of basic components of statements and arguments.

2. Reading Skills.

References to Study (Theory) Flaws and Paradox for CAT exam

1. How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT | 9th Edition Book by Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay

2. Rodha (YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wqk7qZHH9E&list=PLG4bwc5fquziFHfEeGgOP-jU3_HqD68sV&index=10)

References to Practise CAT Questions on Flaws and Paradox (Critical Reasoning)

1. Verbal Reasoning by Disha Experts (kindle)

2. Rodha

3. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzIMeMENSjc&list=PLG4bwc5fquziFHfEeGgOP-jU3_HqD68sV&index=11)

Free PDFs for CAT Preparation 2024

Tomorrow we'll be back with Day 56, so practice and pay attention.

Thank you!

All the Best!