Aptitude (Maths, Reasoning, English) Answerkey with explanations, shortcuts

1. Prologue 2. Maths questions: Internal Breakup 1. Percentages 2. Wine-water (Alligiation) 3. Number System 4. TSD (Time Speed Distance) 5. Permutation Combination Probability 6. AP-GP 3. Reasoning 1. Direction Sense Test 2. Sitting arrangement 3. Blood relation 4. Calendar 4. English internal breakup 1. Sentence correction / meaning 2. idioms and phrases 3. Vocabulary 4. Essay

Prologue
The ACIO-2013 general-awareness answerkey (history, geography etc.) was given separately click me. This article contains the answerkeys for Aptitude portion (Maths, Reasoning, English.) 1. Two MCQs in the english portion :debatable, because Im unable to locate the rules. 2. other than that, if you have any correction/faster techniques/shortcuts/ for the same MCQs, do share it as well. and my thanks to Manu Jha, Palas Nuwal, Shiva Ram and Rohith for their valuable inputs.

Maths questions
% AVG. Percentage Wine-Water

Remainder NUMBERSYSTEM Prime Number Base System STD PCP Probability APGP Arithmetic Progression Total Time-Speed-Distance Permutation Combination

Percentages
1. If increasing 20 by p% gives same result as decreasing 60 by p%, then what is p% of 70? 1. 50 2. 140 3. 14 4. 35 p%=p/100;
Increase 20 By P% (100% of 20 + p% of 20)=(20+ 20p/100) =20 (1+p/100).eq1

but as per the question, eq1=eq2 (1+p/100)*20=(1-p/100)*60 When you simplify this equation, you get p=50. But question requires you to find p% of 70 Meaning 50% of 70=>half of 70=35. Answer (IV).

Wine-water (Alligiation)
1. In what ratio should a 20% methyl alcohol solution be mixed with a 50% methyl alcohol solution so that the resultant solution has 40% methyl alcohol in it? 1. 1:2 2. 2:1 3. 1:3 4. 2:3

Make the table

conc.% volume 20 a 40

apply the visual move (50-40)=a, hence a=10 (40-20)=b, hence b=20 a:b=10:20=1:2, so answer is (i).

Number System Prime number

1. The difference between ages of two brothers is a prime number. The sum of their ages is also a prime number. If elder brother is 28 years old, how many values can age of younger brother take? 1. 2 2. 3 3. 4 4. 1 (Im going by trial and error method, but if you know a faster method, please do share in the comment.) Prime numbers between 1 to 28= 2,3,5,7,11,13,17,19,23 Now go by trial and error
columnA elder bros age 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 columnB difference is prime number 2 3 5 7 11 13 17 col.C=ColA-ColB younger bros age 26 25 23 21 17 15 11 col.D

elder bro+youn 54 53 51 49 45 43 39

28 28

19 23

9 5

37 33

from this table, we can see three possible numbers for younger brothers age: 25,15 and 9. hence answer is (ii): 3 possible numbers.

Remainder
1. Find the least five digit number, which when divided by 12, 18, 21 and 28, leaves the same remainder. 1. 11019 2. 10081 3. 10059 4. 10289 for this type of question, you need to find LCM of given numbers first LCM (12, 18, 21, 28)=252 meaning, if I divided 252 with any of the given number (12,18,21,28) then itll give remainder zero. similarly, if I divided 252+1 =253 with any of those given numbers, Ill get remainder 1. now by trial and error, try to find first five digit multiple of 252 first do approximation (in your head) 25 x 4=100 250 x 4=1000 250 x 40=10,000 Meaning 252 x 40 will be higher than 10,000. 252 x 39 try karo: 9829 but this is four digit. so 252 x 40= 10080 is our first five digit multiple of 10080. observe the options: (ii)=10081. Meaning 10080+1 so this number will give same common remainder 1 when divided by 12,18,21 or 28. Excel just for timepass (and for IBPS computer awareness) try to find remainders using excel. The cell formula will be =MOD(number,divisor). youll see that our answer is correct.

