Question

In 2015 what is the difference between the amount of PDS supply and that used in export ?

• A. 53000 tonnes
• B. 56000 tonnes
• C. 54500 tonnes
• D. 52500 tonnes

Hint:

Always convert graph values into actual numbers (thousand tonnes → tonnes) before applying percentages.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Find total production in 2015 From the graph, in 2015: 
Rice = 300 
Wheat = 150 
Pulses = 250 
Maize = 350 
Total = \( 300 + 150 + 250 + 350 = 1050 \) thousand tonnes = \( 1050000 \) tonnes. 

Step 2: Percentage distribution in 2015 From the table: 
Export = 15% of production, 
PDS supply = 20% of production. 

Step 3: Calculate quantities Export = \( 15\% \times 1050000 = 157500 \) tonnes. 
PDS supply = \( 20\% \times 1050000 = 210000 \) tonnes. 

Step 4: Find difference Difference = \( 210000 - 157500 = 52500 \) tonnes. \[ \boxed{52500 \text{ tonnes}} \] 

Correction: the closest correct option is (d)

Answer 2

Rather than computing the PDS supply and export quantities separately and then subtracting, the difference can be found in one step using the difference in their percentages.

Total production in 2015. From the chart: Rice \(=300\), Wheat \(=150\), Pulses \(=250\), Maize \(=350\) (thousand tonnes), so total \[ =300+150+250+350=1050\ \text{thousand tonnes}=1{,}050{,}000\ \text{tonnes}. \]

Using the percentage-point gap directly. PDS supply is 20% of production and export is 15%, so the difference between them is simply \((20-15)\%=5\%\) of the total production: \[ \text{Difference}=5\%\times1{,}050{,}000=52{,}500\ \text{tonnes}. \]

1. Option 53000 tonnes: Close but not exact — does not match \(5\%\) of \(1{,}050{,}000\); ruled out.
2. Option 56000 tonnes: Too high for a 5-percentage-point gap on this total; ruled out.
3. Option 54500 tonnes: Also does not match the exact 5% calculation; ruled out.
4. Option 52500 tonnes: Matches exactly — \(5\%\) of \(1{,}050{,}000\) is \(52{,}500\).

Taking the percentage-point gap directly avoids computing the two absolute quantities separately, and confirms the same answer.

So the correct answer is 52500 tonnes.