A Primer to Quantitative Aptitude Tests

Dr. Amartya Kumar Bhattacharya

BCE (Hons.) ( Jadavpur ), MTech ( Civil ) ( IIT Kharagpur ), PhD ( Civil ) ( IIT Kharagpur ),
Cert.MTERM ( AIT Bangkok ), CEng(I), FIE, FACCE(I), FISH, FIWRS, FIPHE, FIAH, FAE,
MIGS, MIGS – Kolkata Chapter, MIGS – Chennai Chapter, MISTE, MAHI, MISCA, MIAHS,
MISTAM, MNSFMFP, MIIBE, MICI, MIEES, MCITP, MISRS, MISRMTT, MAGGS, MCSI,
MMBSI
Chairman and Managing Director,
MultiSpectra Consultants,
23, Biplabi Ambika Chakraborty Sarani,
Kolkata – 700029, West Bengal, INDIA.
E-mail: dramartyakumar@gmail.com
 A PRIMER TO QUANTITATIVE APTITUDE TESTS

• Quantitative aptitude test questions may be based on any one of the

following areas:
o Arithmetic – Numbers, HCF, LCM, Surds and indices, Percentages,
Ratio, Variation, Word Problems on Time speed distance, Work, Pipes
and Cistern
o Algebra – Algebraic Formulae, Averages, Simple, Simultaneous and
Quadratic equations, Polynomials
o Geometry – Lines, angles, Triangles, quadrilaterals, Circles, Mensuration,
Coordinate Geometry – (Basic)
o Modern Mathematics – Permutation & Combination, Probability,
Sequence & Series, Functions, Inequalities (level up to 12th Std only)
o Logical reasoning – Family Tree, Linear Arrangement, complex
arrangement, conditionalities & grouping, codes, numeric logic
o Visual reasoning – Series completion, Odd man out, Analogies,
Transparent paper folding, Paper cutting, Master block, Jigsaws, Cubes
o Data Interpretation – Tables, Line graphs, Bar graphs, pie-charts,
caselets, mixed diagrams
o Data Sufficiency – Two statement DS, Three statement DS

The questions will be graded on a scale of 1 to 3 according to their level of

difficulty, level 1 being the easiest.
Level 1 - direct questions; Level 2 - Two aspects to it; Conceptual and
Technique, including fine-tuning the options; Level 3 - The question requires
more than one concept and there will be a good twist in the problem.

Example 1:

This year at the Nasik kumbh mela, each parent had brought 2 children along. At the end
of the mela, it was found that 48 parents had lost one or both of their children and 77
children had lost their parents. How many parents lost both of their children?

The level of hardness can be changed in various ways.

 Changing the level of difficulty by reframing.

Example: Mark runs from A to B and then from B to C. If the product of the time taken
from A to B and B to C is 784, what is the minimum time taken by the Mark to jog from
A to C via B?
1]28 2]56 3]36 4]Cannot be determined

1
 A PRIMER TO QUANTITATIVE APTITUDE TESTS

Soln: GM ≤ AM,
t + t2
∴ 784 ≤ 1
2
t + t2
∴ 28 ≤ 1 (t 1 and t 2 are times taken fro A to B and B to C respectively)
2
∴ Min(t 1 + t 2 ) = 56. Hence, [2].

Reframed Questions: In a 200m race, Mark runs the first 100 m at a speed of ‘a’ m/s and
the rest at ‘b’ m/s. If the product of the time taken to run the first 100 m and the next 100
m is 784 seconds, find the minimum time Mark will take to finish the race?
2ab
1] 28 sec 2] 56 sec 3] 64 sec ] sec
a+ b

Ans: GM ≤ AM,
t + t2
∴ 784 ≤ 1 (where t1 and t2 are the time taken to run the first 100m and the next
2
100m)
t + t2
∴ 28 ≤ 1 ∴ min(t1 + t2) = 56 seconds. Hence, [3].
2

The question set is of LOD 2. In this question as there are no speed variables given, it
gives the student the hint that the problem is not of time speed distance and that he can
arrive at the answer by using means.
By reframing the question and introducing speed variables, the student is forced in a
wrong direction. If the student is not careful he might waste one minute and still not
arrive at the solution. The LOD of this question is 3.

 Changing the level of difficulty by giving the question a twist.

Example: Four points are marked on a straight line. There are three other points which
are non-collinear and in the same plane as that of the line. How many lines will pass
through these 7 points?
1] 21 2] 18 3] 16 4] 13

Soln: Corresponding to each of the three non-collinear points we have 6 points in the
plane and number of lines passing through them = 6 + 5 + 4 = 15
And one line passes through the four collinear points.
So total number of lines = 15 + 1 = 16. Hence, [3].

Reframed Question: Four points are marked on a straight line. There are three non-
collinear points in the same plane as that of the line but none of them are on the line.
Which of the following could be the maximum number of lines passing through the 7
points?