2. A number when divided by a divisor, leaves a remainder of 24. when twice the original number is divided by same divisor, the remainder is 11. what is the value of divisor? 1. 13 2. 59 3. 35 4. 37 Suppose the number is N, division is D, quotient is Q and remainder is R. then we can write N=DQ+R N=DQ+24.first case given. Twice of that number 2xN= 2 (DQ+24)=2DQ+(24 x 2)=2DQ + 48..eq1 Question says when 2N is divided by D, then 11 remainder is obtained. But 2N=(2DQ+48) Imagine what will happen if we divide (2DQ+48) by D (2DQ+48)/D (2DQ/D) + (48/D) First bracket will give zero remainder because D/D will cancel each other. Meaning whatever remainder is obtained- that we got from (48/D). 48/D=new remainder. But as per the question, new remainder was 11. Think about this: when 48 divided by D gives 11 remainder. Meaning, when 48 11(=37) is divided by D then we get zero remainder. Hence D=37. (Since 37 is a prime number, D has to be 37. Suppose we got 32, then we might need to think about some smaller factors of 32 e.g. 16, 2 etc.) Thus answer is 37. (choice iv) lets verify: Original number when divided by 37 leaves remainder 24. One such number could be 37+24=61 if were correct then twice of 61, when divided by 37, should leave remainder 11. Try it in excel: =MOD(2*61,37) and youll get 11 as remainder. Meaning 37 is correct.

Base system
1. What will be the expression for 567 in binary system?

1. 1010111001 2. 1000110001 3. 1000011101 4. 1000110111 Method is explained here: http://www.wikihow.com/Convert-from-Decimal-to-Binary

DIVIDED BY TWO 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 NUMBER OR QUOTIENT 567 283 141 70 35 17 8 4 2 1

now write those remainder from bottom to top 1000110111 Hence (567)10=(1000110111)2

TSD (Time Speed Distance)

2. A train covers certain distance between two places at a uniform speed. If the train moved 10 km/hr faster, it would take 2 hours less. And, if the train were slower by 10 km/hr, it would take 3 hours more than the scheduled time. Find the distance covered by the train. 1. 300 kms 2. 600 kms 3. 800 kms 4. 1200 kms Shortcut (cross multiplication) Inspired from Sarvesh Kumars cross multiplication method, from his example 8 in

chapter on Time, Speed and distance. First, draw a regular STD table.
normal case speed time distance s t d faster case +10* -2

*here we should be writing s+10 but instead just write +10. Same approach for other cells. Now, speed x time = distance. So in faster case: +10 x -2=(-20) but distance cannot be negative, so write +20
normal case speed time distance s t d faster case +10* -2 20

Now cross multiply speed and time from first two columns -2s+10t=20..eq1 Similarly cross multiple speed time from column 1 and column 3 +3s-10t=30.eq2 Add eq1+eq2, you get (-2s+10t)+(3s-10t)=30+50 s=50kmph. plug this value back in eq1 -2(50)+10t=20 10t=120, hence t=12 hours. And we know that speed x time = distance. Therefore 50 x 12=600km was the total distance. Answer (ii) Longer method:
normal case speed time distance s t d faster case s+10 t-2 d

here youve 3 variables (s,t,d) and 3 columns: speed x time = distance and distance is same in all three cases. from the first column we get s x t=d. So instead of d, I can write st everywhere.
normal case speed time distance s t st faster case s+10 t-2 st

now observed:
column first column second column third column speed x time = distance s x t =d (s+10)(t-2)=styou simplify it further, you get -s+5t=10eq1 (s-10)(t+3)=styou simplify it further, you get 3s-10t=30.eq2

-s+5t=10eq1 3s-10t=30.eq2 now if I multiply eq1 with x2 and add in eq2, itll cut -10t. -2s+10t=20 3s-10t=30 from this we get s=50kmp. plug it back in eq1, you get t=12 hrs. and distance = st=5012=600km. Answer choice (ii)

Permutation Combination Probability Men and task

1. 6 tasks and 6 persons. task 1 cant be assigned to either person 1 or 2. task 2 must be assigned to either person 3 or 4. Every person has to be assigned a task. How many ways can the assignment be done? 1. 144 2. 180

3. 192 4. 360 Imagine these are not tasks but chairs. And weve to pick candidate for each chair.
chair 1 2 3 4 5 6 person choice (number of candidates) 4 persons (because 1 and 2 out) 2 person (either 3 or 4) previous two chairs took away 2 people, so remaining 4 candidates 3 candidates 2 candidate 1 candidate

total choice =choice for chair#1 AND chair#2 AND.. but and means multiplication =4 x 2 x 4 x 3 x 2 x 1 =192 ways Another approach:
chair 1 one chair four candidates 4P1 chair 2 one chair two candidates 2P1

chair numbe

four chairs r 4P4

4p1 x 2p1 x 4p4 =4 x 2 x 24 =192 ways. Choice iii.

