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Bar Charts

Questions on bar-chart data (given as values).

45 solved questions · 15 easy · 21 medium · 9 hard

Take a 10-question quiz on Bar Charts, no login

Shortcuts & formulas

  • Read the axis, units and legend first: many errors come from ignoring 'in thousands' or 'in Rs lakh'.
  • Percentage change = (New - Old) / Old x 100. The base is always the OLD (or reference) value.
  • Average = Total / number of bars. Add the bars first, divide last.
  • 'A is what % of B' = A / B x 100; 'A is what % more than B' = (A - B) / B x 100.
  • Profit % = (Income - Expenditure) / Expenditure x 100.
  • Ratios: write both values, then divide by the common factor.
  • To compare growth rates, compare percentage increases, not absolute increases.

Solved examples

Try each one first, then open the answer and the step-by-step solution.

Easy questions

Q1.

Car production (in thousand units) at two plants, values read from a bar chart:

YearPlant XPlant Y
2018120100
2019150140
2020135160
2021180150
2022165190
2023210200

How many thousand cars did Plant X produce in 2021?

  1. A180
  2. B135
  3. C165
  4. D150
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. 180

Solution

From the chart, Plant X in 2021 = 180 thousand. Answer: 180

Q2.

Car production (in thousand units) at two plants, values read from a bar chart:

YearPlant XPlant Y
2018120100
2019150140
2020135160
2021180150
2022165190
2023210200

What was the combined production of Plant Y in 2019 and 2020 (in thousands)?

  1. A285
  2. B300
  3. C290
  4. D310
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. 300

Solution

Y(2019) = 140, Y(2020) = 160 Total = 140+160 = 300 Answer: 300

Q3.

Monthly sales (₹ lakh) of three shops, values read from a bar chart:

MonthShop AShop BShop C
Jan405030
Feb554550
Mar606540
Apr456075
May705545

What were the sales of Shop C in April (₹ lakh)?

  1. A60
  2. B75
  3. C45
  4. D70
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. 75

Solution

From the chart, Shop C in April = ₹75 lakh. Answer: 75

Q4.

Monthly sales (₹ lakh) of three shops, values read from a bar chart:

MonthShop AShop BShop C
Jan405030
Feb554550
Mar606540
Apr456075
May705545

What were the total sales of all three shops in March (₹ lakh)?

  1. A155
  2. B175
  3. C165
  4. D145
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. 165

Solution

March: 60 + 65 + 40 = 165 Answer: 165

Q5.

Number of students (in hundreds) in five colleges, values read from a bar chart:

CollegeBoysGirls
P4035
Q5545
R3050
S6040
T4555

How many hundred girls study in college R?

  1. A30
  2. B45
  3. C50
  4. D55
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. 50

Solution

From the chart, girls in R = 50 (hundred). Answer: 50

Q6.

Number of students (in hundreds) in five colleges, values read from a bar chart:

CollegeBoysGirls
P4035
Q5545
R3050
S6040
T4555

What is the total number of students in college S (in hundreds)?

  1. A60
  2. B40
  3. C90
  4. D100
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. 100

Solution

S: boys 60 + girls 40 = 100 (hundred) Answer: 100

Q7.

Annual rainfall (cm) in five cities, values read from a bar chart:

City20222023
Mumbai240270
Chennai120150
Kolkata160200
Delhi80100
Pune5060

What was the rainfall in Kolkata in 2023 (cm)?

  1. A160
  2. B150
  3. C240
  4. D200
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. 200

Solution

From the chart, Kolkata 2023 = 200 cm. Answer: 200

Q8.

Annual rainfall (cm) in five cities, values read from a bar chart:

City20222023
Mumbai240270
Chennai120150
Kolkata160200
Delhi80100
Pune5060

By how many cm did Mumbai's rainfall increase from 2022 to 2023?

  1. A30
  2. B20
  3. C40
  4. D270
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. 30

Solution

270 - 240 = 30 cm Answer: 30

Q9.

Income and expenditure (₹ lakh) of a company, values read from a bar chart:

YearIncomeExpenditure
20198060
202010070
202112090
2022150100
2023180120

What was the company's income in 2021 (₹ lakh)?

  1. A120
  2. B90
  3. C100
  4. D150
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. 120

Solution

From the chart, income in 2021 = ₹120 lakh. Answer: 120

Q10.

