A certain restaurant serves exactly 5 entrées—E1 through E5. Customers may order an entrée alone, but most customers order an...
GMAT Graphics Interpretation : (GI) Questions
A certain restaurant serves exactly 5 entrées—E1 through E5. Customers may order an entrée alone, but most customers order an entrée as part of a combination meal, which consists of one entrée plus extras—a side dish and drink. While the entrées vary in cost to the restaurant, the extras always have the same cost to the restaurant. The graph shows the actual cost to the restaurant for the entrée and the extras as a percent of the price charged for the meal.
Based on the information provided, select from each drop-down menu the option that creates the most accurate statement.
Owning the Dataset
Table 1: Text Analysis
| Text Component | Literal Content | Simple Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant offerings | serves exactly 5 entrées—E1 through E5 | There are 5 specific main dishes (E1-E5) |
| Ordering options | Customers may order an entrée alone, but most customers order an entrée as part of a combination meal | Meals can be ordered alone or as combos (most choose combo) |
| Combo meal definition | combination meal, which consists of one entrée plus extras—a side dish and drink | Combo = entrée + side dish + drink |
| Cost structure | entrées vary in cost to the restaurant, the extras always have the same cost to the restaurant | Entrée costs vary, extras cost is fixed across all combos |
| Chart shows | graph shows the actual cost to the restaurant for the entrée and the extras as a percent of the price charged | Chart displays cost (entrée + extras) as % of what the customer is charged |
Table 2: Chart Analysis
| Chart Component | What's Shown | What This Tells Us |
|---|---|---|
| Chart type | Stacked bar chart (one bar for each combo meal: E1-E5) | Cost breakdown for each combo meal: entrée + extras |
| Bar segments | Each bar is split into two: grey (entrée cost), blue (extras cost) | Shows how much of the meal price is spent on entrée vs. extras for each combo |
| Y-axis | Percentage of the total combo price (up to ~\(\mathrm{70\%}\)) | Percent of customer price going to restaurant costs |
| Total bar height | \(\mathrm{E1=45\%, E2=50\%, E3=60\%, E4=65\%, E5=50\%}\) | E4 has highest total cost %, E1 has lowest |
| Extras percentages | \(\mathrm{E1=15\%, E2=20\%, E3=25\%, E4=25\%, E5=20\%}\) | Smaller extras % indicates higher combo price (since extras cost is always same) |
Key Insights
E1 has the highest-priced meal, since its extras make up the smallest percent of the price (fixed extras cost divided by a higher price). E4 nets the least profit for the restaurant—\(\mathrm{65\%}\) of its price goes to costs, leaving only a \(\mathrm{35\%}\) margin. Across the five combos, profit margins range widely, from \(\mathrm{55\%}\) (E1, cheapest to supply relative to price) to \(\mathrm{35\%}\) (E4, most costly relative to price).
Step-by-Step Solution
Question 1: Which Meal Has the Highest Price
Complete Statement:
Of the five combination meals, the meal with entrée ______ has the highest price.
Breaking Down the Statement
- Statement Breakdown 1:
- Key Phrase: combination meals
- Meaning: Meals that include an entrée plus extras (a side dish and drink).
- Relation to Chart: The chart shows five combination meals (E1 through E5), each with their entrée and extras cost percentages.
- Important Implications: We're to compare among all five combo meals, not just individual entrée prices.
- Key Phrase: combination meals
- Statement Breakdown 2:
- Key Phrase: the highest price
- Meaning: The meal for which customers pay the most money.
- Relation to Chart: The chart shows percentage breakdowns of cost components, but does not show actual price values. We will have to infer which meal has the highest price using the given percentages.
- Important Implications: A smaller extras percentage (with fixed extras cost) means a higher total meal price.
- Key Phrase: the highest price
- What is needed: Which one of the five combination meals (E1-E5) has the highest overall price paid by the customer.
Solution:
- Condensed Solution Implementation:
Since the extras (side and drink) cost the same absolute amount for each combo, but their percentage of the meal price is different, the meal with the smallest extras percentage has the highest overall price (since fixed cost divided by higher price equals a smaller percentage). - Necessary Data points:
Extras as percentage of price: \(\mathrm{E1 = 15\%, E2 = 20\%, E3 = 25\%, E4 = 25\%, E5 = 20\%}\).- Calculations Estimations:
E1 has the smallest extras percentage (\(\mathrm{15\%}\)), so the meal price for E1 must be highest (since the same extras cost is a smaller fraction of a larger amount). - Comparison to Answer Choices:
From the given values, E1 matches this criterion, so E1 is the correct answer.
- Calculations Estimations:
FINAL ANSWER Blank 1: E1
Question 2: Which Meal Nets the Least Profit
Complete Statement:
Of the five combination meals, the sale of a single meal with entrée ______ nets the least profit.
Breaking Down the Statement
- Statement Breakdown 1:
- Key Phrase: nets the least profit
- Meaning: The meal that leaves the restaurant with the smallest profit (the lowest amount after subtracting all costs).
- Relation to Chart: Profit is represented by the remainder after accounting for all costs on the bar chart.
- Key Phrase: nets the least profit
- Statement Breakdown 2:
- Key Phrase: sale of a single meal
- Meaning: We're comparing profit per individual combo meal.
- Relation to Chart: This allows us to use the cost percentages for each individual combination meal.
- Key Phrase: sale of a single meal
- What is needed: Which meal (E1-E5) yields the restaurant the smallest profit per sale.
Solution:
- Condensed Solution Implementation:
Profit percentage for each meal = \(\mathrm{100\% - total\,cost\,percentage}\). Find the meal with the highest total cost percentage, which will have the lowest profit. - Necessary Data points:
Total costs for each meal: \(\mathrm{E1 = 45\%, E2 = 50\%, E3 = 60\%, E4 = 65\%, E5 = 50\%}\).- Calculations Estimations:
Profits: \(\mathrm{E1: 100\%-45\%=55\%, E2: 50\%, E3: 40\%, E4: 35\%, E5: 50\%}\). Thus, E4 yields the smallest profit (\(\mathrm{35\%}\)). - Comparison to Answer Choices:
Among all meals, E4 has the lowest profit percentage, so it is the correct answer.
- Calculations Estimations:
FINAL ANSWER Blank 2: E4
Summary
To determine which meal has the highest price, use the extras percentage: the fixed extras cost will be a smaller percentage of a higher-priced meal, making E1 the most expensive. To find the meal with the least profit, look for the highest total cost percentage (E4), since higher costs mean less profit per sale.
Question Independence Analysis
The questions are independent. The answer to one does not rely on information from the other. Question 1 is about inferring price from the extras percentage (with fixed extras cost), while question 2 is about finding the minimum profit based on total percent costs.