Data Sufficiency

Data sufficiency is a section in logical reasoning which is applied to test the various abilities of the students. This section is designed for testing the understanding and rationalising processes of the candidates who appear for any sort of competitive exam. Data sufficiency is related to testing reasoning and quantitative aptitude abilities. The entire section of the data sufficiency is designed for examining a student’s analytical skills. Related to data sufficiency are data sufficiency problems and data sufficiency reasoning which will help candidates to understand through applied means all the concepts of the data sufficiency section in many exams. 

Data Sufficiency

Data sufficiency is an aptitude testing section where a candidate’s analytical skills are examined. Data sufficiency is used in many interviews, exams, and internships to test the capabilities of the students. It is an integral part of government examinations all across the country. Data sufficiency contains many kinds of mathematical problems and reasoning questions for which students have to think logically and then answer. The idea behind data sufficiency is to carefully examine the statements given and the data provided to discern whether the information available is enough to provide adequate answers. 

Data Sufficiency Sections

Data sufficiency has the following aspects:

• Statements
• Puzzle test
• Sequence
• Codes
• Ranking
• Blood relation

Data Sufficiency Reasoning

Data sufficiency reasoning uses indirect as well as direct mathematical applications and calculations to solve the questions given. Data sufficiency reasoning has questions where students need to analytically and methodically conclude after reading the statement and understanding the data given. The questions are often followed by valuable clues to cracking them. Logical reasoning makes up a large section of data sufficiency reasoning. An example would be:

Who is the largest amongst W, E, R, T, and O?

1. T is smaller than E
2. W is smaller than O only
3. E is smaller than T alone.

• O is larger than W and R
• T
• R
• O
• W

Solution: c. O, is the largest given that W is smaller than O alone meaning W is larger than others. E is larger than T alone meaning R is the smallest and E is the next smaller one, so O is larger than all. 

Data Sufficiency Problems 

Data sufficiency problems can help students to understand this section better and be more adept at solving the questions. Some data sufficiency problems have been provided below for the benefit of the students. The students are advised to read the questions and the statements properly as most clues are hidden in the statements. Talking each statement piece-wise will help students a lot. 

1. What was Prasad born?
2. He is at present younger than his mother by 25 years
3. Prasad’s sister was born in 1964 is now aged 35 years younger than her mother
4. I. is sufficient II, is not sufficient
5. II is sufficient but not I
6. I and II are sufficient
7. Neither II nor I is sufficient

Solution: c. prasad is 35-25 = 10 years older compared to his sister so that means he was born in the year 1954. 

Conclusion

Understanding is a key part of data sufficiency problems. There will be options available under every question related to data sufficiency. The options can be confusing as they might be very close to the answer but candidates need to be discerning while answering these questions and pick up the right answer by doing their calculations.