Math Shortcuts for Competitive Examinations – Part 3

To find out if a number is divisible by seven:

Take the last digit, double it, and subtract it from the rest of the
number.
If the answer is more than a 2 digit number perform the above
again.
If the result is 0 or is divisible by 7 the original number is also
divisible by 7.

Example 1 ) 259
9*2= 18.
25-18 = 7 which is divisible by 7 so 259 is also divisible by 7.

Example 2 ) 2793
3*2= 6
279-6= 273

now 3*2=6
27-6= 21 which is divisible by 7 so 2793 is also divisible by 7 .

Now find out if following are divisible by 7

1) 2841
2) 3873
3) 1393
4) 2877

TO FIND SQUARE OF A NUMBER BETWEEN 40 to 50

Sq (44) .

1) Subtract the number from 50 getting result A.

2) Square A getting result X.
3) Subtract A from 25 getting result Y
4) Answer is xy

EXAMPLE 1 : 44
50-44=6
Sq of 6 =36
25-6 = 19
So answer 1936

EXAMPLE 2 : 47
50-47=3
Sq 0f 3 = 09
25-3= 22
So answer = 2209
NOW TRY To Find Sq of 48 ,26 and 49

TO FIND SQUARE OF A 3 DIGIT NUMBER :

LET THE NUMBER BE XYZ

SQ (XYZ) is calculated like this

STEP 1. Last digit = last digit of SQ(Z)

STEP 2. Second Last Digit = 2*Y*Z + any carryover from STEP 1.
STEP 3. Third Last Digit 2*X*Z+ Sq(Y) + any carryover from STEP
2.
STEP 4. Fourth last digit is 2*X*Y + any carryover from STEP 3.
STEP 5 . In the beginning of result will be Sq(X) + any carryover
from Step 4.

EXAMPLE :

SQ (431)

STEP 1. Last digit = last digit of SQ(1) =1

STEP 2. Second Last Digit = 2*3*1 + any carryover from STEP
1.= 6
STEP 3. Third Last Digit 2*4*1+ Sq(3) + any carryover from STEP
2.= 2*4*1 +9= 17. so 7 and 1 carryover
STEP 4. Fourth last digit is 2*4*3 + any carryover (which is 1) . =
24+1=25. So 5 and carry over 2.
STEP 5 . In the beginning of result will be Sq(4) + any carryover
from Step 4. So 16+2 =18.

So the result will be 185761.

If the option provided to you are such that the last two digits are
different, then you need to carry out first two steps only , thus
saving time. You may save up to 30 seconds on each
calculations and if there are 4 such questions you save 2
minutes which may really affect UR Percentile score.

PYTHAGORAS THEROEM :

In any given exam there are about 2 to 3 questions based on pythagoras theorem. Wouldn’t
it be nice that you remember some of the pythagoras triplets thus saving up to 30 seconds
in each question. This saved time may be used to attempt other questions. Remember one
more right question may make a lot of difference in UR PERCENTILE score.

The unique set of pythagoras triplets with the Hypotenuse less than 100 or one of the side
less than 20 are as follows :
(3,4,5), (5, 12, 13), (8, 15, 17), (7, 24, 25), (20, 21, 29), (12, 35, 37), (9, 40, 41), (28, 45, 53),
(11, 60, 61), (33, 56, 65), (16, 63, 65), (48, 55, 73), (36, 77, 85), (13, 84, 85), (39, 80, 89),
and (65, 72, 97).
(15,112,113), (17,144,145), (19,180,181), (20,99,101)

If you multiply the digits of the above mentioned sets by any constant you will again get a
pythagoras triplet .

Example : Take the set (3,4,5).

Multiply it by 2 you get (6,8,10) which is also a pythagoras triplet.
Multiply it by 3 you get ( 9,12,15) which is also a pythagoras triplet.
Multiply it by 4 you get (12,16,20) which is also a pythagoras triplet.
You may multiply by any constant you will get a pythagoras triplet

Take another example (5,12,13)

Multiply it by 5,6 and 7 and check if you get a pythagoras triplet.

TIPS FOR SMART GUESSING :

You will notice that in any case, whether it is a unique triplet or it is a derived triplet (derived
by multiplying a constant to a unique triplet), all the three numbers cannot be odd.

In case of unique triplet , the hypotenuse is always odd and one of the remaining side is odd
the other one is even.

Below are the first few unique triplets with first number as Odd.

3 4 5
5 12 13
7 24 25
9 40 41
11 60 61

You will notice following trend for unique triplets with first side as odd.

