The graph provides data for all performances of 4 plays during a recent one-week period. For each play, the graph...
GMAT Graphics Interpretation : (GI) Questions
The graph provides data for all performances of 4 plays during a recent one-week period. For each play, the graph shows the total number of tickets sold for all performances; the capacity, which is the maximum number of tickets that could have been sold for all performances; and the average (arithmetic mean) price of each ticket sold.
From each drop-down menu, select the option that creates the most accurate statement based on the information provided.
Owning The Dataset
Table 1: Text Analysis
| Component | Content | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Time Period | recent one-week period | Data is for a single, recent week |
| Number of Plays | 4 plays | Four plays are compared |
| Tickets Sold | total number of tickets sold for all performances | Cumulative ticket sales per play (weekly total) |
| Capacity | maximum number of tickets that could have been sold for all performances | Total possible seats per play (weekly total) |
| Average Price | average (arithmetic mean) price of each ticket sold | The mean price paid per ticket for each play |
Table 2: Chart Analysis
| Chart Feature | Content/Observation | Meaning/Implication |
|---|---|---|
| Chart Type | Bar chart; three bars per play: tickets sold, capacity, avg price | Enables side-by-side comparison of sales, capacity, and price |
| Y-Axis Scale | 0–90 (in hundreds); prices as a separate bar per play (in dollars) | Values easily comparable; ticket counts and capacities are scaled |
| Plays | Play 1: 65 sold/80 capacity/$90; Play 2: 60/90/$85; Play 3: 55/90/$75; Play 4: 45/50/$40 | Provides raw numbers for each metric by play |
| Capacity Used | Play 1: 81.25%; Play 2: 66.67%; Play 3: 61.1%; Play 4: 90% | Play 4 has the highest seat-fill rate |
| Price Patterns | Higher prices correspond to lower capacity utilization | Suggests lower-priced plays sell a higher percent of seats |
Key Insights
Play 4 sold 45 out of 50 possible tickets (90%), the highest capacity percentage among all four plays. Its average ticket price was $40. Thus, Play 4 achieved the greatest seat utilization. Total revenue for Play 4 is \(4,500 \text{ tickets} × \$40 = \$180,000\). Higher ticket prices correlated with lower percent sold: Play 1 charged $90 on average but sold 81.25% of capacity. Plays 2 and 3 had the largest capacities but lagged in utilization (67% and 61%). Lower price can drive higher occupancy, as shown by Play 4.
Step-by-Step Solution
Question 1: Identifying the Play with the Highest Capacity Utilization
Complete Statement:
As a percent of capacity, the number of tickets sold was greatest for Play [BLANK 1]
Breaking Down the Statement
- Statement Breakdown 1:
- Key Phrase: As a percent of capacity
- Meaning: This refers to the proportion of total available seats that were actually sold for each play.
- Relation to Chart: We must compute \((\text{tickets sold} / \text{total capacity}) × 100\) for each play using the data provided in the chart.
- Important Implications: The answer is not simply the play that sold the most tickets, but the play that filled the largest percentage of its available seats.
- Statement Breakdown 2:
- Key Phrase: number of tickets sold was greatest
- Meaning: We're looking for the highest percentage of tickets sold out of seats available.
- Relation to Chart: Requires comparing the fill rates for each play, not the absolute ticket number.
- Important Implications: A play with fewer total tickets may have a greater fill rate if its venue is smaller.
- What is needed: Which play had the greatest percentage (capacity utilization) of tickets sold.
Solution:
- Condensed Solution Implementation:
For each play, divide the number of tickets sold by total capacity and convert to a percent. - Necessary Data points:
Play 1: 65 sold (hundreds), 80 capacity (hundreds); Play 2: 60/90; Play 3: 55/90; Play 4: 45/50. - Calculations Estimations:
Play 1: \(\frac{65}{80} = 81.25\%\); Play 2: \(\frac{60}{90} ≈ 66.67\%\); Play 3: \(\frac{55}{90} ≈ 61.1\%\); Play 4: \(\frac{45}{50} = 90\%\). - Comparison to Answer Choices:
The greatest percentage is for Play 4 (90%). The answer choice for blank 1 is '4'.
FINAL ANSWER Blank 1: 4
Question 2: Calculating Total Revenue for the Identified Play
Complete Statement:
for this play, total revenue from ticket sales was [BLANK 2].
Breaking Down the Statement
- Statement Breakdown 1:
- Key Phrase: for this play
- Meaning: Refers to the play identified in blank 1 (Play 4).
- Relation to Chart: We only need to look at ticket sales and price info for Play 4.
- Statement Breakdown 2:
- Key Phrase: total revenue from ticket sales
- Meaning: Multiply the total number of tickets sold by the average ticket price.
- Relation to Chart: Requires using tickets sold (hundreds) and the gray bar (average price) for Play 4.
- What is needed: What was the total ticket revenue for Play 4?
Solution:
- Condensed Solution Implementation:
Multiply number of tickets sold by average ticket price for Play 4. - Necessary Data points:
Play 4: 45 (hundreds) = 4,500 tickets; $40 average price. - Calculations Estimations:
\(4,500 × \$40 = \$180,000\). - Comparison to Answer Choices:
$180,000 is one of the provided answers. So the answer is 'US$180,000'.
FINAL ANSWER Blank 2: US$180,000
Summary
First, Play 4 has the greatest capacity utilization at 90%. By multiplying its total tickets sold (4,500) by the $40 average ticket price, its total revenue from ticket sales is $180,000.
Question Independence Analysis
These blanks are dependent: blank 2 asks for the revenue from the play identified as the answer to blank 1. To correctly answer blank 2, you must first answer blank 1.