word arrangement
2. In how many ways can the letters of the word ASSASSINATION be arranged so that all the S are together? 1. 10! 2. 14!/(4!) 3. 1,51,200 4. 36,28,800 given word has 13 letters

letter A S I N T O TOTAL

occurs __ times 3 4 2 2 1 1 13

As such there are 13 candidates and 13 seats. but we want 4 s to be together. And 13 4=9. Imagine there are 10 seats: 9 seats for those other letters and 1 seat where those 4 S will sit together. So first, out of those 10 seat, pick this one seat where four S can sit together. Total ways =(Pick one out of 10 seats for that S group) AND (arrangement for remaining 9 seats) =10C1 x (arrangement for 9 seats).eq1 Now lets just focus on those 9 seats
A I N T O total

=9!/(3! x 2! x 2!) ^why this way? Because A repeats 3 times, I repeats 2 times, N repeats 2 times. (Theory was explained in separate article long time ago.) anyways, back to eq1. total ways =10C1 x (9!/(3! x 2! x 2!) =(10) x [9!/(3! x 2! x 2!)] =151200 hence answer is (iii).

Round table
3. In how many ways can 15 people be seated around two round tables with sitting capacities 7 and 8 people. 1. 15!/8! 2. 7!x8! 3. (15c8)x6!x7! 4. 15c8 x 8! circular arrangement of n objects= (n-1)! Ways. what are we supposed to do here? =(out of given 15, pick any 8 people) AND (arrange those 8 in a round table) AND (arrange remaining 7 in the second round table) =15C8 AND (8-1)! AND (7-1)! =15C8 x (8-1)! x (7-1)! (because AND means multiplication) =15c8 x 7! x 6! Hence (iii) is the answer.

Probability
1. In a lottery 10,000 tickets are sold and ten prizes are awarded. What is the probability of not getting a prize if you buy one ticket ? 1. 9/10,000 2. 9/10 3. 999/1000 4. 9999/10,000 Favorable outcomes meaning out of those 10 tickets, one is yours=10C1=10 Total outcomes= out of those total 10000 tickets, one is yours=10000C1=10000 Hence probability of winning =favorable outcomes / total outcomes =10/10000 And probability of NOT winning =1 MINUS probability of winning =1-10/10000 =9990/10000 =999/1000 hence answer (iii)

AP-GP
1. What is the sum of all positive integers lying between 200 and 400 that are multiples of 7? 1. 8729 2. 8700 3. 8428 4. 8278 Think in your head 7 x 3 =21 7 x 30=210 Therefore 7 x 29 has to be 210-7=203. This is the first number in our series. so far our series is 203, 210,.. last multiple of 7 before 400 What could be the last number? 7*50=350? Nope, it has to be higher. how about we add another 49 to 350, that could be very close to 400. 7*50 + 7*7=350+49=399 this is the closest multiple of 7, near 400. And, 7*50 + 7*7=7 (50+7)=7*57 It means our series is going in this fashion: (7 x 29) + (7 x 30) + . + (7 x 57) If I take 7 common then sum=7 (29 + 30 + +57)..eq1=(this will be our final answer) Now, just focus on the () bracket part. This is a continuous series in arithmetic progression. Sum of AP =[average of first and last term] x number of terms =[(29+57)/2] x 29* =1247 Plug this value back in eq1 = 7 x 1247 = 8729 hence answer is #1 (8729) *how did I find number of terms is 29? => because this is a continuous number series: 29-30-31-32.-57 In such series, number of terms will be (last term minus first term + 1)=57-29+1=29 terms.

longer approach: By trial error you find first term and last term (203 and 399) after that use last term= a+(n-1)*d where d=7 and a=203. So you get number of terms n finally sum of AP=n/2 x [2a+(n-1)d]. ^but this method will require lengthy calculations. The first method is quicker, slimmer.