Income and expenditure (₹ lakh) of a company, values read from a bar chart:

YearIncomeExpenditure
20198060
202010070
202112090
2022150100
2023180120

What was the profit of the company in 2022 (₹ lakh)?

  1. A40
  2. B50
  3. C60
  4. D100
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. 50

Solution

Profit = Income - Expenditure = 150 - 100 = ₹50 lakh Answer: 50

Q11.

Wheat production (lakh tonnes) in five states, values read from a bar chart:

State202120222023
Punjab170180190
Haryana110120130
Uttar Pradesh300330360
Madhya Pradesh200190220
Rajasthan100120110

How many lakh tonnes of wheat did Madhya Pradesh produce in 2022?

  1. A200
  2. B190
  3. C220
  4. D180
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. 190

Solution

From the chart, MP in 2022 = 190 lakh tonnes. Answer: 190

Q12.

Wheat production (lakh tonnes) in five states, values read from a bar chart:

State202120222023
Punjab170180190
Haryana110120130
Uttar Pradesh300330360
Madhya Pradesh200190220
Rajasthan100120110

What was the total wheat production of the five states in 2023 (lakh tonnes)?

  1. A1000
  2. B940
  3. C1010
  4. D1020
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. 1010

Solution

2023: 190+130+360+220+110 = 1010 Answer: 1010

Q13.

Candidates who applied and who were selected (in thousands) for five exams, values read from a bar chart:

ExamAppliedSelected
SSC8012
Bank12015
Railway20010
NDA502
UPSC501

How many thousand candidates applied for the Railway exam?

  1. A120
  2. B100
  3. C200
  4. D10
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. 200

Solution

From the chart, Railway applicants = 200 thousand. Answer: 200

Q14.

Runs scored by five batsmen in three seasons, values read from a bar chart:

Batsman202120222023
Arjun600750900
Bhavesh500650800
Chirag700650700
Dev450600900
Eshan800800700

How many runs did Dev score in 2022?

  1. A450
  2. B900
  3. C650
  4. D600
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. 600

Solution

From the chart, Dev in 2022 = 600. Answer: 600

Q15.

Employees (in hundreds) in five departments, values read from a bar chart:

DepartmentPermanentContract
HR2010
IT8040
Sales6090
Operations10050
Finance4010

How many hundred contract employees work in Sales?

  1. A90
  2. B60
  3. C50
  4. D40
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. 90

Solution

From the chart, Sales contract employees = 90 (hundred). Answer: 90

Medium questions

Q16.

Car production (in thousand units) at two plants, values read from a bar chart:

YearPlant XPlant Y
2018120100
2019150140
2020135160
2021180150
2022165190
2023210200

By what percentage did Plant X's production increase from 2018 to 2023?

  1. A90%
  2. B60%
  3. C75%
  4. D50%
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. 75%

Solution

Increase = 210 - 120 = 90 % increase = 90/120 x 100 = 75% Answer: 75%

Shortcut: Increase 90 on base 120 = 3/4 = 75%.

Q17.

Car production (in thousand units) at two plants, values read from a bar chart:

YearPlant XPlant Y
2018120100
2019150140
2020135160
2021180150
2022165190
2023210200

In which year was the difference between the productions of the two plants the largest?

  1. A2018
  2. B2020
  3. C2023
  4. D2021
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. 2021

Solution

Absolute differences: 2018: 20, 2019: 10, 2020: 25, 2021: 30, 2022: 25, 2023: 10 Largest = 30 in 2021. Answer: 2021

Q18.

Monthly sales (₹ lakh) of three shops, values read from a bar chart:

MonthShop AShop BShop C
Jan405030
Feb554550
Mar606540
Apr456075
May705545

What is the average monthly sales of Shop B over the five months (₹ lakh)?

  1. A50
  2. B60
  3. C57
  4. D55
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. 55

Solution

Total of B = 50+45+65+60+55 = 275 Average = 275/5 = 55 Answer: 55

Q19.

Monthly sales (₹ lakh) of three shops, values read from a bar chart:

MonthShop AShop BShop C
Jan405030
Feb554550
Mar606540
Apr456075
May705545

In which month were the combined sales of the three shops highest?

  1. AApril
  2. BMarch
  3. CMay
  4. DFebruary
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. April

Solution

Monthly totals: Jan: 120, Feb: 150, Mar: 165, Apr: 180, May: 170 Highest = 180 in April. Answer: April

Q20.

