Simplification Tricks for Bank Exams
The best simplification tricks for bank exams are: follow VBODMAS strictly, convert percentages to fractions (25% = 1/4, 12.5% = 1/8), know squares up to 30 and cubes up to 20 by heart, use base and (a + b)(a − b) shortcuts for multiplication, round decimals in approximation questions, and verify with the digit-sum check. Together these cut most questions to under 20 seconds.
🔥 Key Exam Takeaway: Order = Vinculum (bar) → Brackets ( ), { }, [ ] → Of → Division → Multiplication → Addition → Subtraction. In practice, division and multiplication are done left to right as they appear, and so are addition and subtraction. "Of" is done before division: 36 ÷ 1/4 of 8 = 36 ÷ 2 = 18, not 72.
Simplification and approximation together give about 5 questions in most IBPS and SBI Clerk and PO prelims papers (the exact number changes by year and shift). They are the fastest marks in the Quant section, so speed here buys time for DI and arithmetic. Every answer in this note was checked in Python.
What Is the VBODMAS Rule? (Order of Operations)
| Letter | Stands for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| V | Vinculum (a bar over numbers, like 8 − 3 written under one bar) | Solve the bar part first |
| B | Brackets, inner to outer: ( ) then { } then [ ] | [2 + {3 × (4 − 1)}] = [2 + 9] = 11 |
| O | Of (means multiply, but before ÷ and ×) | 1/2 of 40 = 20 |
| D | Division | 36 ÷ 4 = 9 |
| M | Multiplication | 9 × 3 = 27 |
| A | Addition | 18 + 27 = 45 |
| S | Subtraction | 45 − 7 = 38 |
Solved example: 18 + 36 ÷ 4 × 3 − 7 = 18 + 9 × 3 − 7 = 18 + 27 − 7 = 38.
Trap: 36 ÷ 4 × 3 is 27 (left to right), not 3 (doing 4 × 3 first).
Fraction to Percentage Table for Simplification
Learning these converts long percentage terms into one-step fractions.
| Fraction | Percent | Fraction | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 | 50% | 1/9 | 11.11% |
| 1/3 | 33.33% | 1/10 | 10% |
| 1/4 | 25% | 1/11 | 9.09% |
| 1/5 | 20% | 1/12 | 8.33% |
| 1/6 | 16.67% | 1/15 | 6.67% |
| 1/7 | 14.29% | 1/16 | 6.25% |
| 1/8 | 12.5% | 1/20 | 5% |
| 3/8 | 37.5% | 5/8 | 62.5% |
| 7/8 | 87.5% | 1/40 | 2.5% |
Use: 12.5% of 64 = 64 ÷ 8 = 8. 62.5% of 480 = 5/8 × 480 = 300. 16.67% of 252 = 252 ÷ 6 = 42.
Squares and Cubes to Learn for Bank Exams
| n | n² | n | n² | n | n³ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 121 | 21 | 441 | 11 | 1331 |
| 12 | 144 | 22 | 484 | 12 | 1728 |
| 13 | 169 | 23 | 529 | 13 | 2197 |
| 14 | 196 | 24 | 576 | 14 | 2744 |
| 15 | 225 | 25 | 625 | 15 | 3375 |
| 16 | 256 | 26 | 676 | 16 | 4096 |
| 17 | 289 | 27 | 729 | 17 | 4913 |
| 18 | 324 | 28 | 784 | 18 | 5832 |
| 19 | 361 | 29 | 841 | 19 | 6859 |
| 20 | 400 | 30 | 900 | 20 | 8000 |
Unit digit check for square roots: a perfect square ends only in 0, 1, 4, 5, 6 or 9. √1764: ends in 4, so the root ends in 2 or 8; 40² = 1600 and 45² = 2025, so the root is between 40 and 45 → 42.
Cube root trick: ∛2197: the last digit 7 comes only from a cube ending in 3 (3³ = 27). Drop the last three digits: 2 lies between 1³ and 2³, so take 1. Answer 13.
Multiplication Shortcuts for Simplification
Trick 1: Multiply by 11
Write the first and last digit and put their sum in the middle. 72 × 11 → 7 (7 + 2) 2 = 792. If the sum is 10 or more, carry 1: 87 × 11 → 8 (15) 7 → 957.
Trick 2: Numbers Near 100 (Base Method)
97 × 96: deficits are 3 and 4. Left part = 97 − 4 = 93; right part = 3 × 4 = 12 → 9312. 103 × 107: surpluses 3 and 7. Left = 103 + 7 = 110; right = 3 × 7 = 21 → 11021. 998 × 997 (base 1000): left = 998 − 3 = 995; right = 2 × 3 = 006 → 995006.
Trick 3: (a + b)(a − b) = a² − b²
46 × 54 = (50 − 4)(50 + 4) = 2500 − 16 = 2484.
