Analytical Problem Solving Flashcards

A factory produces widgets at a rate of 120 per hour. After a machine upgrade, output increases by 25%. How many widgets are produced in an 8-hour shift after the upgrade?

Answer: 1200

120 × 1.25 = 150 widgets/hour; 150 × 8 = 1,200 widgets.

Four suspects are questioned about a theft. Alex lies on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Beth lies on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Both claim today is Sunday. What can you conclude?

Answer: At least one of them is lying

If today were Sunday, neither would be in their lying cycle, but they cannot both be right unless the day is confirmed independently, and the scenario is self-referential, so at least one must be lying.

A dataset has values: 4, 8, 6, 12, 10, 6, 8. Which measure of central tendency is most affected by replacing the value 12 with 30?

Answer: Mean

The mean uses all values arithmetically, so a large outlier like 30 shifts it significantly more than the median or mode.

If all Blips are Bloops, some Bloops are Blaps, and no Blaps are Blips, which must be true?

Answer: Some Bloops are not Blips

Since some Bloops are Blaps and no Blaps are Blips, those Blap-Bloops cannot be Blips, so some Bloops are not Blips.

A store marks up items by 40% above cost, then offers a 20% discount. What is the net percentage change from original cost to final price?

Answer: 12% profit

1.40 × 0.80 = 1.12, meaning a 12% profit over original cost.

In a meeting of 5 people, every person shakes hands exactly once with each other person. How many handshakes occur total?

Answer: 10

The number of handshakes is C(5,2) = 5×4/2 = 10.

A logical argument states: 'If the alarm sounds, there is an emergency. The alarm is not sounding.' What can be validly concluded?

Answer: There may or may not be an emergency

The conditional only tells us what follows when the alarm sounds; silence gives no information about emergencies (denying the antecedent fallacy).