Number of students (in hundreds) in five colleges, values read from a bar chart:

CollegeBoysGirls
P4035
Q5545
R3050
S6040
T4555

What is the ratio of the total number of boys to the total number of girls in all five colleges?

  1. A46 : 45
  2. B45 : 46
  3. C23 : 20
  4. D47 : 45
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. 46 : 45

Solution

Boys = 40+55+30+60+45 = 230 Girls = 35+45+50+40+55 = 225 Ratio = 230 : 225 = 46 : 45 Answer: 46 : 45

Q21.

Number of students (in hundreds) in five colleges, values read from a bar chart:

CollegeBoysGirls
P4035
Q5545
R3050
S6040
T4555

Girls form the largest percentage of the total students in which college?

  1. AT
  2. BR
  3. CP
  4. DQ
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. R

Solution

Girls % = girls/total: P 35/75 = 46.7%, Q 45/100 = 45%, R 50/80 = 62.5%, S 40/100 = 40%, T 55/100 = 55% Highest is R. Answer: R

Q22.

Annual rainfall (cm) in five cities, values read from a bar chart:

City20222023
Mumbai240270
Chennai120150
Kolkata160200
Delhi80100
Pune5060

Which city recorded the greatest absolute increase in rainfall from 2022 to 2023?

  1. AMumbai
  2. BKolkata
  3. CChennai
  4. DDelhi
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. Kolkata

Solution

Increases: Mumbai 30, Chennai 30, Kolkata 40, Delhi 20, Pune 10 Greatest = Kolkata (40 cm). Answer: Kolkata

Q23.

Annual rainfall (cm) in five cities, values read from a bar chart:

City20222023
Mumbai240270
Chennai120150
Kolkata160200
Delhi80100
Pune5060

What was the average rainfall of the five cities in 2023 (cm)?

  1. A150
  2. B164
  3. C156
  4. D160
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. 156

Solution

Total 2023 = 270+150+200+100+60 = 780 Average = 780/5 = 156 cm Answer: 156

Q24.

Income and expenditure (₹ lakh) of a company, values read from a bar chart:

YearIncomeExpenditure
20198060
202010070
202112090
2022150100
2023180120

What was the profit percentage in 2022?

  1. A33.33%
  2. B66.67%
  3. C50%
  4. D40%
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. 50%

Solution

Profit = 150 - 100 = 50 Profit % = Profit / Expenditure x 100 = 50/100 x 100 = 50% Answer: 50%

Shortcut: Profit % uses expenditure as base, not income.

Q25.

Income and expenditure (₹ lakh) of a company, values read from a bar chart:

YearIncomeExpenditure
20198060
202010070
202112090
2022150100
2023180120

In which year was the profit the highest?

  1. A2021
  2. B2022
  3. C2020
  4. D2023
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. 2023

Solution

Profits: 2019: 20, 2020: 30, 2021: 30, 2022: 50, 2023: 60 Highest = 2023. Answer: 2023

Q26.

Wheat production (lakh tonnes) in five states, values read from a bar chart:

State202120222023
Punjab170180190
Haryana110120130
Uttar Pradesh300330360
Madhya Pradesh200190220
Rajasthan100120110

By what percentage did Uttar Pradesh's production increase from 2021 to 2023?

  1. A15%
  2. B18%
  3. C25%
  4. D20%
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. 20%

Solution

Increase = 360 - 300 = 60 60/300 x 100 = 20% Answer: 20%

Q27.

Wheat production (lakh tonnes) in five states, values read from a bar chart:

State202120222023
Punjab170180190
Haryana110120130
Uttar Pradesh300330360
Madhya Pradesh200190220
Rajasthan100120110

What is the average annual wheat production of Rajasthan over the three years (lakh tonnes)?

  1. A110
  2. B100
  3. C115
  4. D120
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. 110

Solution

Total = 100+120+110 = 330 Average = 330/3 = 110 Answer: 110

Q28.

Candidates who applied and who were selected (in thousands) for five exams, values read from a bar chart:

ExamAppliedSelected
SSC8012
Bank12015
Railway20010
NDA502
UPSC501

What was the selection percentage in the Bank exam?

  1. A15%
  2. B8%
  3. C10%
  4. D12.5%
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. 12.5%

Solution

Selection % = 15/120 x 100 = 12.5% Answer: 12.5%

Q29.

Candidates who applied and who were selected (in thousands) for five exams, values read from a bar chart:

ExamAppliedSelected
SSC8012
Bank12015
Railway20010
NDA502
UPSC501

What was the overall selection percentage across the five exams?

