Solved Examples Set 3 (Quantitative Ability)

1. 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

2. A single discount equivalent to a discount series of 20%, 10% and 25% is

   1. 55%
   2. 54%
   3. 46%
   4. 42%
   5. 50%

   If 3 succesive discounts are a%, b% and c%
   then single discount = a + b + c – (\(ab \over 100 \) + \(bc \over 100\) + \(ca \over 100 \) – \(abc \over 10000 \))
   a = 20, b = 10, c = 25, solving we get, 46%.

3. 350 × ? = 4200

   1. 12
   2. 24
   3. 15
   4. 30
   5. 16

   \( ? = {4200 \over 350} =12 \)

4. A car traveled 100 km with half the distance at 40 km/h and the other half at 80 km/h. Find the average speed of the car for the whole journey.

   1. 53 km/hr
   2. 53.33 km/hr
   3. 54 1⁄4 km/hr
   4. 55 km/hr
   5. 56 km/hr

   The time, car took for the first half, \(50 \over 40 \) = 1.25 hrs
   and for the second half \(50 \over 80 \) = 0.625 hrs
   Total time = 1.25 + 0.625 = 1.875 hrs
   Average speed = \(100 \over 1.875 \) = 53.3 \(km \over hr\)

5. Rashid buys three books for $ 16 each and four books for $ 23 each, what will be the average price of books

   1. $ 18
   2. $ 20
   3. $ 22
   4. $ 24
   5. $ 16

   Price of 3 books = 3 × 16 = $ 48
   Price of 4 books = 4 × 23 = $ 92
   Total price = $ 140
   Total books = 3 + 4 = 7
   Average price of books = \(140 \over 7 \) = $ 20

6. 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

7. By selling 60 chairs, a man gains an amount equal to selling price of 10 chairs. The profit percentage in the transaction is

   1. 10%
   2. 15%
   3. 16.67%
   4. 20%
   5. 22%

   selling price of 60 chairs = selling price of 10 chairs
   profit of 60 chairs = profit of 10 chairs
   profit of 6 chairs = profit of 1 chair
   profit of 1 chair = profit of 1/6 chair
   profit %age = 1/6 x 100 = 16.67%

8. 
   In the figure above, AB is one edge of a cube. If AB equals 5, what is the surface area of the cube?

   1. 25
   2. 100
   3. 125
   4. 150
   5. 300

   Since one edge of the cube is 5, all edges equal 5. Therefore, the area of one face of the cube is:
   5 × 5 = 25
   Since a cube has 6 equal faces, its surface area will be:
   6 × 25 = 150

9. A boy of height 165 cm is replaced by another, which decreases the average height of the group of 34 students, by 1 cm. The height of the new student is

   1. 129 cm
   2. 130 cm
   3. 131 cm
   4. 132 cm
   5. 133 cm

   Total decreased height of 34 students = 1 × 34 = 34 cm
   Height of the replaced student = 165 - 34 = 131 cm

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 person's net income is $ 1373.70 and he pays an income tax of 5%. His gross income in dollars must be

    1. 1446
    2. 1118.96
    3. 1308.29
    4. 1438.25
    5. 1211.21

    Let gross income in dollars = x
    then according to the statement,
    x = 5% of x + 1373.70
    x - 0.05x = 1373.70
    0.95x = 1373.70
    x = \(137370 \over 95\) = 1446

12. If 4a + 2 = 10, then 8a + 4 =

    1. 5
    2. 16
    3. 20
    4. 24
    5. 28

    One may answer this question by solving
    4a + 2 = 10
    4a = 8
    a= 2
    Now, plugging in 2 for a:
    8a + 4 = 8(2) + 4 = 20
    A faster way of solving this is to see the relationship between the quantity 4a + 2 (which equals 10) and 8a + 4. Since 8a + 4 is twice 4a + 2, the answer must be twice 10, or 20.

13. 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

14. 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

15. \( {2244 \over 0.88} = ? × 1122 \)

    1. 20.02
    2. 20.2
    3. 19.3
    4. 2.27
    5. 3.27

    \( {2244 \over 0.88} = ? × 1122 \)
    \(? = {2550 \over 1122} = 2.27 \)

16. The amount of hot cocoa powder remaining in a can is 6 1⁄4 tablespoons. A single serving consists of 1 3⁄4 tablespoons of the powder. What is the total number of servings of the powder remaining in the can?

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

    As \(6\frac{1}{4} = \frac{25}{4}\) and \(1\frac{3}{4} = \frac{7}{4}\). Therefore,
    \(\frac{6\frac{1}{4} \text{ tsp}}{1\frac{3}{4} \text{ } \frac{tsp}{ serving}} = \frac{\frac{25}{4}}{\frac{7}{4}} \text{ servings} = \frac{25}{7} \text{ servings} = 3\frac{4}{7} \text{ servings}\)

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. 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.

19. 1015 / 0.05 / 40 = ?

    1. 50.75
    2. 507.5
    3. 506
    4. 2056
    5. 5075

    1015 / 0.05 / 40 = 20300 / 40 = 507.5

20. 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.

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