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Why Simplification is the Most Important Topic in Bank PO
Simplification carries 10-15 marks in IBPS PO Prelims and appears in almost every banking exam. It's the highest scoring and least time-consuming section if you know the right shortcuts.
At Shortcut Maths Bank Coaching, our students solve simplification questions in 8-12 seconds each using our proprietary methods. This gives them extra time for Data Interpretation and Puzzles.
- Expected in: IBPS PO, SBI PO, IBPS Clerk, SBI Clerk, RBI Assistant
- Questions: 10-15 in Prelims, 5-8 in Mains
- Target time: 10-12 minutes for 15 questions
- Accuracy needed: 95%+ (these are "free marks")
BODMAS Rules for Simplification
Follow the order: Brackets → Of → Division → Multiplication → Addition → Subtraction
Important Fraction to Percentage Conversions
| Fraction | Percentage | Fraction | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 | 50% | 1/3 | 33.33% |
| 1/4 | 25% | 3/4 | 75% |
| 1/5 | 20% | 2/5 | 40% |
| 1/6 | 16.67% | 5/6 | 83.33% |
| 1/7 | 14.28% | 1/8 | 12.5% |
| 1/9 | 11.11% | 1/11 | 9.09% |
| 1/12 | 8.33% | 1/16 | 6.25% |
Questions 1-25: Basic Simplification
Q1. 45% of 600 + 35% of 400 = ?
Solution: 45% of 600 = 270; 35% of 400 = 140; Total = 270 + 140 = 410
Q2. 12.5% of 256 + 25% of 144 = ?
Solution: 12.5% = 1/8, so 256/8 = 32; 25% = 1/4, so 144/4 = 36; Total = 32 + 36 = 68
Q3. 3/5 of 375 + 2/7 of 210 = ?
Solution: 3/5 × 375 = 225; 2/7 × 210 = 60; Total = 225 + 60 = 285
Q4. 156 + 324 ÷ 18 × 12 - 45 = ?
Solution: 324 ÷ 18 = 18; 18 × 12 = 216; 156 + 216 - 45 = 327
Q5. 152 + 122 - 92 = ?
Solution: 225 + 144 - 81 = 288
Q6. 18 × 15 + 25 × 12 - 35 × 8 = ?
Solution: 270 + 300 - 280 = 290
Q7. 420 ÷ 14 × 8 + 152 = ?
Solution: 30 × 8 = 240; 240 + 225 = 465
Q8. 66.66% of 540 + 16.66% of 180 = ?
Solution: 66.66% = 2/3, so 540 × 2/3 = 360; 16.66% = 1/6, so 180/6 = 30; Total = 390
Q9. (18)2 + (24)2 - (15)2 = ?
Solution: 324 + 576 - 225 = 675
Q10. 125% of 240 - 75% of 160 = ?
Solution: 240 + 60 = 300; 160 - 40 = 120; 300 - 120 = 180
Questions 26-50: Approximation
Q26. 14.89% of 299.89 + 24.78% of 399.92 = ?
Approximation: 15% of 300 + 25% of 400 = 45 + 100 = 145
Q27. 24.98 × 15.02 + 44.89 × 5.01 = ?
Approximation: 25 × 15 + 45 × 5 = 375 + 225 = 600
Q28. 149.89 ÷ 4.98 + 119.78 ÷ 5.92 = ?
Approximation: 150/5 + 120/6 = 30 + 20 = 50
Q29. √324.89 + √255.12 = ?
Approximation: √324 + √256 = 18 + 16 = 34
Q30. 19.782 + 9.892 = ?
Approximation: 202 + 102 = 400 + 100 = 500
Questions 51-75: Square Roots, Cubes & Special Calculations
Q51. √441 + √484 + √529 = ?
Solution: 21 + 22 + 23 = 66
Q52. 132 + 142 + 152 = ?
Solution: 169 + 196 + 225 = 590
Q53. (15)3 - (12)3 = ?
Solution: 3375 - 1728 = 1647
Q54. √2304 ÷ √144 × 8 = ?
Solution: 48 ÷ 12 × 8 = 4 × 8 = 32
Q55. 63 + 73 + 83 = ?
Solution: 216 + 343 + 512 = 1071
Questions 76-100: Mixed Pattern Simplification
Q76. (45 × 12 + 35 × 8) ÷ 20 = ?
Solution: (540 + 280) ÷ 20 = 820/20 = 41
Q77. 16.66% of 420 + 33.33% of 180 - 25% of 120 = ?
Solution: 70 + 60 - 30 = 100
Q78. 2/3 of 5/7 of 441 = ?
Solution: 441 × 5/7 = 315; 315 × 2/3 = 210
Q79. 15.5 × 8.4 + 12.6 × 5.5 = ?
Solution: 130.2 + 69.3 = 199.5
Q80. √1369 + √1681 - √961 = ?
Solution: 37 + 41 - 31 = 47
Top 10 Simplification Shortcuts for Bank PO
- Digital Sum: Add digits until single digit. If digital sum of LHS = RHS, answer is likely correct
- Unit Digit Method: Find unit digit of answer without full calculation
- Fraction Magic: Convert percentages to fractions (50%=1/2, 25%=1/4, 12.5%=1/8)
- Difference of Squares: a2 - b2 = (a+b)(a-b)
- Multiplying by 5: Divide by 2 and multiply by 10
- Multiplying by 25: Divide by 4 and multiply by 100
- Multiplying by 125: Divide by 8 and multiply by 1000
- Complement Method: Use (100 - x) for quick subtraction
- Square of Numbers Ending in 5: n52 = n(n+1) followed by 25
- Division by 9: Sum of digits gives quotient pattern
Free PDF Download
Download the complete 100 Simplification Questions PDF with detailed solutions for offline practice.
📥 Download Free PDF
Get all 100 simplification questions with solutions in printable PDF format. Perfect for daily practice.
Download PDF (Free)Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How many simplification questions come in IBPS PO Prelims?
Typically 10-15 questions appear in IBPS PO Prelims. In SBI PO, it's 10-12 questions. These are the easiest marks in the quant section.
Q2. What is the best way to practice simplification?
Solve 50 simplification questions daily for 30 days. Use timer. Target 8-10 seconds per question. Practice on exam.theshortcutmaths.com.
Q3. Are approximation questions different from simplification?
Yes. Simplification requires exact answers using BODMAS. Approximation allows rounding numbers and finding closest answers. Both use similar calculation shortcuts.
Q4. Should I memorise squares up to 50?
Yes! Memorise squares (1-50), cubes (1-30), and square roots of perfect squares up to 50. This saves 10-15 seconds per question.
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Last updated: June 02, 2026. For Bank PO coaching, call +91-9804490328.