Hypotenuse = (Sq(first side) +1) / 2

Other side = Hypotenuse -1

Example : First side = 3 ,

so hypotenuse = (3*3+1)/2= 5 and other side = 5-1=4

Example 2: First side = 11

so hypotenuse = (9*9+1)/2= 41 and other side = 41-1=40

Please note that the above is not true for a derived triplet for example 9,12 and 15, which
has been obtained from multiplying 3 to the triplet of 3,4,5. You may check for other
derived triplets.

Below are the first few unique triplets with first number as Even .

4 3 5
8 15 17
12 35 37
16 63 65
20 99 101

You will notice following trend for unique triplets with first side as Even.

Hypotenuse = Sq( first side/ 2)+1

Other side = Hypotenuse-2

Example 1. First side =8

So hypotenuse = sq(8/2) +1= 17
Other side = 17-2=15

Example 2. First side = 16

So hypotenuse = Sq(16/2) +1 =65
Other side = 65-2= 63

PROFIT AND LOSS : In every exam there are from one to three
questions on profit and loss, stating that the cost was first
increased by certain % and then decreased by certain %. How
nice it would be if there was an easy way to calculate the final
change in % of the cost with just one formula. It would really help
you in saving time and improving UR Percentile. Here is the
formula for the same :

Suppose the price is first increase by X% and then decreased

by Y% , the final change % in the price is given by the following
formula

Final Difference % = X- Y – XY/100.

EXAMPLE 1. : The price of T.V set is increased by 40 % of the

cost price and then decreased by 25% of the new price . On
selling, the profit for the dealer was Rs.1,000 . At what price was
the T.V sold.

From the above mentioned formula you get :

Final difference % = 40-25-(40*25/100)= 5 %.

So if 5 % = 1,000
then 100 % = 20,000.
C.P = 20,000
S.P = 20,000+ 1000= 21,000.

EXAMPLE 2 : The price of T.V set is increased by 25 % of cost

price and then decreased by 40% of the new price . On selling,
the loss for the dealer was Rs.5,000 . At what price was the T.V
sold.

From the above mentioned formula you get :

Final difference % = 25-40-(25*45/100)= -25 %.
So if 25 % = 5,000
then 100 % = 20,000.
C.P = 20,000
S.P = 20,000 – 5,000= 15,000.

Now find out the difference in % of a product which was :

First increased by 20 % and then decreased by 10 %.
First Increased by 25 % and then decrease by 20 %.
First Increased by 20 % and then decrease by 25 %.
First Increased by 10 % and then decrease by 10 %.
First Increased by 20 % and then decrease by 15 %.

TIPS TO IMPROVE UR PERCENTILE :

HOW ABOUT SOLVING THE FOLLOWING QUESTION IN JUST

10 SECONDS

Ajay can finish work in 21 days and Blake in 42 days. If Ajay,

Blake and Chandana work together they finish the work in 12
days. In how many days Blake and Chandana can finish the
work together ?

(21*12 )/(24-12) = (21*12)/9= 7*4= 28 days.

NOW CAREFULLY READ THE FOLLOWING TO SOLVE THE

TIME AND WORK PROBLEMS IN FEW SECONDS.

TIME AND WORK :

1. If A can finish work in X time and B can finish work in Y time

then both together can finish work in (X*Y)/ (X+Y) time.

2. If A can finish work in X time and A and B together can finish

work in S time then B can finish work in (XS)/(X-S) time.

3. If A can finish work in X time and B in Y time and C in Z time

then they all working together will finish the work in
(XYZ)/ (XY +YZ +XZ) time

4. If A can finish work in X time and B in Y time and A,B and C

together in S time then :
C can finish work alone in (XYS)/ (XY-SX-SY)
B+C can finish in (SX)/(X-S)
and A+ C can finish in (SY)/(Y-S)

Here is another shortcut

TYPE 1 : Price of a commodity is increased by 60 %. By how

much % should the consumption be reduced so that the
expense remain the same.
TYPE 2 : Price of a commodity is decreased by 60 %. By how
much % can the consumption be increased so that the expense
remain the same.

Solution :
TYPE1 : (100* 60 ) / (100+60) = 37.5 %
TYPE 2 : (100* 60 ) / (100-60) = 150 %

Tips 1: 2 Digit Number which ends in 5

Step1: Multiply the first digit of number, with the next to its number. Ex: 35 is the number
you want to square. 3 x 4 = 12
Step2: Finally add 25 at the end of the result.

