Quantitative Aptitude — Exam-ready Cheatsheet
Quantitative Aptitude — Exam-ready Cheatsheet
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Quick reference — Essentials first
- Percentage: P% of X = (P/100) × X
- Ratio: If a:b = m:n then a = k·m, b = k·n.
- Average: Avg = (sum of items) / n
- Profit/Loss:
Profit = SP − CP, Profit% = (Profit/CP)×100
Loss% = (Loss/CP)×100
- Simple Interest (SI): SI = (P × R × T) / 100
- Compound Interest (CI): A = P(1 + r/100)^n, CI = A − P
- Speed/Distance/Time: Distance = Speed × Time
- Time & Work: Work = Rate × Time; combined rate adds.
- Permutations: nPr = n! / (n−r)!
- Combinations: nCr = n! / (r!(n−r)!)
- Probability: P(E) = favorable outcomes / total outcomes
- HCF & LCM: Use prime factorization. HCF × LCM = product of numbers (for two numbers).
- A.P.: nth = a + (n−1)d, sum n terms = n/2 × (2a + (n−1)d)
- G.P.: nth = ar^(n−1), sum n terms = a(1−r^n)/(1−r) if r≠1
Number System & Basic Number Tricks
- Even ± even = even; even ± odd = odd; odd ± odd = even.
- Divisibility:
2: last digit even.
3: sum of digits divisible by 3.
4: last two digits divisible by 4.
5: last digit 0 or 5.
8: last three digits divisible by 8.
9: sum of digits divisible by 9.
11: alternating sum difference divisible by 11.
- LCM via prime factors: take highest power of each prime.
- HCF via prime factors: take lowest power of common primes.
Percentages — Fast conversions & tricks
- Increase by P%: new = original × (1 + P/100)
- Decrease by P%: new = original × (1 − P/100)
- Successive % changes: multiply factors. Example: +10% then −10% ⇒ 1.1 × 0.9 = 0.99 ⇒ net −1%.
- Convert fraction to percent: multiply by 100.
Profit, Loss & Discount
- SP = CP + Profit, SP = CP − Loss
- Profit% = (Profit/CP)×100, Loss% = (Loss/CP)×100
- Marked Price (MP) and Discount (D%): SP = MP × (1 − D/100)
- Successive discounts multiply: Net factor = (1−d1)(1−d2) ...
Simple & Compound Interest
- SI = P × R × T /100
- Amount (SI): A = P + SI = P(1 + RT/100)
- Compound Interest (annual comp): A = P(1 + r/100)^n
- Effective rate for m compounding periods per year: A = P (1 + r/(100m))^{mn}
Time, Speed & Distance (TSD)
- d = s × t, units must match.
- Average speed for equal distances: 2ab/(a+b)
- Average speed for equal times: (a+b)/2
- Relative speed: same dir = v1 − v2; opposite = v1 + v2
- Convert 1 km/h = 5/18 m/s
Time & Work, Pipes & Cisterns
- If A does job in a days, rate = 1/a job/day.
- Combined rate = 1/a + 1/b + ...
- Pipe fill/empty: combined = 1/A − 1/B (signs matter).
Averages & Weighted Averages
- Average = sum/n
- Weighted avg = (Σ w_i x_i) / Σ w_i
- Replace item: new_avg = old_avg + (new − old)/n
Ratio & Proportion
- If a:b = m:n then a = km, b = kn.
- Direct & inverse proportion rules apply.
Mixture & Allegation
- Allegation rule: Ratio = |mean − price2| : |price1 − mean|
Permutation & Combination
- nPr = n!/(n−r)!
- nCr = n!/(r!(n−r)!)
- nPr = nCr × r!
Probability — essentials
- P(A) = favorable/total
- Independent: P(A and B) = P(A) × P(B)
- Mutually exclusive: P(A or B) = P(A) + P(B)
- Complement: P(not A) = 1 − P(A)
Algebra: Quick manipulations & common patterns
- a^2 − b^2 = (a−b)(a+b)
- a^3 − b^3 = (a−b)(a^2 + ab + b^2)
- Quadratic formula: x = [−b ± √(b^2 − 4ac)]/(2a)
- Sum/product of roots: sum = −b/a, product = c/a
Sequences & Series
- AP sum: S_n = n/2 (first + last)
- GP sum: S_n = a(1−r^n)/(1−r)
- Infinite GP: S = a/(1−r) if |r|<1
Logarithms & Indices
- log_a(b) = c ⇒ a^c = b
- log(xy) = log x + log y
Surds (Radicals)
- Rationalize conjugates, factor perfect squares out.
Coordinate Geometry basics
- Distance: √[(x2−x1)^2 + (y2−y1)^2]
- Midpoint: ((x1+x2)/2, (y1+y2)/2)
- Line slope: m = (y2−y1)/(x2−x1)
Geometry (plane) — quick formulas
- Triangle area: 1/2 × base × height
- Pythagoras: a^2 + b^2 = c^2
- Circle area: πr^2; circumference: 2πr
- Sector area: θ/360 × πr^2
Trigonometry basics
- sin^2 θ + cos^2 θ = 1
- tan θ = sin θ / cos θ
- Known values: sin30°=1/2, cos60°=1/2, tan45°=1
Mensuration (3D)
- Cylinder vol: πr^2 h
- Sphere vol: 4/3 πr^3; surface area: 4πr^2
- Cone vol: 1/3 πr^2 h
Data Interpretation & Statistics basics
- Mean, Median, Mode
- For grouped freq: mean ≈ Σ(f × mid)/Σf
- Std dev/variance formulas (use calculator as needed)
Calendar & Clocks
- Leap year rules: divisible by 4; if by 100 then must be by 400.
- Clock angle: |30H − (11/2)M| degrees
Common Tricks & Shortcuts
- Plug numbers for messy algebra.
- Use complements for probability/percent.
- Cancel early in fractions.
- Use unit checks.
- Memorize squares up to 30^2 and cubes to 15^3.
Useful Formula Sheet
d=s×t
SI = PRT/100
A(CI) = P(1 + r/100)^n
avg = Σx/n
nCr = n!/[r!(n−r)!]
Sum AP = n/2 × (2a + (n−1)d)
Area triangle = 1/2 bh
Area circle = πr^2
Angle between clock hands = |30H − 5.5M|
Distance formula = √[(∆x)^2 + (∆y)^2]
12 Quick practice Qs (answers)
1) 30% of number is 45 ⇒ number = 150
2) 20% then 25% profit ⇒ overall 50% profit
3) Two trains crossing example ⇒ 14 s
4) LCM(12,18)=36
5) 5C2 = 10
6) a+b=10, ab=21 ⇒ a^2+b^2 = 58
7) CI: P=2000, r=5%, n=2 ⇒ A=2205
8) Equal distance avg speed 40 & 60 ⇒ 48 km/h
9) Ace probability = 1/13
10) AP a=3,d=2 ⇒ a10=21
11) log10(1000)=3
12) Circle r=7 ⇒ area = 49π
Mistakes to avoid
- Confusing profit% on CP vs SP.
- Using average speed formula incorrectly.
- Forgetting unit conversions.
- Treating successive % additively.
Study plan (4-week)
- Week1: basics; Week2: TSD, Work; Week3: permutations, probability; Week4: geometry,
mensuration
- Daily: 30–60 mins mixed practice; timed mock once/week.
End of cheatsheet.