  1. A8%
  2. B7.5%
  3. C10%
  4. D8.5%
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. 8%

Solution

Total applied = 80+120+200+50+50 = 500 Total selected = 12+15+10+2+1 = 40 40/500 x 100 = 8% Answer: 8%

Q30.

Candidates who applied and who were selected (in thousands) for five exams, values read from a bar chart:

ExamAppliedSelected
SSC8012
Bank12015
Railway20010
NDA502
UPSC501

Which exam had the lowest selection percentage?

  1. ANDA
  2. BUPSC
  3. CRailway
  4. DSSC
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. UPSC

Solution

Selection %: SSC 15%, Bank 12.5%, Railway 5%, NDA 4%, UPSC 1/50 = 2% Lowest = UPSC. Answer: UPSC

Q31.

Runs scored by five batsmen in three seasons, values read from a bar chart:

Batsman202120222023
Arjun600750900
Bhavesh500650800
Chirag700650700
Dev450600900
Eshan800800700

What is Arjun's total score over the three seasons?

  1. A2250
  2. B2150
  3. C2300
  4. D2350
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. 2250

Solution

600 + 750 + 900 = 2250 Answer: 2250

Q32.

Runs scored by five batsmen in three seasons, values read from a bar chart:

Batsman202120222023
Arjun600750900
Bhavesh500650800
Chirag700650700
Dev450600900
Eshan800800700

Who has the highest average score per season over the three seasons?

  1. AArjun
  2. BEshan
  3. CChirag
  4. DBhavesh
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. Eshan

Solution

Three-season totals: Arjun 2250, Bhavesh 1950, Chirag 2050, Dev 1950, Eshan 2300 Same number of seasons, so highest total = highest average. Eshan (2300). Answer: Eshan

Q33.

Runs scored by five batsmen in three seasons, values read from a bar chart:

Batsman202120222023
Arjun600750900
Bhavesh500650800
Chirag700650700
Dev450600900
Eshan800800700

By what percentage did Dev's score increase from 2021 to 2023?

  1. A50%
  2. B200%
  3. C100%
  4. D150%
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. 100%

Solution

Increase = 900 - 450 = 450 450/450 x 100 = 100% Answer: 100%

Q34.

Employees (in hundreds) in five departments, values read from a bar chart:

DepartmentPermanentContract
HR2010
IT8040
Sales6090
Operations10050
Finance4010

What is the total number of employees in the IT department (in hundreds)?

  1. A80
  2. B120
  3. C40
  4. D130
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. 120

Solution

IT: permanent 80 + contract 40 = 120 (hundred) Answer: 120

Q35.

Employees (in hundreds) in five departments, values read from a bar chart:

DepartmentPermanentContract
HR2010
IT8040
Sales6090
Operations10050
Finance4010

What percentage of all employees of the company are on contract?

  1. A35%
  2. B45%
  3. C40%
  4. D66.67%
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. 40%

Solution

Total permanent = 20+80+60+100+40 = 300 Total contract = 10+40+90+50+10 = 200 Total = 500 Contract % = 200/500 x 100 = 40% Answer: 40%

Q36.

Employees (in hundreds) in five departments, values read from a bar chart:

DepartmentPermanentContract
HR2010
IT8040
Sales6090
Operations10050
Finance4010

Contract employees form the largest share of a department's workforce in which department?

  1. AIT
  2. BHR
  3. COperations
  4. DSales
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. Sales

Solution

Contract share: HR 10/30 = 33.3%, IT 40/120 = 33.3%, Sales 90/150 = 60%, Operations 50/150 = 33.3%, Finance 10/50 = 20% Highest = Sales. Answer: Sales

Hard questions

Q37.

Car production (in thousand units) at two plants, values read from a bar chart:

YearPlant XPlant Y
2018120100
2019150140
2020135160
2021180150
2022165190
2023210200

What is the ratio of X's total production in 2018-2020 to Y's total production in 2021-2023?

  1. A3 : 4
  2. B4 : 3
  3. C2 : 3
  4. D27 : 35
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. 3 : 4

Solution

X(2018-20) = 120+150+135 = 405 Y(2021-23) = 150+190+200 = 540 Ratio = 405 : 540 = 3 : 4 Answer: 3 : 4

Q38.

Monthly sales (₹ lakh) of three shops, values read from a bar chart:

MonthShop AShop BShop C
Jan405030
Feb554550
Mar606540
Apr456075
May705545

The total sales of Shop A over the five months are what percentage of the total sales of Shop C?

  1. A120%
  2. B112.5%
  3. C90%
  4. D108.5%
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. 112.5%

Solution

Total A = 40+55+60+45+70 = 270 Total C = 30+50+40+75+45 = 240 A/C x 100 = 270/240 x 100 = 112.5% Answer: 112.5%

Q39.

Number of students (in hundreds) in five colleges, values read from a bar chart:

CollegeBoysGirls
P4035
Q5545
R3050
S6040
T4555

In college Q, 20% of the boys and 40% of the girls live in the hostel. How many hundred students of Q are hostellers?

  1. A24.5
  2. B28
  3. C29
  4. D30
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. 29

Solution

Boys in Q = 55 (hundred), girls = 45 (hundred) Hostel boys = 20% of 55 = 11 Hostel girls = 40% of 45 = 18 Total = 11 + 18 = 29 (hundred) Answer: 29

Q40.

Annual rainfall (cm) in five cities, values read from a bar chart:

City20222023
Mumbai240270
Chennai120150
Kolkata160200
Delhi80100
Pune5060

By what percentage did the combined rainfall of the five cities increase from 2022 to 2023?

  1. A18%
  2. B24%
  3. C16%
  4. D20%
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. 20%

Solution

Total 2022 = 240+120+160+80+50 = 650 Total 2023 = 780 Increase = 130 % increase = 130/650 x 100 = 20% Answer: 20%

Q41.

Income and expenditure (₹ lakh) of a company, values read from a bar chart:

YearIncomeExpenditure
20198060
202010070
202112090
2022150100
2023180120

The total income in 2022 and 2023 together is what percentage of the total expenditure in those two years?

  1. A150%
  2. B130%
  3. C120%
  4. D175%
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. 150%

Solution

Income = 150+180 = 330 Expenditure = 100+120 = 220 330/220 x 100 = 150% Answer: 150%

Q42.

Wheat production (lakh tonnes) in five states, values read from a bar chart:

State202120222023
Punjab170180190
Haryana110120130
Uttar Pradesh300330360
Madhya Pradesh200190220
Rajasthan100120110

Which state showed the highest percentage growth in production from 2022 to 2023?

  1. AUttar Pradesh
  2. BMadhya Pradesh
  3. CHaryana
  4. DPunjab
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. Madhya Pradesh

Solution

% growth 2022 to 2023: Punjab 10/180 = 5.6% Haryana 10/120 = 8.3% UP 30/330 = 9.1% MP 30/190 = 15.8% Rajasthan: a fall Highest = Madhya Pradesh. Answer: Madhya Pradesh

Q43.

Candidates who applied and who were selected (in thousands) for five exams, values read from a bar chart:

ExamAppliedSelected
SSC8012
Bank12015
Railway20010
NDA502
UPSC501

What is the ratio of candidates NOT selected in SSC to candidates NOT selected in Bank?

  1. A12 : 15
  2. B4 : 5
  3. C68 : 105
  4. D65 : 108
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. 68 : 105

Solution

Not selected in SSC = 80 - 12 = 68 Not selected in Bank = 120 - 15 = 105 Ratio = 68 : 105 (no common factor) Answer: 68 : 105

Q44.

Runs scored by five batsmen in three seasons, values read from a bar chart:

Batsman202120222023
Arjun600750900
Bhavesh500650800
Chirag700650700
Dev450600900
Eshan800800700

Arjun's 2023 score is what percentage of the total 2023 score of all five batsmen?

  1. A20%
  2. B25%
  3. C18%
  4. D22.5%
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. 22.5%

Solution

Total 2023 = 900+800+700+900+700 = 4000 Arjun / total = 900/4000 x 100 = 22.5% Answer: 22.5%

Q45.

Employees (in hundreds) in five departments, values read from a bar chart:

DepartmentPermanentContract
HR2010
IT8040
Sales6090
Operations10050
Finance4010

Half of the contract employees in Sales are made permanent. What percentage of the Sales workforce is then permanent?

  1. A70%
  2. B40%
  3. C60%
  4. D75%
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. 70%

Solution

Sales total = 60 + 90 = 150 (hundred) Converted = 45, so permanent = 60 + 45 = 105 105/150 x 100 = 70% Answer: 70%

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