Solved Examples Set 1 (Quantitative Ability)

1. Which expression is equivalent to \(\frac{6𝑥^2 + 4𝑥}{2𝑥}\)?

   1. 7x
   2. 5x²
   3. 3x + 2
   4. 6x² + 2
   5. 3x² + 2x

   As \(\frac{6𝑥^2}{2𝑥} = 3𝑥,\) and \(\frac{4𝑥}{2𝑥} = 2,\) so then \(\frac{6𝑥^2 + 4𝑥}{2𝑥} = 3𝑥 + 2\)

2. In the series 8, 9, 12, 17, 24 . . . the next number would be

   1. 29
   2. 30
   3. 33
   4. 35
   5. 41

   In the series, 8, 9, 12, 17, 24 . . .
   9 − 8 = 1
   12 − 9 = 3
   17 − 12 = 5
   24 − 17 = 7
   Hence, the difference between the next term and 24 must be 9 or
   x − 24 = 9, and
   x = 33
   Hence, the next term in the series must be 33

3. 72 + 679 + 1439 + 537+ ? = 4036

   1. 1309
   2. 1208
   3. 2308
   4. 2423
   5. 1309

   72 + 679 + 1439 + 537+ ? = 4036
   2727 + ? = 4036
   ? = 4036 - 2727 = 1309

4. A can do a piece of work in 10 days and B can do it in 15 days. The number of days required by them to finish it, working together is

   1. 8
   2. 7
   3. 6
   4. 4
   5. 3

   A's 1 day work = \(1 \over 10\)
   B's 1 day work = \(1 \over 15\)
   Now both A and B's 1 day work = \({1 \over 10} + {1 \over 15}\) = \(3 + 2 \over 30\) = \(1 \over 6\)
   Hence the work by both A and B will be completed in 6 days.

5. A shop owner blends three types of coffees, A, B and C, in the ratio 3:5:7. Given that type A coffee costs $ 70 per kg, type B coffee costs $ 100 per kg and type C coffee costs $ 130 per kg, calculate the cost per kg of the blended mixture.

   1. $ 106
   2. $ 108
   3. $ 109
   4. $ 110
   5. $ 105

   Cost per kg = 70 x 1/5 + 100 x 1/3 + 130 x 7/15 = $ 108 per kg

6. A man is 5 times as old as his son. 2 years ago the sum of the squares of their ages was 1114. Find the present age of son.

   1. 7 years
   2. 9 years
   3. 8 years
   4. 8 1/2 years
   5. 6 years

   Let son's age = x, then
   father's age = 5x
   As before 2 years ago the sum of the squares of their ages was 1114, the equation becomes as
   \((x - 2)^2 + (5x - 2)^2 = 1114 \)
   By simplifying the equation, we have
   \(13x^2 -12x -553 = 0\)
   Now solving the equation, we have
   \(13x^2 - 12x - 553 = 0\)
   \(13x^2 - 91x + 79x -553 = 0\)
   13x(x - 7) + 79(x - 7) = 0
   (x - 7)(13x + 79) = 0
   x = 7 and x = -6.077
   As age could not be negative, hence the present age of the son is 7 years.

7. \( {0.027 \over 90} = ? \)

   1. 0.0003
   2. 0.03
   3. 3
   4. 0.00003
   5. 0.003

   \( {0.027 \over 90} = {27 \over 1000 × 90} = {3 \over 10000} = 0.0003 \)

8. 40 men can build a wall 4 metres high in 15 days. The number of men required to build a similar wall 5 metres high in 6 days is

   1. 115
   2. 125
   3. 105
   4. 135
   5. 130

   \( 40 × 15 × 5 \over 6 × 4 \) = 125 men

9. A and B enter into a partnership contributing $ 800 and $ 1000 respectively. At the end of 6 months they admit C, who contributes $ 600. After 3 years they get a profit of $ 966. Find the share of each partner in the profit.

   1. $ 336, $ 420, $ 210
   2. $ 360, $ 400, $ 206
   3. $ 380, $ 390, $ 196
   4. $ 345, $ 405, $ 210
   5. $ 325, $ 400, $ 200

   A shares = 800 × 3 = 2400
   B shares = 1000 × 3 = 3000
   C shares = 600 × 2 1⁄2 = 1500
   Total shares = 2400 + 3000 + 1500 = 6900
   A's profit = \(2400 \over 6900 \) × 966 = $ 336
   B's profit = \(3000 \over 6900 \) × 966 = $ 420
   C's profit = \(1500 \over 6900 \) × 966 = $ 210