Answer: 1225
Tips 2: Any 2 Digit Number
Ex: 47
Step1: Look for the nearest 10 boundary.
3 from 47 to 50
Step2: Since we went up 3 to 50, now go down 3 from 47 to 44.
Step3: Now mentally multiply 44 x 50 = 2200 - 1st answer.
Step4: 47 is 3 away from the 10 boundary 50, Square 3 as 9 - 2nd answer.
Step5: Add the first and second answer, 2200 + 9

Answer: 2209
Trick 1:Quick Square
Step1: If you need to square a 2 digit number ending in 5, you can do so very easily with
this trick.
Step2: Mulitply the first digit by itself + 1, and put 25 on the end.
Step3:That is all!
Step4: Ex:25 ie(2*(2+1))&25

Answer:625

Trick 2: Multiply by 5
Step1: Take any number, then divide it by 2
Step2:If the result is whole, add a 0 at the end.
Step3: If it is not, ignore the remainder and add a 5 at the end.
Step4: 2682 x 5 = (2682 / 2) & 5 or 0
Step5:2682 / 2 = 1341 (whole number so add 0)
Step6: Ans:13410
Step7: Let’s try another:5887 x 5,2943.5 (fractional numbers (ignore remainder, add 5)

Answer: 29435
Trick 3: Tough Multiplication
Step1: If you have a large number to multiply and one of the numbers is even, you can
easily subdivide to get to the answer
Step2:Ex:32 x 125, is the same as: 16 x 250 is the same as: 8 x 500 is the same as: 4 x
1000 = 4,000

Trick 4: Subtracting from 1,000

Step1:To subtract a large number from 1,000 you can use this basic rule: subtract all but
the last number from 9, then subtract the last number from 10:
Step2:Ex:1000-648
Step3: subtract 6 from 9 = 3
Step4: subtract 4 from 9 = 5
step5: subtract 8 from 10 = 2

Answer: 352

Puzzle 1: Honey Bottle

A bottle fully contains honey. The honey bottle weighed 1.5kg. Then the bottle was weighed
with half of the honey, it was 900 grams. Now guess what would be the weight of the
bottle?

Let the bottle weight be x

Let the honey weight be y
The weight of the bottle with honey is 1.5kg
Therefore x + y = 1500 grams -> (1)
Then the weight of the bottle with half of the honey is 900 grams
Therefore x + (y/2) = 900 grams
That is 2x + y = 1800 -> (2)
Solving the first and second equation
2x + y = 1800
x + y = 1500
-------------
x = 300
Therefore the weight of the bottle is 300 grams.

Puzzle 3: Strawberry
Jennifer arranged for a party and had a basket full of strawberries. She ate 5 strawberries
before the party and gave a friend 3. Eight girls came to the party. First girl took one
strawberry, second one took three strawberries, third took five strawberries and so on. The
basket was empty after the last person took hers. How many strawberries did Jennifer had?

First Jennifer ate 5, gave her friend 3.

Eight girls took in odd digit order as 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15. So totally, 5 + 3 + 1 +
3 + 5 + 7 + 9 + 11 + 13 + 15 = 72.
Finally Jennifer had 72 strawberries.
Puzzle 5: Marbles
Ricky had a bag containing colorful marbles. The colors are red, green and blue. The total
number of marbles he had in his bag is 60. There are 4 times as many red marbles as green
marbles. 6 more blue marbles than green marbles. How many marbles of each color did
Ricky have?

Lets take R as red, G as green and B as blue.

R + G + B = 60
As there are 4 times red marbles than green marbles, then
R = 4G
There are 6 more blue marbles than green marbles, so
B=G+6
Therefore,
R + G + B = 60
4G + G + G + 6 = 60
6G + 6 = 60
6G = 60-6
6G = 54
G = 54/6 = 9
R = 4G = 4 x 9 = 36
B = G + 6 = 9 + 6 =15
Finally there are 9 green marbles, 36 red marbles and 15 blue marbles.

Question:
Miss Anne has eleven kids in her class. She has a bowl containing eleven apples. Now Miss
Anne want to divide the eleven apples to the kids, in such a way that a apple should remain
in her bowl.
How can Miss Anne do it?

Solution:
Ten kids will get each one apple. The eleventh kid will get the apple with the bowl.

Fathers Puzzle:

Question:
Two fathers took their sons to a fruit stall. Each man and son bought an apple, But when
they returned home, they had only 3 apples. They did not eat, lost, or thrown. How could
this be possible?

Solution:
There were only three people. Son, his father and his grandfather.