For each of the first three months of last year, the graph shows the number of service requests handled by...
GMAT Graphics Interpretation : (GI) Questions
For each of the first three months of last year, the graph shows the number of service requests handled by the Technical Services department at a certain company and the number of those service requests that were high, medium, or low priority. For example, the graph shows that in March, the department handled approximately 590 requests: approximately 310 high priority, 120 medium priority, and 160 low priority.
Select the options from the drop-down menus that create the statement that is most strongly supported by the information provided.
Owning The Dataset
Table 1: Text Analysis
| Text Component | Literal Content | Simple Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Time Period | For each of the first three months of last year | Data is for January, February, and March of the previous year |
| Department | Technical Services department at a certain company | The department involved is Technical Services at a specific (unnamed) company |
| Measurement | Number of service requests handled | The chart/graph displays the count of service requests processed |
| Categories of Priority | High, medium, or low priority | Each request is classified by level of urgency: high, medium, or low |
| Example Given | In March... handled approximately 590 requests: approximately 310 high, 120 medium, and 160 low priority | March had about 590 requests split into three categories as an illustration of how to interpret the data shown |
Table 2: Chart Analysis
| Chart Component | Description | What This Tells Us |
|---|---|---|
| Chart Type | Stacked bar chart, horizontal orientation | Allows comparison of total and segment breakdown by month |
| X-Axis | Number of service requests (0 to 1200, marked every 200) | Shows request volume scale; useful for approximating totals |
| Y-Axis | Months: Jan, Feb, Mar (from bottom to top) | Displays time trend over first three months |
| Color Coding | High (black), Medium (gray), Low (blue) | Distinguishes request priority visually |
| Bar Values | Jan: 1100 (420 high, 360 medium, 320 low); Feb: 920 (360, 240, 320); Mar: 600 (300, 120, 180) | Shows monthly totals and breakdown by priority |
| Patterns | Proportion of high-priority increases as total drops | Priority mix changes over time |
Key Insights
Over the first three months, the total number of service requests handled by the department decreased steadily: from 1100 in January, to 920 in February, to 600 in March. While overall requests dropped, the proportion of high-priority requests was highest in March at 50% (300 out of 600). This shift indicates that even as total demand fell, the share of urgent (high-priority) work increased. Medium and low priority requests became a smaller relative share, and the pronounced black segment (high-priority) in March's bar on the chart visually highlights this change.
Step-by-Step Solution
Question 1: Finding the Month with Greatest High-Priority Proportion
Complete Statement:
Among the three months shown, the month for which high-priority requests constituted the greatest proportion of the total number of requests for the month is [BLANK 1]
Breaking Down the Statement
- Statement Breakdown 1:
- Key Phrase: high-priority requests constituted the greatest proportion
- Meaning: We are being asked which month had the highest percentage of requests that were high-priority compared to that month's total requests.
- Relation to Chart: Each month's bar is divided into segments; the high-priority segment's size (in black) relative to the total bar length shows this proportion.
- Important Implications: It's not about the absolute number of high-priority requests, but about the percentage relative to the month's total requests.
- Key Phrase: high-priority requests constituted the greatest proportion
- Statement Breakdown 2:
- Key Phrase: among the three months shown
- Meaning: The comparison is limited to January, February, and March only.
- Relation to Chart: These are the three months displayed as horizontal bars in the chart.
- Important Implications: Comparisons must be made for all three months using their own data.
- Key Phrase: among the three months shown
What is needed: Which month had the highest fraction of high-priority requests out of its total requests.
Solution:
- Condensed Solution Implementation:
For each month, divide the number of high-priority requests by the total number of requests to determine the proportion. - Necessary Data points:
January: 420 high out of 1100 total; February: 360 high out of 920 total; March: 300 high out of 600 total.- Calculations Estimations:
January: \(\frac{420}{1100} \approx 0.382\) \((38.2\%)\); February: \(\frac{360}{920} \approx 0.391\) \((39.1\%)\); March: \(\frac{300}{600} = 0.5\) \((50\%)\). - Comparison to Answer Choices:
March has the highest proportion (50%) compared to February (39.1%) and January (38.2%).
- Calculations Estimations:
FINAL ANSWER Blank 1: March
Question 2: Comparing That Month's Total Requests
Complete Statement:
and that month had [BLANK 2] total number of requests, among the three
Breaking Down the Statement
- Statement Breakdown 1:
- Key Phrase: that month
- Meaning: Refers to the month identified in Blank 1, which is March.
- Relation to Chart: We are now focusing specifically on March's data.
- Key Phrase: that month
- Statement Breakdown 2:
- Key Phrase: total number of requests, among the three
- Meaning: Compare March's total requests with January's and February's totals.
- Relation to Chart: Check the lengths (endpoints) of each month's horizontal bar.
- Key Phrase: total number of requests, among the three
What is needed: Does March have the least, the most, or neither the greatest nor the least total requests among the three months?
Solution:
- Condensed Solution Implementation:
Compare March's total request number with the other months. - Necessary Data points:
January: 1100; February: 920; March: 600.- Calculations Estimations:
March has 600 requests, which is fewer than February (920) and January (1100). - Comparison to Answer Choices:
March has the least total requests of the three months.
- Calculations Estimations:
FINAL ANSWER Blank 2: the least
Summary
March was the month when high-priority work made up the largest share of all requests (50%), despite having the smallest total number of requests. This shows that even as the overall number of requests went down, the urgency or seriousness of those requests increased.
Question Independence Analysis
Question 2 directly depends on the answer to Question 1, as 'that month' refers to the month chosen previously. Therefore, the questions are not independent.