2
 A PRIMER TO QUANTITATIVE APTITUDE TESTS

I. 12 II. 14 III. 16
1] Only I and II 2] Only II and III 3] I, II and III 4] Only III

Soln: There are three possible cases. Let the three non-collinear points be A, B and C.
Case 1: If the three non-collinear points are also non-collinear with the four points on the
straight line then maximum 16 lines can be made using these 7 points. i.e., 7C2 – 4C2 + 1
= 16.
Case 2: If two of the points(say A and B) are collinear with one point on the straight line
and two points(say A and C) are collinear with a second point on the straight line then
maximum 12 lines will be formed. i.e., 7C2 – 3C2 – 3C2 – 4C2 + 3 = 12.
Case 3: If only two of the points(say A and B) are collinear with one point on the straight
line then maximum 14 lines will be formed. i.e., 7C2 – 3C2 – 4C2 + 2 = 14.
Hence, [3]

Note: The question is of LOD 1. It’s a direct formula based question. Moreover there is
an ambiguity as the collinearity of the three non collinear points with the four collinear
points have not been considered. Most of the students will think only of the first case. By
rephrasing the question a new dimension is added to the question. The LOD of the
question is 3.

 Changing the level of difficulty by changing the options.

Example: A 200 mts long train passes a 350 m long platform in 5 seconds. If a man is
walking at a speed of 4 m/s along the track and the train is 100 meters away from him,
how much time will it take to reach the man?
1] 2 sec 2] 1.04 sec 3] 1 sec 4] Data insufficient

Soln: Here the answer is [4], as we do not know the direction in which the man is
walking.

Reframed Question: A 200 mts long train passes a 350 m long platform in 5 seconds. If a
man is walking at a speed of 4 m/s along the track and the train is 100 meters away from
him, how much time will it take to reach the man?
1] Less than 1 sec 2] 1.04 second 3] More than 2 sec 4] Data insufficient

Solution: The answer is [1], irrespective of whether the man and train are moving in the
same or opposite direction.

Note: Here it is the option that makes the question interesting. The LOD of the question
as set by the material maker is 1. In the question after changing the options, one would
mark the answer as [4] as the direction in which the man is walking is not given.
But the point to be noted is that irrespective of whether the man and train are moving in
the same or opposite direction, the train will require less than 1 second to cross the man.
The LOD of the question is 2.

 Even a common question can be interesting.

3
 A PRIMER TO QUANTITATIVE APTITUDE TESTS

Example:

A number is formed by the digits ABCDEF such that:

1. A+C+E=B+D+F
2. ∑ X (X ranging from A to F) is even and equal to 3k where k > 0.
The number would be divisible by which of the following numbers?
1] 2, 11 2] 9, 11 3] 3, 11 4] 6, 11

Here, most students would conclude from point 2 that the number is even and will be
tempted to mark the answer as [4]…..but note that the sum of the digits is even and not
the number itself.


Example: M = 1223334444 ..., that is, 1 written once, followed by 2 written twice,
followed by 3 written thrice, ..., n written n times (all in decimal notation). Let
S n be the sum of the digits (from the left) till and including the nth digit. What is
the digit in the nth place if n is the smallest value for which S n
300?
1] 1 2] 2 3] 5 4] None of these

Corrected Version: M = 1223334444 ..., that is, 1 written once, followed by 2 written
twice, followed by 3 written thrice, ..., m written m times (all in decimal
notation). Let S n be the sum of the digits (from the left) till and including the nth
digit. What is the digit in the nth place if n is the smallest value for which S n
300?
1] 1 2] 2 3] 5 4] None of these

In the example, the letter n has been used to denote repetition of the digit as well as the
nth term leading to confusion. In the corrected version, this has been taken care of.

 Converting a CET/CAT question to a GRE/GMAT question

Example: A CET/CAT question.

Find the maximum number of lines that can pass through 8 non-collinear points.

Soln: Taking two points at a time, 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 28 lines can be drawn.

Alternatively: 8C2 = 28 lines.

Modified to form a GRE question.

8 Chrysanthemum saplings are planted along the edge of a circular garden. How many
saplings will have to be transplanted, if the saplings are to be arranged in two rows?

4
 A PRIMER TO QUANTITATIVE APTITUDE TESTS

Soln: Since the 8 points are non-collinear and any two point will always be collinear,
minimum 4 saplings will have to be transplanted.

Note: The basic concept in both the questions are the same, i.e., any two points are
always collinear. In Indian products the questions are usually framed directly, while in
international products the question is usually worded. Indian products make use of
technical terms(in this case non-collinear) in the question while international products
describe them(in this case along the edge of a circular garden)

 The data for the DI question can be culled from any Business Magazine, Economic
Times, Business Standard and other leading newspapers.

The questions
The number of questions per set can vary from 2 to 6.
The different concepts that can be used in a question are ratio, proportion, averages,
growth rate, absolute value, maximum, minimum etc.

5
You can get further counselling from me by writing to me at dramartyakumar@gmail.com or by
phoning me at 89024 94161.