California State Jobs Exam Data Interpretation and Analysis 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A California state department's budget shows expenditures of $2.4M in Q1, $2.8M in Q2, $3.1M in Q3, and $3.7M in Q4. What is the average quarterly increase?
- $325,000
- $433,333 (Correct answer)
- $500,000
- $650,000
Correct answer: $433,333
Total increase from Q1 to Q4 is $1.3M over 3 intervals. $1,300,000 / 3 = $433,333.
To find the average quarterly increase: overall change ($3.7M - $2.4M = $1.3M) divided by intervals (Q1→Q2, Q2→Q3, Q3→Q4 = 3). $1,300,000 / 3 = $433,333.
Question 2: A bar chart shows Department A processed 1,200 applications while Department B processed 900. What percentage more did A process compared to B?
- 25%
- 33.3% (Correct answer)
- 30%
- 75%
Correct answer: 33.3%
The difference is 300. 300 / 900 = 33.3% more than Department B.
When calculating how much more A processed compared to B, B is the base. Difference: 1,200 - 900 = 300. 300 / 900 = 0.333 or 33.3%.
Question 3: A pie chart shows: Administrative 35%, Technical 25%, Professional 20%, Support 15%, Management 5%. If total workforce is 2,000, how many are in Technical and Professional combined?
- 800
- 900 (Correct answer)
- 1,000
- 700
Correct answer: 900
Technical (25%) + Professional (20%) = 45% of 2,000 = 900.
Combine percentages: 25% + 20% = 45%. Multiply by total: 2,000 x 0.45 = 900 employees.
Question 4: A state agency tracks monthly complaints: Jan 450, Feb 380, Mar 520, Apr 490. What is the median?
- 450
- 460
- 470 (Correct answer)
- 490
Correct answer: 470
Ordered: 380, 450, 490, 520. Median of four values: (450 + 490) / 2 = 470.
Arrange in order: 380, 450, 490, 520. With four values, the median is the average of the second and third: (450 + 490) / 2 = 470.
Question 5: A trend line shows processing time decreased from 14 days in 2020 to 8 days in 2024. If linear, what is expected in 2026?
- 5 days (Correct answer)
- 6 days
- 4 days
- 7 days
Correct answer: 5 days
Rate of decrease: (14-8)/4 = 1.5 days/year. From 2024: 8 - (1.5 x 2) = 5 days.
Linear projection: decrease over 4 years is 6 days, rate = 1.5 days/year. Projecting 2 more years: 8 - 3 = 5 days.
Question 6: Five California regions have populations of 4.2M, 3.8M, 2.1M, 1.5M, and 0.9M. What percentage lives in the two largest regions?
- 56%
- 64% (Correct answer)
- 72%
- 48%
Correct answer: 64%
Total: 12.5M. Two largest: 4.2M + 3.8M = 8.0M. 8.0/12.5 = 64%.
Total: 4.2 + 3.8 + 2.1 + 1.5 + 0.9 = 12.5M. Two largest: 8.0M. Percentage: 8.0/12.5 x 100 = 64%.
California State Jobs Exam Data Interpretation and Analysis 2
A California state department's budget shows expenditures of $2.4M in Q1, $2.8M in Q2, $3.1M in Q3, and $3.7M in Q4.
What is the average quarterly increase?