Question

Directions: The following table shows the percentage population of six states (A to F) that lives below the poverty line, along with the male to female ratio among the population below the poverty line and above the poverty line, for each state.

State	% Population below poverty line	Below Poverty line M:F	Above Poverty line M:F
A	16	2:3	3:4
B	10	4:3	5:2
C	14	3:4	2:3
D	20	5:2	4:3
E	25	4:1	2:1
F	20	2:3	4:1

If the population of states C and D together is 20000, what is the total number of females below the poverty line in these two states?

• A. 5000
• B. 6000
• C. 7200
• D. NOTA

Hint:

Try two different splits of the 20000 between C and D and see if the female count below poverty line stays the same.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

This question tests whether you can spot when a data interpretation problem has enough information to give one fixed numeric answer.

1. 5000: this would only be correct if a specific split of the 20000 between C and D were assumed, such as an equal 10000 and 10000 split. The question never states the two states have equal populations, so this number is not guaranteed.
2. 6000: this also comes from picking one particular split of populations between C and D. Since C is 14% poor with a 3:4 female heavy ratio and D is 20% poor with a 5:2 male heavy ratio, the female count changes a lot depending on how the 20000 is divided, so this fixed value cannot be trusted.
3. 7200: same issue, another possible value under one assumed split, not a value that holds for every valid split of the combined population.
4. NOTA: correct, because $c$ and $d$ (the individual populations of C and D) are each needed to compute $0.08c + \frac{2}{7}(0.20)d$, and only $c + d = 20000$ is given. Two valid splits of 20000 give two different female counts, so no single number can be the answer.

The correct option is NOTA (D), since the individual populations of C and D are not given and the female count below poverty line cannot be pinned to one value.