Analyzing University Entrance Exam Data for Minimum Non-Qualified Difference

The question asks us to find the year among the given options where the difference between the number of non-qualified candidates for B.Sc. and B.A. is minimum. The provided table contains data on the number of candidates who appeared and qualified for a university entrance examination in thousands over five years.

Calculating Non-Qualified Candidates

First, we need to determine the number of non-qualified candidates for both B.Sc. and B.A. courses for each year. The number of non-qualified candidates is calculated by subtracting the number of qualified candidates from the number of appeared candidates.

Non-Qualified Candidates = Appeared Candidates - Qualified Candidates

Year 2016:

• B.Sc. Non-Qualified = $3.4 - 1.2 = 2.2$ thousand
• B.A. Non-Qualified = $6.4 - 2.3 = 4.1$ thousand

Year 2017:

• B.Sc. Non-Qualified = $3.6 - 1.8 = 1.8$ thousand
• B.A. Non-Qualified = $6.6 - 2.5 = 4.1$ thousand

Year 2018:

• B.Sc. Non-Qualified = $4.2 - 2.1 = 2.1$ thousand
• B.A. Non-Qualified = $7.2 - 2.8 = 4.4$ thousand

Year 2019:

• B.Sc. Non-Qualified = $4.8 - 2.3 = 2.5$ thousand
• B.A. Non-Qualified = $6.8 - 2.6 = 4.2$ thousand

Year 2020:

• B.Sc. Non-Qualified = $3.8 - 1.9 = 1.9$ thousand
• B.A. Non-Qualified = $7.4 - 3.2 = 4.2$ thousand

Calculating the Difference in Non-Qualified Candidates (B.Sc. and B.A.)

Next, we calculate the absolute difference between the number of non-qualified candidates for B.Sc. and B.A. for each year.

• Year 2016: Difference = $|2.2 - 4.1| = |-1.9| = 1.9$ thousand
• Year 2017: Difference = $|1.8 - 4.1| = |-2.3| = 2.3$ thousand
• Year 2018: Difference = $|2.1 - 4.4| = |-2.3| = 2.3$ thousand
• Year 2019: Difference = $|2.5 - 4.2| = |-1.7| = 1.7$ thousand
• Year 2020: Difference = $|1.9 - 4.2| = |-2.3| = 2.3$ thousand

Finding the Minimum Difference

Now we compare the calculated differences for each year:

• 2016: 1.9
• 2017: 2.3
• 2018: 2.3
• 2019: 1.7
• 2020: 2.3

The minimum difference among these values is 1.7, which occurs in the year 2019.

Therefore, the difference between non-qualified candidates of B.Sc. and B.A. is minimum in the year 2019.

Summary Table of Non-Qualified Candidates and Differences

Based on the calculations, the minimum difference of 1.7 thousand non-qualified candidates between B.Sc. and B.A. is in the year 2019.

Revision Table: Key Data Analysis Steps

Additional Information: Understanding University Entrance Exam Statistics

University entrance exam statistics often provide insights into various aspects of the admission process. Data such as the number of candidates who appeared, qualified, and subsequently enrolled can help in understanding trends in student interest for different courses and the competitiveness of the examination.

• Appeared Candidates: This number indicates the total pool of students who took the exam.
• Qualified Candidates: These are the students who met the minimum criteria set by the university to be considered for admission.
• Non-Qualified Candidates: This represents the number of students who appeared but did not meet the qualification criteria. It is calculated as Appeared - Qualified.
• Analysis of Differences: Comparing metrics like the number of non-qualified candidates between different courses over time can reveal shifts in difficulty, preparation levels, or changes in eligibility criteria. A smaller difference might indicate similar levels of non-qualified candidates between the compared courses in that particular year.

Analyzing such data over several years, as done in this problem, allows for the identification of patterns and minimum/maximum values for specific metrics, which is a common task in data interpretation questions.