Data Interpretation
Line Chart — Questions & Answers
A line chart shows how one or more quantities move over time. Typical questions ask for the period of steepest rise or fall, the gap between two lines, and percentage growth from one point to another.
- 5 solved questions
- Step-by-step AI walkthroughs
- Key formulas included
Key formulas
Growth from V1 to V2: V1V2−V1×100%
Steepest change is the period with the largest ∣Vt+1−Vt∣
The gap between two series at time t is the vertical difference of the two values
Directions — study the data below
Monthly Sales of a Company (₹ lakh), January–June
The line graph shows a company's sales, in ₹ lakh, for the first six months of a year. Study it and answer the questions below.
Underlying data
| Month | Sales (₹ lakh) |
|---|---|
| January | 40 |
| February | 55 |
| March | 50 |
| April | 62 |
| May | 85 |
| June | 80 |
5 solved Line Chart questions
In which month were sales the highest?
Solution — answer B
The highest point on the line is May, at ₹85 lakh.
4 steps · reveal one at a timeStep 1: Understand the Question
The question asks us to identify the month in which sales were at their highest. This means we need to find the peak value among all the monthly sales figures.
Step 2: Examine Sales Data
Imagine you are looking at a graph or a table that displays sales for each month. We need to visually or numerically compare the sales figures across all the given months.
Step 3: Find the Peak
By observing the sales data, we can pinpoint the month where the sales reached their maximum. The highest point on the sales line or the largest number in the table corresponds to May, with sales of Rs85 lakh.
Step 4: The answer
So the answer is (B) May, because May shows the highest sales figure of Rs85 lakh compared to all other months.
How much higher were June sales than March sales (in ₹ lakh)?
Solution — answer C
80−50=30 ₹ lakh.
4 steps · reveal one at a timeStep 1: Identify June Sales
First, let's find the sales figure for June. From the data (which would be provided alongside the question, e.g., in a chart), June sales were 80 ₹ lakh.
Step 2: Identify March Sales
Next, we need to find the sales figure for March. Looking at the same data, March sales were 50 ₹ lakh.
Step 3: Calculate Difference
To find out how much higher June sales were than March sales, we simply subtract the March sales from the June sales: 80−50.
Step 4: The answer
So the answer is (C) 30. The calculation 80−50=30 ₹ lakh tells us June sales were 30 ₹ lakh higher than March sales.
Between which two consecutive months did sales rise the most?
Solution — answer C
The month-to-month changes are +15, −5, +12, +23, −6 (₹ lakh). The largest rise, +23, is from April to May.
4 steps · reveal one at a timeStep 1: Calculate Monthly Changes
To find the rise or fall in sales, we calculate the difference between consecutive months. A positive difference means a rise, and a negative difference means a fall. For example, if sales were $100$ in January and $115$ in February, the change is $115 - 100 = +15$.
Step 2: List All Changes
Following this, we list all the month-to-month changes in sales. These are: $+15$ (Jan to Feb), $-5$ (Feb to Mar), $+12$ (Mar to Apr), $+23$ (Apr to May), and $-6$ (May to Jun). The units are in $\text{\text{Rs},}$ lakh.
Step 3: Identify Largest Rise
Now, we look for the largest positive value among these changes, as a 'rise' indicates an increase. Comparing the positive values $+15$, $+12$, and $+23$, the largest rise is $+23$.
Step 4: The answer
So the answer is (C) April to May. The largest sales increase of $\text{\text{Rs},}$ $23$ lakh occurred between April and May.
What was the percentage growth in sales from January to May?
Solution — answer D
Growth =4085−40×100=112.5%.
5 steps · reveal one at a timeStep 1: Find Sales Figures
First, identify the sales figures for January and May. From the data, sales in January were 40 units and in May they were 85 units.
Step 2: Calculate Absolute Growth
Next, find the absolute increase in sales. This is the difference between the sales in May and January: 85−40=45 units.
Step 3: Determine Percentage Growth
To find the percentage growth, divide the absolute growth by the original sales (January sales) and multiply by 100. The formula is OriginalGrowth×100.
Step 4: Perform Calculation
Substitute the values into the formula: 4045×100. This calculation gives us 1.125×100=112.5%.
Step 5: The answer
So the answer is (D) 112.5%. This represents the percentage increase in sales from January to May based on the initial sales value.
What was the average monthly sales over the six months (in ₹ lakh)?
Solution — answer A
Total =40+55+50+62+85+80=372, so the average is 6372=62 ₹ lakh.
5 steps · reveal one at a timeStep 1: Identify Sales Data
We need to find the average monthly sales over six months. The sales figures for each month are given as 40, 55, 50, 62, 85, and 80 (in ₹ lakh).
Step 2: Calculate Total Sales
To find the average, first calculate the total sales over these six months. Sum all the individual monthly sales figures: 40+55+50+62+85+80.
Step 3: Sum the Values
Adding these figures together, the total sales for the six months is 372 ₹ lakh. This represents the cumulative sales for the entire period.
Step 4: Find the Average
Now, to determine the average monthly sales, divide the total sales by the number of months. There are 6 months, so the average is 6372.
Step 5: The answer
So the answer is (A) 62. Performing the division, 372÷6=62. The average monthly sales are 62 ₹ lakh.
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