Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) Practice Test

In overlapping set questions, which visual aid is recommended when working with more than two sets?

1. Bar chart

2. Pie chart

3. Line graph

4. Venn diagram

The correct answer is: Venn diagram

When considering visual aids for overlapping set questions, especially when dealing with more than two sets, a Venn diagram is ideal because it allows for a clear representation of the relationships and intersections among multiple sets. With a Venn diagram, each set is represented by a circle, and the overlapping areas highlight the elements that belong to multiple sets simultaneously. This makes it easier to visualize and understand how the different sets interrelate, especially when the number of sets increases. For instance, if you have three or more sets, a Venn diagram can delineate all possible intersections and unique elements, enabling a straightforward comparison and analysis. Other visual aids like bar charts, pie charts, or line graphs typically do not effectively convey the complexities of overlaps across multiple sets since they are better suited for displaying single variables or trends over time, rather than multidimensional relationships. Thus, using a Venn diagram is the most effective choice for visualizing overlapping sets involving three or more categories.