For 22 consecutive weeks (Weeks 1-22) of last year, the graph gives weekly ticket sales rankings for each of 4...
GMAT Graphics Interpretation : (GI) Questions
For 22 consecutive weeks (Weeks 1-22) of last year, the graph gives weekly ticket sales rankings for each of 4 movies (Movies M-P) when compared to all movies shown in theaters that week. Lower-numbered rankings indicate greater sales. If no data are given for a movie during a given week, the movie either was not yet or was no longer being shown in theaters. None of the 4 movies were shown in theaters during any week other than Weeks 1-22.
Select the options from the drop-down menus that create the most accurate statement based on the information provided.
Owning The Dataset
Table 1: Text Analysis
| Text Component | Literal Content | Simple Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Time Span | For 22 consecutive weeks (Weeks 1–22) of last year | The data is for weeks 1 to 22 only |
| Movies Tracked | For each of 4 movies (Movies M–P) | 4 movies labeled M, N, O, P |
| Data Type | Weekly ticket sales rankings | Weekly rankings for each movie |
| Rankings Meaning | Lower-numbered rankings indicate greater sales | Rank 1 is best, higher numbers are worse |
| Missing Data | If no data are given...the movie either was not yet or was no longer...in theaters | A blank means the movie wasn't showing that week |
| Data Limitation | None of the 4 movies were shown...other than Weeks 1–22 | These 4 movies' entire theatrical runs are within this window |
| Comparison Reference | Compared to all movies shown in theaters that week | Rankings are among ALL movies, not just the four |
Table 2: Chart Analysis
| Chart Component | Observed Detail | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Chart Structure | 4 distinct lines for M, N, O, P over weeks 1–22 | Each movie's rankings tracked weekly |
| X-axis | Weeks 1–22 | Matches text; each point is a week |
| Y-axis | Rankings (lower = better) | Lower position = better ticket sales |
| Overlap Period | All 4 lines have data only from weeks 4–18 | Only weeks 4–18 can all four be fully compared |
| Movie O Pattern | O's line never on top or bottom in overlap weeks; stays between others | Movie O never has best or worst rank when all 4 are present |
| Range of Ranks | Some movies climb/fall in rankings (e.g. M drops from best to worst) | Indicates different life cycles and performances among movies |
Key Insights
- Only weeks 4–18 feature all four movies together; that 15-week stretch is the best comparison period.
- Movie O never achieves the highest or lowest ranking among the four during the overlap—it is always in the middle two positions for those weeks.
- The ranking system is inverted: lower numbers are better (Rank 1 means highest ticket sales), so careful attention is needed when interpreting chart trends.
- Rankings are relative to all movies in theaters, not just these four, so performance reflects broader market competition.
Step-by-Step Solution
Question 1: Identifying Movies That Never Had the Least Ticket Sales
Complete Statement:
For each of the weeks that all 4 movies were shown in theaters, exactly ______ never had the least ticket sales among the 4 movies.
Breaking Down the Statement
Statement Breakdown 1:
- Key Phrase: weeks that all 4 movies were shown in theaters
- Meaning: We need to consider only the weeks when all four movies (M, N, O, and P) appeared on the rankings.
- Relation to Chart: On the ranking chart, this is the period where all four movie lines are present—weeks 4 through 18.
- Important Implications: The analysis for blanks 1 and 2 is restricted to weeks 4 through 18 only.
Statement Breakdown 2:
- Key Phrase: never had the least ticket sales
- Meaning: We are looking for movies that did not have the worst ranking (i.e., the highest ranking number, since a higher number means fewer tickets sold) in any of these weeks.
- Relation to Chart: A movie with the highest ranking value among the four in any week would have had the least sales in that week.
- Important Implications: If a movie never had the highest ranking value among the four during weeks 4-18, it never had the least ticket sales.
What is needed: The number of movies that, during weeks 4-18, never ranked worst (i.e., never had the highest ranking number) among the four movies.
Solution:
- Condensed Solution Implementation:
Go through each week (weeks 4-18), determine which movie had the highest ranking value (worst sales), and tally which movies appeared in that position. Then, identify which, if any, movie(s) never appeared as worst. - Necessary Data points:
A list of the four movies' ranks for each week from week 4 to week 18. For each week, the movie with the highest rank among the four is noted as having the least ticket sales.- Calculations Estimations:
After tabulating each week's worst-performing movie among the four, we find: Movie M holds worst in weeks 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18; Movie N in weeks 6, 8, 9, 10, 12; Movie P in weeks 4, 5, 7; Movie O is never the worst in any week. - Comparison to Answer Choices:
Only Movie O never had the least ticket sales in weeks 4-18. Therefore, the answer is 1.
- Calculations Estimations:
FINAL ANSWER Blank 1: 1
Question 2: Identifying Movies That Never Had the Greatest Ticket Sales
Complete Statement:
and exactly ______ of the 4 movies never had the greatest ticket sales among the 4 movies.
Breaking Down the Statement
Statement Breakdown 1:
- Key Phrase: never had the greatest ticket sales
- Meaning: We want to find movies that were never the best among the four in terms of weekly ticket sales.
- Relation to Chart: On the ranking chart, this is the movie with the lowest ranking value (most tickets sold) among the four each week.
Statement Breakdown 2:
- Key Phrase: among the 4 movies
- Meaning: The comparison is always between these four movies for each relevant week.
- Relation to Chart: Analysis is again restricted to the weeks when all four are present: weeks 4 through 18.
What is needed: How many movies never ranked best (i.e., had the lowest ranking number) among the four in any of weeks 4 through 18.
Solution:
- Condensed Solution Implementation:
For each week (weeks 4-18), identify which movie had the lowest ranking among the four. Tabulate this by movie and see which, if any, movie(s) never appear as the best. - Necessary Data points:
Each week's rankings for the four movies; highlight the lowest value (best sales) per week and record the winner.- Calculations Estimations:
From week-by-week tabulation: Movie M is best in weeks 5-9; Movie N is best in weeks 4, 15, 16, 18; Movie P is best in weeks 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, and shares some ties; Movie O is never the best in any week. - Comparison to Answer Choices:
O is the only movie never to have the best ranking during weeks 4-18. So, the answer is 1.
- Calculations Estimations:
FINAL ANSWER Blank 2: 1
Summary
In both cases, only Movie O never had either the worst or best ranking among the four movies during the period when all four were showing (weeks 4-18). O was always in the middle, demonstrating consistent but not extreme performance in the weekly rankings.
Question Independence Analysis
The two questions are independent in that each addresses an opposite extreme (worst vs best), but both are focused on the same period (weeks 4-18) and ultimately hinge on the unique mid-level consistency of Movie O.