Paragraph-based descriptions from which you must construct your own charts or tables.

A caselet gives all the data in a short paragraph instead of a ready table or graph. The key skill is to convert the words into an organised table, then answer the questions from it.

Turning a paragraph into data

• Read the whole paragraph once and list the categories, totals, and relationships it mentions.
• Decide the rows and columns, for example groups against quantities, or years against values.
• Fill in direct figures first, then use ratios, percentages, and differences to find the rest.
• Use a Venn diagram when the data describes overlapping groups, and a tree or table for sequential splits.

Common relationships

• Percentage of a total: part = percentage / 100 x total.
• Ratio split: value of one part = total / sum of the ratio terms.
• Overlapping groups: A or B = A + B - both.
• Percentage change: new value = old value x (1 + change / 100).
• Average: total = average x number of items.

How to solve questions

1. Underline every number and relationship in the paragraph.
2. Build a labelled table with the known values.
3. Complete the table step by step using the relationships.
4. Check that totals and parts add up consistently.
5. Answer the question directly from the completed table.