CAT 2020 Slot 2 DILR Set 1 Q1–Q4

A DILR caselet from the Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) section of CAT 2020 Slot 2, with 4 questions (Grids & Matrices). Answers are CAT's official key.

The set

Twenty five coloured beads are to be arranged in a grid comprising of five rows and five columns. Each cell in the grid must contain exactly one bead. Each bead is coloured either Red, Blue or Green.

While arranging the beads along any of the five rows or along any of the five columns, the rules given below are to be followed:

1. Two adjacent beads along the same row or column are always of different colours.
2. There is at least one Green bead between any two Blue beads along the same row or column.
3. There is at least one Blue and at least one Green bead between any two Red beads along the same row or column.

Every unique, complete arrangement of twenty five beads is called a configuration.

Question 1

The total number of possible congurations using beads of only two colours is:

TITA: type in the answer. There are no options and no negative marking.

Answer: 2 Grids & Matrices TITA

A worked solution for this question is being written. Meanwhile, practise it in a timed mock and see how other aspirants did.

Question 2

What is the maximum possible number of Red beads that can appear in any conguration?

TITA: type in the answer. There are no options and no negative marking.

Answer: 9 Grids & Matrices TITA

A worked solution for this question is being written. Meanwhile, practise it in a timed mock and see how other aspirants did.

Question 3

What is the minimum number of Blue beads in any conguration?

TITA: type in the answer. There are no options and no negative marking.

Answer: 6 Grids & Matrices TITA

A worked solution for this question is being written. Meanwhile, practise it in a timed mock and see how other aspirants did.

Question 4

Two Red beads have been placed in ‘second row, third column’ and ‘third row, second column’. How many more Red beads can be placed so as to maximise the number of Red beads used in the configuration?

TITA: type in the answer. There are no options and no negative marking.

Answer: 6 Grids & Matrices TITA

A worked solution for this question is being written. Meanwhile, practise it in a timed mock and see how other aspirants did.

Same concept in other years

See every question on Fill a grid with symbols/numbers obeying adjacency or ordering rules.

More Grids & Matrices questions from CAT

All 67 Grids & Matrices questions asked since 2017.