For 3 years of economic volatility in Country X, an economist tracked

Question

https://gmatclub.com/forum/download/file.php?id=80487 For 3 years of economic volatility in Country X, an economist tracked quarterly gross domestic product (GDP). The graph shows the percent differences in the inflation-adjusted euro value of the quarterly GDP from its level in Quarter 4 of 2010. For example, the graph shows the inflation-adjusted GDP for Quarter 2 of 2012 as 0.9% greater than the inflation adjusted GDP for Quarter 4 of 2010. The graph also shows the inflation-adjusted GDP for Quarter 1 of 2012 as 1.1% less than the inflation-adjusted GDP for Quarter 4 of 2010. Select from the drop-down menus the options that create the most accurate statements, based on the information provided. In the period 2011-2013, according to the graph, the inflation-adjusted euro value of quarterly GDP was least in GRAPH_1_PLACEHOLDER . To the nearest 0.1%, the median of the percent differences, as shown in the graph, in the inflation-adjusted euro value of quarterly GDP in the period 2011 - 2013 is GRAPH_2_PLACEHOLDER percent. digraph665.png I found this problem in the OG exam 5 and didn't see it anywhere. Since what the graph shows is the % over the 2010 GDP , you're looking for the lowest value out of all of the given values, which leads you to Q2 of 2013, -3.7%. What I did for the median was that I looked at the 4 negative values and counted them out, then found the highest 4 values (5.1, 4.8, 2.8, and 2.5) and took them out. Mentally I did the math with the last values, (0.3, 0.9, 1.1, and 2.5) which is just 0.9+1.1 divided by 2 to find the median.

tgsankar10 · Accepted Answer

Q1:  In the period 2011-2013, according to the graph, the inflation-adjusted euro value of quarterly GDP was least in

Since all the inflation-adjusted euro value of quarterly GDP values are given as % change from Q4 2010, the value with the highest percent decrease is the least inflation-adjusted euro value of quarterly GDP.  Q2 2013  was the highest decrease of  -3.7	ext{%}

Q2: To the nearest 0.1%, the median of the percent differences, as shown in the graph, in the inflation-adjusted euro value of quarterly GDP in the period 2011 - 2013 is

There are 12 values. The median value will be the average of  6^{th}  &  7^{th}  value.

6^{th}  value is  0.9	ext{%}  &  7^{th}  value is  1.1	ext{%} . Average of these is  1	ext{%}

Q1: Q2 2013  
  Q2: 1.0

nishantswaft · Answer

answer 1 Q2 of 2013
answer 2 1.0%

manavrajj · Answer

Hey how can the 6th and 7th value be that. I got it as 1.5 and 2.3

manavrajj · Answer

Hey how can the 6th and 7th value be that. I got it as 1.5 and 2.3

ccarson · Answer

What you're not seeing is that there are negative values. There is no 2.3, only -2.3. Since negative numbers are less than 0, you take out the 4 negative numbers. I also have an explanation in the spoiler.

HarshZsssh · Answer

on what grounds we should ignore high values

ccarson · Answer

You aren't ignoring any values. The order of the values goes as follows: -3.7, -2.3, -1.1, -0.5, 0.3, 0.9, 1.1, 1.5, 2.5, 2.8, 4.8, 5.1. Since there are 12 values, you take the 6th and 7th value, 0.9 and 1.1 respectively, and take the average, which is 1.0.

HarshZsssh

on what grounds we should ignore high values

odionam · Answer

part 1 inflation adjusted least value why can't be 0.3%

Usernamevisible · Answer

Q1 — Least GDP value (15 sec) 
Reframe before scanning: "Least quarterly GDP" = "biggest drop from Q4 2010 baseline" = "most negative bar." Scan for the bar pointing furthest  below  zero. →  Q2 2013 (-3.7%) .
Trap built into the dropdown: 0.3% is the smallest  positive  bar, but the question asks for the smallest  value . Negative beats small-positive. 
 Q2 — Median of 12 quarters (40 sec) 
12 values → median = avg of 6th and 7th smallest. Don't sort all 12. Use  bracket-out :
 
 Strike the 4 most-below-zero bars (the negatives) → these are positions 1–4. 
 Strike the 4 tallest positive bars → these are positions 9–12. 
 The 4 bars left in the middle = positions 5, 6, 7, 8. Read them: 0.3, 0.9, 1.1, 1.5. 
 Drop smallest (0.3) and largest (1.5) → left with 0.9 and 1.1 → avg =  1.0% .

egmat · Answer

Hi odionam,

Good question, and the trap here is all about what "least" really means on this graph.

First, remember what the bars show: each bar is the  percent difference from Q4 of 2010 . A bar above zero means GDP was  higher  than the Q4-2010 level; a bar below zero means it was  lower . So to find the  least  (smallest) GDP value, you want the bar that sits  lowest  - the most negative one.

Now look at the three options:

-  Q2 of 2011  =  +0.3%  (a short bar  above  the zero line)
-  Q4 of 2012  =  -0.5%  (a small bar  below  zero)
-  Q2 of 2013  =  -3.7%  (the deep bar  below  zero, the lowest of the three)

Here's the key:  +0.3%  is still above the Q4-2010 level, while  -0.5%  and  -3.7%  are below it. A value that's  higher  than the baseline can't be the smallest. So  0.3%  is actually one of the  larger  values among these three, not the least.

The lowest bar of the three is  Q2 of 2013 at -3.7% , so that quarter had the least inflation-adjusted GDP.

Quick rehearsal with easy numbers:  rank these three:  +0.3 ,  -0.5 ,  -3.7 . On a number line they go  -3.7 , then  -0.5 , then  +0.3  (left to right). The  smallest  is the one farthest left,  -3.7  - not the small positive  0.3 . Negative always beats a positive when you're hunting for the least.

So the move is: don't compare how  close to zero  the bars look - compare where they fall on the up/down scale, and the deepest bar below zero wins.

Answer: Q2 of 2013

For 3 years of economic volatility in Country X, an economist tracked

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Graphs and Tables (G&T) Questions

For 3 years of economic volatility in Country X, an economist tracked

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards