RAS question
A bar diagram shows the number of students in 5 sections: A=45, B=50, C=35, D=40, E=30. The ratio of students in the largest section to the smallest section is:
Correct answer: (A) 5 : 3.
In the given bar diagram, section B has the most students (50), while section E has the fewest (30). Their ratio is 50 : 30 = 5 : 3.
Explanation
Read the number of students in each section from the bar diagram: A = 45, B = 50, C = 35, D = 40, and E = 30. The largest value is 50, so section B has the most students. The smallest value is 30, so section E has the fewest. A ratio compares two quantities in the same unit. The order also matters here because the question asks for the largest section to be compared with the smallest. The required ratio is therefore 50 : 30. Dividing both terms by 10 gives 50 ÷ 10 = 5 and 30 ÷ 10 = 3. Thus, the ratio in its simplest form is 5 : 3.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) 10 : 7 is the simplified form of 50 : 35, which compares section B with section C. However, C has the second-lowest number of students; E has the lowest.
- (C) 3 : 2 is the simplified form of 45 : 30, which compares section A with section E. However, A does not have the most students; B does, with 50.
- (D) 5 : 4 is the simplified form of 50 : 40, which compares section B with section D. However, D does not have the fewest students; E does, with 30.
Concept
This question tests your understanding of reading a bar diagram and simplifying a ratio. First identify the sections to be compared, then use their values to reduce the ratio. Such questions appear frequently in RAS reasoning because they combine data interpretation with a quick arithmetic check.