10. 1.02 - 0.20 + ? = 0.842

    1. 0.222
    2. 232
    3. 2
    4. 0.022
    5. 0.012

    1.02 - 0.20 + ? = 0.842
    0.82 + ? = 0.842
    ? = 0.842 - 0.82 = 0.022

11. A bank increased the rate of interest which it paid to depositors from 3.5% to 4% per annum. Find how much more interest a man would receive if he deposited $ 64000 in the bank for 6 months at the new interest rate

    1. $ 160
    2. $ 180
    3. $ 200
    4. $ 220
    5. $ 150

    If the interest rate is 3.5% then interest amount is
    3.5% of 6400 = 0.035 × 6400 = $ 2240
    If the interest rate is 4% then interest amount is
    4% of 6400 = 0.04 × 6400 = $ 2560
    Now the difference of both interests = 2560 - 2240 = $ 320 per annum
    Interest for half year (6 months) = \(320 \over 2\) = $ 160

12. 10 men can complete a job in 14 days. How long will it take 4 men to finish the same job if they work at the same rate?

    1. 33 days
    2. 35 days
    3. 37 days
    4. 39 days
    5. 31 days

    \(14 × 10 \over 4 \) = 35 days

13. A third-grade class is composed of 16 girls and 12 boys. There are 2 teacher-aides in the class. The ratio of girls to boys to teacher-aides is

    1. 16:12:1
    2. 8:6:2
    3. 8:6:1
    4. 8:3:1
    5. 4:3:1

    Girls to boys to teacher-aides are in proportion 16 to 12 to 2. Reduced to lowest terms, 16:12:2 equals 8:6:1.

14. A man bought a flat for $ 820000. He borrowed 55% of this money from a bank. How much money did he borrow from the bank?

    1. $ 451000
    2. $ 452000
    3. $ 453000
    4. $ 454000
    5. $ 450000

    55% of 820000 = 0.55 × 820000 = $ 451000

15. A primary school had an enrollment of 850 pupils in January 1970. In January 1980 the enrollment was 1,120. What was the percentage increase for the enrollment?

    1. 31.76%
    2. 33.50%
    3. 30.65%
    4. 34.76%
    5. 30.55%

    Percentage increase for the enrollment = \(1120 - 850 \over 850\) × 100 = 31.76

16. A basket that contains 2 apples, 3 bananas, 6 oranges, and 4 pears is in the workroom. When Ms. Hutchinson went to the workroom, other workers had already taken 1 banana, 2 oranges, and 1 pear. From the remaining fruit, Ms. Hutchinson randomly took 3 pieces of fruit separately from the basket. If each fruit is equally likely to be chosen, what is the probability that the third piece was an orange if the first two she took were also oranges?

    1. 4/165
    2. 9/11
    3. 4/11
    4. 3/11
    5. 2/9

    Ms. Hutchinson randomly takes the 3 pieces of fruit from the basket, there are 2 apples, 3 -1 = 2 bananas, 6 - 2 = 4 oranges, and 4 - 1 = 3 pears. Assuming that the first 2 pieces of fruit Ms. Hutchinson takes are oranges, there will be 2 apples, 2 bananas, 4 - 2 = 2 oranges, and 3 pears left in the basket when she selects the third piece of fruit. The probability that the third piece of fruit she selects will be an orange is \(\frac{2}{2 + 2 + 2 + 3} = \frac{2}{9}\).

17. 12% of ________ = 48

    1. 250
    2. 100
    3. 400
    4. 200
    5. 300

    \(12 \text{% of } x = 48\)
    \(0.12x = 48\)
    \(x = \frac{48}{0.12} = 400\)

18. The closest approximation of \(\frac{69.28 × .004}{.03}\) is

    1. 0.092
    2. 0.92
    3. 9.2
    4. 92
    5. 920

    This problem is most easily completed by rearranging and approximating as follows:
    (69.28 x .004)/.03 ≅ 69 x .1 = 6.9
    which is the only reasonably close answer to 9.2

19. A man saves $ 500, which is 15% of his annual income. How much does he earn in one year?

    1. $ 3542.5
    2. $ 3333.33
    3. $ 3132.3
    4. $ 3075.75
    5. $ 4444.4

    Let annual income = x
    15% of x = 500
    x = \(500 \over 15\) × 100 = \(10000 \over 3\) = 3333.33

20. ?% of 60 = 24

    1. 40
    2. 48
    3. 45
    4. 42
    5. 38

    ?% × 60 = 24
    \(? = {24 \over 60} × 100 \) = 40

Solved Examples Set 1
Solved Examples Set 2
Solved Examples Set 3