Reasoning: Internal Breakup

Direction Sense Test Sitting Arrangement Blood Relation Missing Numbers Coding Decoding Calendar

Direction Sense Test

1. Rajnikanth left his home for office in car. He drove 15 kms straight towards north and then turned east-wards and covered 8 kms He then turned to left and covered 1 km. He again turned left and drove for 20 kms and reached office. How far and in what direction is his office from the home? 1. 21 kms west 2. 15 kms north east 3. 20 kms north west 4. 26 kms north west follow direction, make diagram, youll get a right side angle whose two sides measure 16km and 12km. Then apply Pythagoras, AB2+BC2=AC2 Hypotenuse=square root of (162+122)=square root of 400=20km. hence answer (iii)

Sitting arrangement
1. There are five different houses, A to E, in a row. A is to the right of B and E is to the left of C and right, of A. B is to the right of D. Which of the houses is in the middle? 1. A

2. B 3. C 4. D Do the arrangement: A is to the right of B. B is to the right of D From this two statement, we can make D-B-A E is to the left of C and right, of A Apply this in above arrangement D-B-A-E-C. Hence A is in the middle. Answer (i)

Blood relation
1. As mother is sister of B and daughter of C. D is the daughter of B and sister of E. How is C related to E? 1. Sister 2. Mother 3. Father 4. Grandmother or Grandfather

Arun/Arunas mom is sister of Bina.(because we dont know whether A is male/female). Arun/Arunas mom is daughter of Chandu/Chameli. (because we dont know the gender yet) It means Bina is also the daughter of Chandu/Chameli. (because Bina is sister of Arun/Arunas mom) Divya is daughter of Bina. And Sister of Elisha/Ehsan (because we dont know Es gender yet) But either way Chanu/Chameli (C) => their daughter Bina (B)==> their son/daughter Elisha/Ehsan (E) Meaning Chandu/Chameli(C) is grandfather or grandmother of E. Answer (iv)

Missing Numbers
1. Find the missing number in this series: 4, 18, ??, 100, 180, 294 1. 32

2. 36 3. 48 4. 40 The pattern is: n(n+1)2 Put n=1, n=2,n=3,n=4 and so on since missing term ?? is at third place in this series. So, Put n=3 then 3(3+1)2= 3*16=48 2. Which number should replace the question mark?
17 13 6 10 8 7 12 6 5 5 6 4

1. 4 2. 5 3. 6 4. 7 The pattern is: (from right cell towards left cell in each row) 5*5=25 and 25-8=17. 5*4=20 and 20-7=13 6*3=18 and 18-12=6 like this ans will be 4, because 4*4-6=10

Coding decoding
1. ACEG : DFHJ:: QSUW 1. TVNZ 2. TVZX 3. TVXZ 4. XVTZ Pattern is: Skip one alphabet and start the 2nd analogy after the 2nd alphabet of the 1st word that means 2bd word starts with D which comes after C which is the

2nd alphabet of 1st word. ABCDEFG : DEFGHIJ :: QRSTUVW : TUVWXYZ . Answer (iii) 2. 165135 is to peace as 1215225 is to 1. lead 2. love 3. loop 4. Aura the approach: A =1 B=2 E=5 ... Z = 26 accordingly: P = 16 , E = 5 A =1 C =3 E = 5 Hence Peace = 16| 5|1|3|5 Now question is: what does 1215225 mean? And since the options are only 4 letter words We have to choose with cancelling the options last two numbers: 25 It could be |5 OR 25. if last number is 25, then Y. but there is no word ending with Y among given choices. it means last number is |5=E. Meaning E is the last letter. so eliminate all options that dont have E as last letter.

1. lead 2. love 3. loop 4. Aura thus were left with answer (ii) Love. But we should verify: LOVE = L =12 || O = 15 || V = 22 || E =5 =>1215225 correct.

Calendar
1. The day before the day before yesterday is three days after Saturday. What day is it today? 1. Tuesday 2. Wednesday 3. Thursday 4. Friday Start from end part of the sentence.
this part day before the day before yesterday 3 days before today. 3 days before today= equal this part three days after Saturday.

