IBPS PO Prelims 2016: Quantitative Aptitude Tricks

We are listing topic-wise shortcuts and tricks for the Quantitative Aptitude section of
IBPS-PO Prelims 2016:

I. IBPS-PO Shortcuts for Data Interpretation

Data Interpretation questions appear in two sets carrying a weightage of minimum 10
marks.
Trick 1: Rely on Visual Approximation for Elimination
You can rely on visual clues for questions based on line graphs and bar graphs. Before
commencing calculation, you must try to eliminate a few options based on visual clues.
This would help you to arrive at correct solutions without putting in much effort.
Trick 2: Catch hold of the Correct Data & Interpret the Data Before Commencing
Calculation
Before commencing calculation, you must read & interpret each and every statement
carefully and make sure not spend time on unnecessary calculations. Also, make sure
to copy the numbers correctly onto the sheet while solving the question.
More shortcuts here: Data Interpretation Tricks, Shortcuts and Techniques

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II. IBPS PO Quant Tricks for Problem on Ages

Method of solving:
If the present age of S is x years, then
n years hence, Age of S would be = (x + n) years
n years ago, Age of S would be = (x - n) years

Super Tip: You dont need to always start forming equations from where the question
starts.
To understand this trick, read the list of shortcuts for problems on ages that you must
know.

III. IBPS-PO Quant Shortcuts for Profit & Loss

List of important formulae:
Profit = S.P. C.P.
Loss = C.P. S.P.
Profit% = [(SP - CP)/CP] x 100
Loss% = [(CP - SP)/CP] x 100
S.P. = C.P. x [(100 + profit%) / 100]
S.P. = C.P. x [(100 - loss%) / 100]
Trick 1: In profit and loss questions, if you have most of the information given in the
form of percentages in the question, start by assuming CP = 100.
Trick 2: Do not confuse selling price and marked price. Discount is usually given on
marked price. Hence in this case, marked price will be higher than final selling price.

IV. IBPS PO Quant Tricks for Simple and Compound Interest

Trick 1: Formula of calculating simple interest is simple.
S.I. = PTR/100
What if the rate is R1, R2 and R3 in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd year. In this case, the amount
after 3 years would be:
A = P (1 +R1/100) (1 + R2/100) (1 + R3/100)

Trick 2: Formula of calculating compound interest is a little more complex.

A = P [1+ r/100]t
This formula applies when interest is compunded annually.
When interest is compounded half yearly, rate = 2r
compounded quarterly, rate = 4r
compounded monthly, rate = 12r

Trick 3: When rate of interest is not equal every year:

A = P [1+ r1/100]t1 [1+ r2/100]t2 .... and so on

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V. IBPS PO Quant Shortcuts for Time and Work

If a person X can complete a piece of work in Y days, then
Work Done by X in 1 day = 1/Y
If A can complete a piece of work in X days and B can complete a piece of work in Y
days, then
Work done by A and B together in 1 day = +
Trick 1: If A can do a work in D1 days and B can do the same work in D2 days then A
and B together can do the same work in: (D1 x D2)/ (D1 + D2)
Trick 2: Sometimes the work done is dependend on number of days worked and
efficiency of each worker. Lets see how the formula changes in this case:

If person P1 can do the work in D1 days and M2 persons can do the same work
in D2 days then we can say M1.D1 = M2.D2

If the persons work T1 and T2 hours per day respectively then the equation gets
modified to M1.D1.T1 = M2.D2.T2

If the persons has efficiency of E1 and E2 respectively then: M1.D1.T1.E1 =

M2.D2.T2.E2

VI. IBPS PO Quant Tricks for Pipes & Cisterns

Trick: If a pipe A can fill a tank in x hours and Pipe B can fill a tank in y hours, then
Time Taken by both the pipes to fill the tank together = xy/(x+y)

VII. IBPS PO Quant Tricks for Time, Speed and Distance

Trick 1: Speed = Distance/ Time and the unit of Speed is Km/hr or m/s
Trick 2: If an object covers a certain distance with a speed of p Km/hr and again
covers ths same distance with a speed of q Km/hr, then
Average Speed for the Entire Journey = 2 pq/(p+q)

VIII. IBPS PO Quant Tricks for Boats and Streams

Trick: If the speed of stream is p Km/hr and the speed of boat in still water is q Km/hr,
then
Speed of Boat Downstream = (p + q) Km/hr
Speed of Boat Upstream = (q - p) Km/hr

IX. IBPS PO Quant Shortcuts for Mixtures and Alligations

These questions seem confusing but are very scoring if you practice the 2-3 varieties of
questions asked in this:

Trick 1: When two different commodities are mixed such that one is cheaper than the
other, then:

Here Mean Price is CP of mixture per unit quantity.

Above rule can be written as,

Then,
Cheaper Quantity : Costlier Quantity = (D M) : (M C)

Trick 2: When x amount of commodity 1 is relaced with commodity 2 of y quantity n

times, then:

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X. IBPS PO Shortcuts for Quadratic Equations

The most standard form of a quadratic equation is: ax2 + bx + c = 0.
Questions in IBPS-PO and Clerk exam are usually based on finding the relationship
between roots (roots means values of x that satisfy the equation) of two equations:
ax2 + bx + c = 0.
py2 + qy + c = 0

Trick 1:
Sum of roots = -b/a
Product of roots = c/a

Trick 2: A quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 will have reciprocal roots when a = c

XI. IBPS-PO Shortcuts for Approximation

If you havent read our detailed list of shortcuts for simplification and approximation
questions then here are 2 tricks from the top:

Trick 1: Use the BODMAS rule to solve the simplification questions. This is the basis of
simplification questions.
Trick 2: Round of decimal numbers to the nearest wole numbers to get the approximate
value of the equation.

XII. IBPS PO Shortcuts for Number Series

The only difficult part about solving questions on number and alphabet series is
determining the pattern. Once you practice 40-50 questions on this topic, you will be
aware of 90% of the possible pattern. A shortcut is to read the tricks on solving series
questions. Some of them are highlighted here:
Trick 1: Calculate the difference between the immediate or alternate numbers and
observe the pattern in the differences.
Trick 2: Observe the sequence for Prime Number series
Trick 3: Observe the sequence for Geometric series, Perfect Squares/Cubes.

General IBPS-PO Quantitative Aptitude Preparation

Shortcuts

Learn tables upto 20

Learn squares upto 20

Learn cubes upto 10

Learn fractions upto 1/20 to ease your calculations in the exam.

Work on Speed and Accuracy as these two factors crucially impact overall

performance in the IBPS PO Prelims exam.

Refer to this link: How to improve your speed in Quant section?

These tricks for Quantitative Aptitude section of IBPS-PO will prove helpful only with
ample practice. Pick up one topic at a time and start practicing. Your speed of solving
questions will gradually go up.
Good luck!