Solved Examples Set 3 (Quantitative Ability)

1. 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.

2. ? × 12 = 75% of 336

   1. 48
   2. 252
   3. 28
   4. 21
   5. 23

   ? × 12 = 75% of 336
   ? × 12 = 0.75 × 336
   ? × 12 = 252
   \(? = \frac{252}{12}\)
   ? = 21

3. Which of the following is the largest?

   1. half of 30% of 280
   2. one-third of 70% of 160
   3. twice 50% of 30
   4. three times 40% of 40
   5. 60% of 60

   Let us calculate the value of each:
   A. 0.5 × 0.3 × 280 = 42
   B. 0.33 × 0.7 × 160 = 36.96
   C. 2 × 0.5 × 30 = 30
   D. 3 × 0.4 × 40 = 48
   E. 0.6 × 60 = 36

4. 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

5. A boy scored 90 marks for his mathematics test. This was 20% more than what he had scored for the geography test. How much did he score in geography?

   1. 71 marks
   2. 73 marks
   3. 75 marks
   4. 77 marks
   5. 78 marks

   20% of x + x = 90
   0.2x + x = 90
   1.2x = 90
   x = \(90 \over 1.2\)
   x = 75

6. Which set of ordered pairs represents a function?

   1. {(−5,5),(4,8),(−5,−6)}
   2. {(−1,−1),(−1,6),(−1,−10)}
   3. {(−3,7),(2,5),(−7,7)}
   4. {(2,3),(−2,4),(−2,−5)}
   5. {(2,3),(3,2),(2,5)}

   For a set of ordered pairs to be a function, no single 𝑥-coordinate can be mapped to two distinct 𝑦-coordinates. This is not the case for option A, where 𝑥=−5 is mapped to both 𝑦=5 and 𝑦=−6. Similarly, in options B (𝑥=−1), D (𝑥=−2), and E (𝑥=2), an 𝑥 value is mapped to two different 𝑦 values.

7. A man earned an annual income of $ 245000 in 1990. He was allowed a deduction of $ 15000 relief for each of his three children and a personal relief of $ 30000. If he was charged a tax rate of 4% on first $ 50000 and 6% on his remaining income, calculate the total tax charged.

   1. $ 9200
   2. $ 8700
   3. $ 9500
   4. $ 9400
   5. $ 9000

   Total Income = $ 245000
   Total relief = 3 × 15000 + 30000 = $ 75000
   Rest income = 245000 - 75000 = 170000
   Tax on 1st 50000 = 0.04 × 50000 = $ 2000
   Tax on rest amount 120000 = 0.06 × 120000 = $ 7200
   Total tax = 200 + 7200 = $ 9200

8. A and B can reap a field in 30 days, working together. After 20 days, however, B is called away and A takes 20 days more to complete the work. B alone could do the whole work in

   1. 48 days
   2. 50 days
   3. 56 days
   4. 60 days
   5. 64 days

   (A + B)'s 20 day's work = \(1 \over 30 \) × 20 = \(2 \over 3 \)
   Remaining work = 1 - \(2 \over 3 \) = \(1 \over 3 \)
   Now, \(1 \over 3 \) work is done by A in 20 days.
   Therefore, the whole work will be done by B in 20 × 3 = 60 days.

9. A man travelled 120 km to a town. He could have reached the town 4 1⁄2 hours earlier had he increased his speed by 3 km/h. Find the speed at which he travelled.

   1. 6.56 km
   2. 7.57 km
   3. 8.58 km
   4. 9.59 km
   5. 5.55 km

   Let the normal speed \(= x \text{ } \frac{km}{hr}\)
   Time taken when travelled at the normal speed \(= \frac{120}{x}\) hr
   Time taken when travelled at the increased speed \(= \frac{120}{x + 3}\) hr
   $$\frac{120} {x} - \frac{120}{x + 3} = 4.5$$ $$120(x + 3) − 120x = 4.5x(x + 3)$$ $$360 = 4.5x(x + 3)$$ $$720 = 9x(x + 3)$$ $$80 = x(x + 3)$$ $$x^2 + 3x - 80 = 0$$ $$x = \frac{-3 \pm \sqrt{3^2-4 × (-80)}}{2} = \frac{-3 \pm \sqrt{329}}{2}$$ $$= \frac{-3 \pm 18.14}{2} = 7.57 \text{ (ignoring the negative value)}$$