=Three days after Saturday=Sun, Mon, Tuesday

Meaning Today MINUS 3 days=Tuesday. Then today has to be Friday. 2. If the republic day of India in 1980 falls on Saturday. X was born on March 3 1980 and Y is older than X by four days. then Ys birthday fell on? 1. Thursday 2. Friday 3. Wed. 4. None of these first understand the calendar technique from this article click me X born on March 3 Y is four days older=>March 3 + 4= 7th March. In short, weve to find the day on 7th March 1980. As per the information: Republic day (26th March) 1980= on Saturday. find the odd days
remaining days in January= 27 to 31 February (leap) but bday is on 28th. total days

divide total days (33) by 7= you get 5 as remainder. Required day (28th Feb) =Saturday (on 26t Jan) + 5 days 28th Feb =Saturday+ 5 days =Thursday. Verification: There is site called dayoftheweek.org, you enter the date and itll tell you its day. So, as per www.dayoftheweek.org/?m=January&d=26&y=1980&go=Go , 26th Jan 1980 was indeed Saturday And 28th Feb, 1980 was indeed Thursday.

English internal breakup

sentence correction/meaning idioms-phrases vocabulary/ fill in the blanks total

Sentence correction / meaning

1. Choose the correct sentence among the following 1. The danger will continue its growth 2. The danger will continue to grow 3. The danger will continue its growing 4. The danger will continue growth Continue should following with to-infinitive. Hence Danger will continue to grow. Answer (ii) 2. Complete the following sentence, This is the best book __ 1. of all others on History 2. of any other on History 3. of all on History 4. of any other in History Debatable because Im unable to locate the rule. Your inputs welcome. 3. Choose the correct sentence among the following,

1. I have one chance in a thousand of winning tonight 2. I have one chance in a thousand for winning tonight 3. I have one in a thousand chances to win tonight 4. I have one chance in a thousand that I will win tonight Debatable because I think (iii) but Unable to locate the rule. Your inputs welcome. 4. Choose the answer that is closest in meaning to the following sentence, Yeuk Yee had her house painted white yesterday 1. She had to paint her house white yesterday 2. Her house was not blue last week 3. They painted her house white for her yesterday 4. She painted her house yesterday She had her house paintedmeaning she didnt paint is by herself, she got some other person(s) to get house painted. Therefore, choice #3.

idioms and phrases

1. Choose the idiom from the following options which means to be modest about ones achievements 1. to hide ones light under a bushel 2. to take to the bush 3. to hide behind the bush 4. to beat about the bush Oxford dictionary website says to hide ones light under a bushel = keep quiet about ones talents or accomplishments. Hence #1 is the answer. 2. Choose the idiom from the options, which means a lot of excitement and discussion about a trivial matter 1. A cyclone in the cup 2. A flood in the tea-cup 3. A storm in the tea-cup 4. A flood of air Storm in the tea-cup= a disturbance or uproar about little or nothing. Hence choice #3. 3. What is bred in the bone will come out in the flesh Choose the meaning that is closest in the meaning to this proverb

1. Pedigree racing horse will always win 2. Inherited characteristics cannot be concealed 3. Good diet in childhood makes for good health in adulthood 4. Brain washing can change the personality This proverb means a persons behavior or characteristics are determined by heredity. So, #2 is the closest choice.

Vocabulary
1. Docility is to surrender as unrest is to 1. education 2. rebellion 3. illness 4. hospital Docility= the trait of being agreeably submissive. Meaning docile person likely to surrender, similarly unrestful person likely to rebel. Hence choice #2 2. Mitigate is to punishment as alleviate is to 1. promotion 2. change 3. order 4. pain Mitigate punishment = reduce punishment. Alleviate pain = reduce pain. Hence choice #4. 3. Choose the pair which represents closest the relationship expressed in the original pair in capital letters: MENDACITY HONESTY, 1. Truth Beauty 2. Sportsmanship Fortitude 3. Courageous Craven 4. Turpitude Depravity Mendacity=The tendency to be untruthful. = this is opposite of honesty. craven= An abject coward. So it is opposite of courageous. Answer #3. 4. Choose the set of words that when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole, Unable to ____ his wholehearted distaste for media

events and publicity, the miffed minister continued to make ____ comments throughout his speech 1. conceal , effusive 2. control ; garbled 3. disguise, caustic 4. express , vitriolic He was unable to disguise his distaste..kept making caustic (harsh) comments.

Essay
Write an essay in English language only on any one of the following topics in not more than 400 words. (50 marks) 1. A Communal Conflict Scenario 2. Causes of Violence in the World 3. Divide Between India and Bharat 4. Dimensions of Rural Employment Just listing the essay so if some future ACIO-2014/2015 aspirant comes to search, he can see it. + Similar topic might even be asked in CAPF 2013 Paper II.