IBPS SO Exam: Reasoning-Mathematical Operations-Concept & Sample Questions

Institute of Banking and Personnel Selection (IBPS) will organize common written examination for recruitment of Specialist Officers. The IBPS SO Exam 2015 will be conducted in the month of February 2015.

The banking team of jagranjosh.com has come up with concept and sample questions for Mathematical Operations (Reasoning). The concept provided by us will help you to understand the topic. The sample questions offered by us are framed by keeping in view need of the question paper.

Type 1 ProblemSolving by Substitution

In this type, we are given some substitutes for various mathematical symbols or numerals. The candidate is required to put in the real signs or numerals in the given equation and then solve the questions as required.

BODMAS Rule

     B                 O                     D                      M                     A                      S

Bracket            of                Division        Multiplication      Addition      Substraction

While solving a mathematical expression, proceed according to the BODMAS rule

Example 1. If ‘+' means ‘minus’, ‘x' means ‘divided by’,  '÷' means 'Plus' and ‘-‘ means ‘multiplied by’, then which of the following will be the value of the expression?

24 x 6 – 3 ÷ 4 + 7 = ?

(a) 9

(b) 81

(c) 121

(d) 99

(e) None of these

Solution: - (a) 24 x 6 – 3 ÷ 4 + 7 = ?

? = 24 ÷ 6 x 3 + 4 – 7                                       [using real symbols]
? = 4 x 3 + 4 – 7
   = 12 + 4 – 7
   = 16 – 7 = 9

Type 2 Deriving the Appropriate Conclusions

Such questions have certain relationships between different sets of elements is given (in terms or <, >, =) using eithet the real symbols or substituted symbols.

Directions (Example 2): - In the following questions, the symbols @, #, $, * and % are used as illustrated below.

‘P @ Q’ means ‘P is not smaller than Q’.
‘P # Q’ means 'P is neither greater than nor equal to Q’.
‘P $ Q’ means ‘P is neither smaller than nor greater than Q’.
‘P * Q’ means ‘P is not greater than Q’.
‘P % Q’ means ‘P is neither smaller than nor equal to Q’.

Now in each of the following questions assuming the given statements to be true. Find which of the two conclusions I and II given below them is/are definitely true?

Give answer (1) if only conclusion I is true.

Give answer (2) if only conclusion II is true.

Give answer (3) if either conclusion I or II is true.

Give answer (4) if neither conclusion I nor II is true.

Give answer (5) if both conclusions I and II are true.

Exmaple 2. Statements M $ K, D * K, R # K
                     Conclusions I. D $ M                 II. M % D

Solution: - (3) Finally we can put real mathematical symbols to special symbols.

(i) P @ Q = P < Q
Therefore, P > Q or P = Q
Thus, P ≥ Q

(ii) P # Q = P > Q and P ≠ Q
Therefore, P < Q

(iii) P $ Q = P < Q and P > Q
Therefore, P = Q

(iv) P * Q = P > Q
Therefore, P < Q and P = Q
Thus, PQ

(v) P % Q = P < Q and P ≠ Q
Therefore, P > Q

(3) Statements M $ K = M = K
D * K = D ≤ K
R # K = R < K
Hence, R < M = K ≥ D

Conclusions I. D $ M = M        (False)
         II. M % D = M > D          (False)

But D is either smaller than or equal to M. Therefore, either conclusion I or II is true.

Sample Questions with Solution