Explanatory Answer

Method of solving this CAT DILR Question from Line Chart & Bar Chart question

Some simple inferences
1. No one has got any 8 or 0.
2. Score of 3 is the most frequent, scores of 4 and 5 come right after that.



Now, let us look at some of the constraints
Total adding up to 7 – this can be {1, 1, 5}, {1, 2, 4}, (1, 3, 3), {2, 2, 3} in some order.
A and C get identical scores. So, if one gets {1, 1, 5}, the other also should have got {1, 1, 5}.
We do not even have four 1’s, so {1, 1, 5} is ruled out.
We have 1 two from F, and 3 twos from C. So, we cannot have {2, 2, 3} either. Both A and C could have got a 2 with C, but they both could not have gotten a score of 2 with F.
Both {1, 2, 4} and {1, 3, 3} are possible.
Only F = 1 is possible. Only C = 2 is possible. So, more specifically, we have two possibilities





Total adding up to 17 – this can be {7, 6, 4}, {7, 5, 5} or {6, 6, 5} in some order.
Z cannot be {7, 5, 5}.
Why not? Think about this
Only S and F have scores of 7 and 5. There is no C score or 7 or 5. So, Z has to be either {7, 6, 4} or {6, 6, 5}.

Z has to be either {7, 6, 4} or {6, 6, 5}. One Country should have scored highest in S, one in F and one in C. All three totals add up to 14 or more.
Let us call the three as happy Countries as Z, T1, T2 and build possible scenarios.
Let us start with Z = {7, 6, 4}. In this case, Z should have scored the highest in S or F. So some other Country should have scored the highest in C. So, some other Country gets C = 6, Z should get S = 6. So, Z should have got F = 7

Let us start with Z = {7, 6, 4}. In this case, Z should have scored the highest in S or F. So some other Country should have scored the highest in C. So, some other Country gets C = 6, Z should get S = 6. So, Z should have got F = 7. T1 should have S = 7, and T2 should have C = 6



Alternatively Z = {6, 6, 5}. In this case, Z should have scored the highest in C. So the other two Countries should have scored the highest in S and F. Both these tables appear possible.



Incorporating all possibilities









We have only two ways of getting to 17 {7, 6, 4} and {6, 6, 5} and only one way each of getting each of these combinations. So, three Countries could not have scored 17. Now, let us see if we can get B and D to a total of 16. If we get that, then this max score is possible.

Let us try with Z = {6, 5, 6}. T1 should have F + C adding up to 9 and T2 should have S + C adding up to 9. Is this possible? We are out of 7’s and 6’s. So, we can get to 9 only by adding and 5 and 4. We have only one C = 4, so this is not possible. Let us try the other combination.

Let us try with Z = {6, 7, 4}. T1 should have F + C adding up to 9 and T2 should have S + F adding up to 10. Is this possible? We are out of 7’s and 6’s. So, we can get to 10 only by adding and 5 and 5. We can get 9 only with a 5 + 4. let us if this fits in properly

We have only one C = 4, so this is not possible. Now, let us go for the maximum possible total being 15 for both.

Let us try with Z = {6, 5, 6}. T1 should have F + C adding up to 8 and T2 should have S + C adding up to 8. Is this possible? We are out of 7’s and 6’s. 8 can be a 4 + 4 or as 5 + 3. Is this possible?

The below grid appears possible. So, the maximum could be 15.

The question is "Benga and Delma, two countries categorized as happy, are tied with the same total score. What is the maximum score they can have?"

Hence, the answer is "15".

Choice B is the correct answer.