Caselets

Data Caselets-based problems appear practically in  Data Interpretation parts of all competitive tests. Given the significance of this question type, you must understand the principles of Data Caselets. The following study material notes on caselets shall help you in the same. 

A Caselet is a series of information presented in paragraph form. There are no tables or graphs in a Caselet. You must read the material and construct a table or organise the supplied data to answer the questions. To master such questions, practise a lot of caselets-based questions. 

Tips and Tricks for Solving Caselets 

To master data caselets, follow these five easy guidelines:

• It is useful for converting it into a table or other visual form
• While reading a caselet for the first time, continue taking down the relevant elements Notations are used to express the names of objects, locations, people, etc.
• Take care with the information provided, as well as the units. You must be familiar with basic conversions and units. For instance, what do the phrases million/billion/trillion mean?
• You can also use alternatives, shortcuts, and approximations so that you don’t have to give time to long calculations 
• Cover arithmetic-related topics (interest, percentage, ratio, and proportion) because caselet questions frequently include concepts from this area

How to Solve Caselets 

To solve caselets, you need to keep in mind the following steps. These shall help you keep all the information organised and quickly solve the questions. 

• Read the caselet carefully. All the information you would need to solve the questions that follow is in the information set 
• Write the information simultaneously as you read. Use shortcuts to jot down the information somewhere to keep a mental check 
• Make use of approximations and shortcuts to solve the questions. When you find the last two or three digits, you already know which option would be correct 

Examples 

Example 1- Study the set of information given below and answer the questions that follow. 

Three friends, Aman, Sahil, and Jassi, spend 10 %, 14 %, and 20 % of their monthly salaries on travel, respectively, and each saves half of the remainder. Ram and Rajiv both have the same monthly wage, but Shyam has Rs. 360 more in savings than Rajiv. Ram and Shyam’s total travel expenses are Rs. 1240 more than Rajiv’s.

1.What is the monthly expenditure of Aman and Sahil on travel? 

1. 2680
2. 2000
3. 2500
4. 3000 
5. None of these

2. The monthly salary of Sahil is how much more than/less than that of Aman?

1. 6800 less
2. 6800 more
3. 4000 more
4. 4500 more 
5. 3000 less 

3. What is the total sum of the three friends’ savings?

1. 12140
2. 12300
3. 21750
4. 23500
5. None of these

4. The total monthly savings of three friends together is what percentage of their total monthly salary?

1. 42%
2. 41%
3. 43%
4. 44%
5. None of these 

Answers and Explanation- 

1.Let the monthly salary of Aman be 100x. 

Then, monthly expenditures on travelling = 10% of 100x = Rs. 10x 

Remaining = Rs. (100x – 10x) = Rs. 90x

Savings= 90×2= 45x

Sahil’s monthly salary = Rs. 100y 

Then, monthly expenditures on travelling = 14% of 100x = Rs. 14y 

Remaining = Rs. (100y – 14y) = Rs. 86y

Savings= 86y2= 43y

The monthly salary of Jassi = The monthly salary of Ram = Rs. 100x 

The monthly expenditures of Rajiv on travelling = 20% of 100x = Rs. 20x 

Remaining = Rs.(100x – 20x) = Rs. 80x

Savings= 80×2= 40x

The monthly salary of Aman and Jassi are the same, and the monthly saving of Aman is Rs. 360 more than that of Jassi 45x – 40x = 5x = 360 

Hence, x = 72

The total expenditures of Aman and Sahil together on travelling is Rs. 1240 more than that of Jassi. 

10x + 12y = 20x + 1240 

14y = 10x + 1240 = 720 + 1240 = 1960 

y = 140

Following the explanation given above, we get 

The monthly expenditure of Aman and Sahil together on travelling = Rs. (10x + 14y) = Rs. (10 × 72 + 14 × 140) 

= Rs. (720 + 1960) = Rs. 2680

Hence, option a is correct.

2. Following the explanation in answer 1, we get 

The monthly salary of Sahil = Rs. 100y = Rs. 14000 

The monthly salary of Aman = Rs. 100x = Rs. 7200

The required answer = Rs. (14000 – 7200) = 6800 more than that of Aman 

Hence, option b is correct. 

3. Following the explanation in answer 1, we get 

The required sum = Rs. (45x + 43y + 40x) = Rs. (85x + 43y) = Rs. (85 × 72 + 43 × 140) = Rs. (6120 + 6020) = Rs. 12,140 

Hence, option a is correct.

4. Following the explanation in answer 1, we get 

Their total monthly salary = Rs. (100x + 100y + 100x) = Rs. (200x + 100y) = Rs. (14400 + 14000) = Rs. 28400

Total monthly saving = Rs. (45x + 43y + 40x) = Rs. (85x + 43y) = Rs. (85 x 72 + 43 × 140) = Rs. (6120 + 6020) = Rs. 12140

The answer= 12140 28400100=43%

Hence, option c is correct. 

Conclusion 

For solving caselets, you must brush up on your calculation skills. Most data caselets include some basic concepts and mathematics. Make sure that you follow the tips and tricks mentioned in the study material notes on caselets, so that you master the same. The only way to attempt caselets as fast as possible is to practice a lot. The more you practice, the more you will be comfortable with basic calculations and concepts.