Directions for questions : The following diagram shows the percentage share of…
2023
Directions for questions : The following diagram shows the percentage share of manufacturing sector in total employment in small, medium and large establishments individually. The definitions of small, large and medium establishments are shown below in the diagram
Small establishments are defined as those with fewer than 100 employees. Medium-sized establishments are defined as those with between 100 and 1500 employees. Large establishments are defined as those with more than 1500 employees. Study the diagram carefully and answer the questions given below:
In 1981 about 30 million employees were there in the large establishment. Then how many employees were there in the medium-sized establishments? (Approximately)
- A.
25 m
- B.
40 m
- C.
35 m
- D.
Can't be determined
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Concept: Converting an absolute number from one category to another using percentage shares only works when both percentages are measured against the same total (a shared base). If each category's percentage is a share of its own separate total, one category's percentage cannot be used to scale an absolute figure belonging to another category.
Application: Check the 1981 bars and whether they share one common base:
The chart shows the manufacturing-employment share as roughly 55% for large establishments and roughly 70% for medium-sized establishments in 1981.
Sum all three 1981 shares: small (~27%) + medium (~70%) + large (~55%) ≈ 152%, well above 100%.
Small, medium, and large establishments are mutually exclusive categories. If all three shares were parts of one common total employment figure, they could never add up to more than 100%. A sum well over 100% shows each share is measured against its own establishment category's total, not one shared total.
So the 55% for large establishments and the 70% for medium establishments are ratios against two different, unstated totals — the chart nowhere states a relationship between the two totals.
Cross-check: Using 30 million and 55% only gives the large-establishment total employment (≈ 30 ÷ 0.55 ≈ 54.5 million) — a fact about large establishments alone. It builds no bridge to the medium-establishment total, since no common base or conversion factor between the two categories is given anywhere in the chart or the question.
Result: With no relationship connecting the two totals, the number of employees in medium-sized establishments cannot be computed from the given data.