10. 42.98 + ? = 107.87

    1. 64.89
    2. 65.89
    3. 64.98
    4. 65.81
    5. 63.89

    ? = 107.87 - 42.98 = 64.89

11. A man walked for 3 hours at 4.5 km/h and cycled for some time at 15 km/h. Altogether, he traveled 21 km. Find the time taken for cycling.

    1. 1/2 hour
    2. 1 hour
    3. 1 1⁄2 hours
    4. 2 hours
    5. 2 1⁄2 hours

    The man walked the distance = 3 x 4.5 = 13.5 km. The distance cycled by the man = 21 - 13.5 = 7.5 km
    As he cyled 15 km in 1 h
    he cycled 1 km in 1/15 h
    Finally, he cycled 7.5 km in 7.5/15 = 1/2 h

12. 60% of 37 = ?

    1. 20
    2. 21
    3. 22.2
    4. 22
    5. none

    60% of 37 = 0.6 × 37 = 22.2

13. 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

14. 5873 + 12034 + 1106 = ?

    1. 19016
    2. 20001
    3. 19013
    4. 2018
    5. 19010

    5873 + 12034 + 1106 = 17907 + 1106 = 19013

15. A group of laborers accepted to do a piece of work in 20 days. 8 of them did not turn up for the work and the remaining did the work in 24 days. The original number of laborers was

    1. 47
    2. 48
    3. 49
    4. 50
    5. 51

    x laborers do work in 20 days and x-8 laborers do same work in 24 days. As the no. of laborers decrease, the no. of days increased then it becomes as
    x : x - 8 :: 24 : 20
    product of interiors = product of exteriors
    24x - 192 = 20x
    4x = 192
    x = 48

16. Rashid's salary was reduced by 20%. In order to restore his salary at the original amount, it must be raised by

    1. 20%
    2. 22.50%
    3. 25%
    4. 26%
    5. 27%

    Let Rashid's Salary 100
    20% reduced salary is 80
    As the reduced amount is 20
    So what percentage of the present sallary is required to be equal to 20?
    ?% of 80 = 20
    ? = \(20 \over 80\) × 100 = 25%

17. A certain solution is to be prepared by combining chemicals X, Y and Z in the ratio 18:3:2. How many liters of the solution can be prepared by using 36 liters of X?

    1. 46 liters
    2. 47 liters
    3. 45 liters
    4. 49 liters
    5. 44 liters

    As total ratio is 18 +3 + 2 = 23
    Let total solution is x liters
    Then \(18 \over 23\) x = 36
    x = \(36 × 23 \over 18\) = 46 liters

18. 40 arithmetic questions, each carrying equal marks, were given in a class test. A boy answered 25 questions correctly. What percentage was this? To pass a test a student must answer at least 45% of the questions correctly. Find the least number of correct answers needed to pass.

    1. 62.5%, 18
    2. 63.5%, 16
    3. 64.5%, 20
    4. 61.0%, 21
    5. 60.0%, 22

    \(x \text{% of } 40 = 25\)
    \(x \text{% } × 40 = 25\)
    \(x = {25 \over 40} × 100 \)
    x = 62.5
    
    \(x = 45 \text{% of } 40 \)
    \(x = 0.45 × 40 \)
    x = 18

19. Matthew’s age (𝑚) is three years more than twice Rita’s age (𝑟). Which equation shows the relationship between their ages?

    1. 𝑚 = 𝑟 − 32
    2. 𝑚 = 𝑟 + 32
    3. 𝑚 = 2(𝑟 + 3)
    4. 𝑚 = 2𝑟 − 3
    5. 𝑚 = 2𝑟 + 3

    As Matthew's age (𝑚) is three more years (+3) than twice Rita's age (2𝑟). Therefore, 𝑚 = 2𝑟 + 3.

20. 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

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