Data Insights / GMAT question formats

Multi-Source Reasoning

Multi-Source Reasoning: concepts, worked examples and practice.

Listen and follow along. Progress stays on this browser. No login needed.

Start with the basics

Multi-Source Reasoning, explained simply

Multi-source reasoning combines information from several tables, messages or passages. Keep track of which source supports each claim.

Try a small example

A timetable says a bus leaves at 9:00. A notice says it is delayed by 15 minutes. What departure time follows?

Show the steps

Use the timetable for the original time.
Use the notice for the added delay.
The expected departure is 9:15, assuming the notice refers to that bus.

Remember: Confirm that the sources describe the same person, period or event.

Log in to save highlights and answer practice questions. Select text in a note, then choose a highlight colour. On mobile, touch and hold to select. Choose Save highlights or Save changes to save to your account. You’ll be prompted before leaving unsaved study changes.

Source Reconciliation

Compare dates, definitions and populations across sources before combining them. An apparent contradiction may result from different measurement scopes.

Worked example

A table reports all customers while a survey covers active subscribers only. Their satisfaction percentages need not match. Align the populations before concluding that one source is wrong.

Exam focus

GMAT: Data Insights

Practise sufficiency, table analysis, graphics, multiple sources and paired choices. Learn each response format using GMAC official samples.

Check your understanding

Explain the idea in your own words before opening the answer. Then apply it to the example.

Source Reconciliation

Explain the main rule in source reconciliation, then apply it to a small example. State the assumption that makes your reasoning valid.

Review the note

Check your answer

Compare dates, definitions and populations across sources before combining them. An apparent contradiction may result from different measurement scopes.

Worked example: A table reports all customers while a survey covers active subscribers only. Their satisfaction percentages need not match. Align the populations before concluding that one source is wrong.

Relevance and Inference

Explain the main rule in relevance and inference, then apply it to a small example. State the assumption that makes your reasoning valid.

Review the note

Check your answer

Use only sources relevant to the question and distinguish what is stated from what follows. More data does not guarantee a better inference.

Worked example: To decide whether a delivery met its promised date, use the promise and actual delivery records. A marketing claim about average speed cannot establish this individual result.

Practice questions

Bharatiya Pathshala

Opening preparation notes...

BEGINNER

Multi-Source Reasoning: visual worked lesson

Core idea

Multi-source reasoning combines information from several tables, messages or passages. Keep track of which source supports each claim.

Solving method

Index what each source establishes, then reconcile dates, units and populations. Use only sources relevant to the claim.

Worked example

A timetable says a bus leaves at 9:00. A notice says it is delayed by 15 minutes. What departure time follows? 1. Use the timetable for the original time. 2. Use the notice for the added delay. 3. The expected departure is 9:15, assuming the notice refers to that bus.

Read the diagram

The timetable supplies the original departure and the notice supplies the adjustment. They can be combined only after matching the bus and relevant date or service. The resulting expected time is 9:15. Preserve which source supports each input; unrelated information should not be merged just because it uses similar words.

Exam-style application

Source 1 reports 1000 registered learners. Source 2 says 60% were active during June. Source 3 says 25% of active learners completed a module. June completions=1000 x 0.60 x 0.25=150, provided the registration population and dates align. Applying 25% directly to all registered learners would produce 250 and ignore the conditional base.

Common mistakes

Confirm that the sources describe the same person, period or event. Two percentages cannot be combined merely because they appear in neighbouring sources. Check that they describe compatible groups and time periods.

Combine compatible sources for the same bus. The notice must refer to this bus and this scheduled departure. — Combine compatible sources for the same bus

The notice must refer to this bus and this scheduled departure. — Combine compatible sources for the same bus

Source record: Bharatiya Pathshala — original illustrated lessons.

Multi-Source Reasoning, explained simply

Try a small example

Source Reconciliation

Worked example

GMAT: Data Insights

Check your understanding

Source Reconciliation

Relevance and Inference

Multi-Source Reasoning, explained simply

Try a small example

Multi-Source Reasoning: visual worked lesson

Core idea

Solving method

Worked example

Read the diagram

Exam-style application

Common mistakes

Source Reconciliation

Worked example

Relevance and Inference

Worked example

Application and strategy

Worked application

Common traps and strategy

GMAT: Data Insights

Check your understanding

Source Reconciliation

Relevance and Inference

Multi-Source Reasoning: visual worked lesson

Core idea

Solving method

Worked example

Read the diagram

Exam-style application

Common mistakes

Relevance and Inference

Worked example

Application and strategy

Worked application

Common traps and strategy