As we all know that
simplification is most widely asked topic in almost every banking exam. So let
us try to understand what is actually meant by word ‘Simplification’.
Simplification means to
find out a final answer for a complex calculation.
Simplification questions
are asked to check the ability of a student to deal with numbers which can be
in one of the following two types.
- Sometimes, a calculation is given and one of the numbers is missing from the calculation. To find out the missing number, we have to approximate the given numbers or do the basic operations.
- Sometimes all the numbers are given with some operations between them & we have to simplify the calculation.
Rules related to Simplification
Rule-(I) Replace ‘of’ by
‘Multiplication’ & ‘/’ by ‘Division’
Explanation: Whenever
we find ‘of’ in a simplification problem, we can replace that by
‘multiplication(*)’. Similiarly ‘/’ can be replaced by ‘÷’.
Example: Find
¼ of 20
Solution: (¼)
x 20 = 20÷4 = 5
Rule-(II) Always keep in
mind the “BODMAS” rule. These operations have priorities in the same order as
mentioned.
Explanation: Whenever
we have more than one operation in the given calculation, we have to do the
operations according to the priority specified by ‘BODMAS’
·
B-Bracket
·
O-Of (means multiplication)
·
D-Division
·
M-Multiplication
·
A-Addition
·
S-Subtraction
Example: Simplify:
(2+3)*30
Solution: In
this question, we have two things-Bracket & Multiplication. According to
the BODMAS rule, we have to solve bracket first and not multiplication. So now
coming to bracket, we have only one operation-Addition, so we will do addition.
(2+3)*30 = 5*30
Now we have only one
operation to do – Multiplication
5*30 = 150
Example:
Simplify: (2+5) of 80
Solution: In
this question, we have three things – bracket, addition & of. Replacing
‘of’ by ‘multiplication’.
(2+5) of 30 = (2+5)*80
Now we have three things
– bracket, addition & Multiplication. According to the BODMAS rule, we have
to solve bracket first and not multiplication. So now coming to bracket, we
have only one operation-Addition, we will do addition.
(2+5)*80 = 7*80
Now we will do
multiplication.
7*80 = 560
Rule-(III) Multiplication &
Division have same priority(Do that operation first which is on left).
Explanation: Though
division has more priority than multiplication according to ‘BODMAS’ but we can
perform multiplication first.
Example:
8*30/15
8*30 ÷ 15
Solution: In
this question, we have two things – Multiplication & Division. So we can
perform any operation first as they have same priority.
Doing Multiplication
first:
240 ÷ 15
16
Doing division first:
8*2
16
Rule-(IV) Addition &
Subtraction have same priority.
Explanation: Though
addition has more priority than division according to ‘BODMAS’ but we can
perform any of the two operations first.
Example: 30+40-15
Solution: In
this question, we have two things – Addition & Subtraction. So we can
perform any operation first as they have same priority.
Doing Addition first:
70 – 15
55
Doing Subtraction first:
30 + 25
55
Rule-(V) Don’t hesitate in
rounding the numbers to nearest integers.
Explanation: Most of
the times the numbers are given in such a way that you can round them quickly
and get the answer (Rounding should be done or not, It can be realised by
looking at the given options).
Example:
(324.5*15)/(5.01*24.98)
Solution: (325*15)/(5*25)
=13*3
=39
Previous Year Questions Asked in Banking Exams from Simplification
Now let us see some of
the previous year questions asked from ‘Simplification’ & try to apply the
rules learnt so far.
Q.1) Simplify: 127.001 * 7.998
+ 6.05 * 4.001
1.
1000
2.
1020
3.
1040
4.
1080
5.
None of these
Solution: Using
the rounding concept
127 * 8 + 6 * 4
Using the BODMAS rule
1016 + 24
1040 (Option 3)
Q.2) What will come at place of
?: 9876 ÷ 24.96 + 215.005 – ? = 309.99
1.
270
2.
280
3.
290
4.
300
5.
310
Solution: Using
the rounding concept
9875 ÷ 25 + 215 – ? = 310
Using the BODMAS rule
395 + 215 – ? = 310
610 – ? = 310
? = 300 (Option 4)
Q.3) What will come at place of
a: (128 ÷ 16 x a – 7*2)/(72-8*6+a2) = 1
1.
1
2.
5
3.
9
4.
13
5.
17
Solution: Using
the BODMAS rule
(8*a – 14)/(49-48+a2) = 1
(8*a – 14)/(1 + a2) = 1
8a – 14 = 1 + a2
a2 – 8a +
15 = 0
a=3 or 5 (Option 2)
Q.4) What will come at place of
?: 85.147 + 34.192*6.2 + ? = 802.293
1.
400
2.
450
3.
550
4.
600
5.
500
Solution: Using
the rounding concept
85 + 35*6 + ? = 803
Using the BODMAS rule
85 + 210 + ? = 803
295 + ? = 803
? = 508 [approx. = 500]
(Option 5)
Q.5) What will come at place of
?: 3/8 of 168*15 ÷ 5 + ? = 549 ÷ 9 + 235
1.
189
2.
107
3.
174
4.
296
5.
None of these
Solution: Using
the BODMAS rule
(3*168÷ 8)*15 ÷ 5 + ? =
549 ÷ 9 + 235
(504÷ 8)*3 + ? = 61 + 235
63*3 + ? = 296
189 + ? = 296
? = 107 (Option 2)
Key points to remember related to Simplification:
- · Replace ‘of’ by ‘Multiplication’.
- · Replace ‘/’ by ‘Division’.
- · Always do the operations in priority according to ‘BODMAS’.
- · Division & Multiplication have same priority (Start from left).
- · Addition & Subtraction have same priority.
- · Rounding can be done to simplify problems.
- · When the given options are very close then rounding doesn’t help much.
- · Always look at the options before doing simplification that can help in elimination of options.