Trick 4: Squares Ending in 5
85² → 8 × 9 = 72, then write 25 → 7225.
Trick 5: Squares Near a Base
999² = (1000 − 1)² = 1,000,000 − 2,000 + 1 = 998001.
Approximation Tricks for Bank Exams
In approximation questions, the options are spread out, so you only need the nearest value.
- Round to the nearest whole or friendly number: 19.98% → 20%, 450.03 → 450, 24.99% → 25%.
- Round in opposite directions when multiplying, to keep the error small.
- Do not round both numbers in a division the same way if the options are close.
Example: 19.98% of 450.03 + 24.99% of 159.97 ≈ 20% of 450 + 25% of 160 = 90 + 40 = 130.
Example: 1299.97 ÷ 25.02 × 3.99 ≈ 1300 ÷ 25 × 4 = 52 × 4 = 208 (exact value ≈ 207.3, so pick the option nearest 207 to 208).
Digit-Sum Method to Check Answers
Keep adding the digits until one digit is left (the digit sum). The digit sum of a product equals the digit sum of the product of the digit sums.
Check 457 × 23 = 10511: digit sum of 457 = 4 + 5 + 7 = 16 → 7; of 23 = 5; 7 × 5 = 35 → 8. Digit sum of 10511 = 1 + 0 + 5 + 1 + 1 = 8. ✔ The answer is consistent.
Use it to reject options quickly. It cannot catch every error (for example, swapped digits), so treat it as a filter.
Simplification Questions for Bank Exams with Solutions
Q1. 25% of 480 + 3/4 of 320 − ? = 200 Solution: 120 + 240 − ? = 200 → ? = 160.
Q2. √1764 + ∛2197 = ? Solution: 42 + 13 = 55.
Q3. (3/5 of 1250) ÷ 15 + ? = 70 Solution: 750 ÷ 15 = 50 → ? = 20.
Q4. 18 + 36 ÷ 4 × 3 − 7 = ? Solution: 18 + 27 − 7 = 38.
Q5. 46 × 54 − 85² ÷ 25 = ? Solution: 2484 − 7225 ÷ 25 = 2484 − 289 = 2195.
Q6. 12.5% of 64 × 16.67% of 252 = ? Solution: 8 × 42 = 336.
Q7. 999 × 999 − 998000 = ? Solution: 998001 − 998000 = 1.
Q8. 97 × 96 + 103 × 107 = ? Solution: 9312 + 11021 = 20333.
Q9 (approximation). 19.98% of 450.03 + 24.99% of 159.97 ≈ ? Solution: 130.
Q10 (approximation). 1299.97 ÷ 25.02 × 3.99 ≈ ? Solution: 208 (nearest option).
More Simplification Questions (Previous Year Bank Exam Pattern)
These follow the style of recent IBPS and SBI prelims papers: mixed fractions, decimals, percentages and squares in one line.
Q11. 3 2/5 + 4 3/10 − 2 1/2 = ? Solution: Convert to decimals: 3.4 + 4.3 − 2.5 = 5.2 = 5 1/5.
Q12. (0.5)² × 0.04 ÷ 0.002 = ? Solution: 0.25 × 0.04 = 0.01; 0.01 ÷ 0.002 = 5.
Q13. 45% of 860 − 22% of 450 = ? Solution: 387 − 99 = 288.
Q14. √324 × √0.81 = ? Solution: 18 × 0.9 = 16.2.
Q15. 1/3 of 2/5 of 3/4 of 1200 = ? Solution: 1200 × 3/4 = 900; × 2/5 = 360; × 1/3 = 120.
Q16. 17² + 23² − 28² = ? Solution: 289 + 529 − 784 = 34.
Q17. 7.5 × 12.4 + 2.5 × 12.4 = ? Solution: Take 12.4 common: (7.5 + 2.5) × 12.4 = 10 × 12.4 = 124. Spotting a common factor saves two multiplications.
Q18. ? ÷ 18 = 576 ÷ 32 Solution: 576 ÷ 32 = 18, so ? = 18 × 18 = 324.
Square Root of Non-Perfect Squares (Approximation Trick)
For a number n near a perfect square a²: √n ≈ a + (n − a²) ÷ (2a).
| Number | Nearest square | Estimate | Actual |
|---|---|---|---|
| √50 | 7² = 49 | 7 + 1/14 ≈ 7.07 | 7.071 |
| √130 | 11² = 121 | 11 + 9/22 ≈ 11.41 | 11.402 |
This is accurate enough for every approximation question, where the options are usually 5 to 10 percent apart.
Simplification Strategy for IBPS and SBI Prelims 2026
- Attempt simplification first in the Quant section. It is the most predictable block and builds momentum.
- Spend at most 30 to 40 seconds per question. If a question needs long division with decimals, approximate.
- Look at the options before calculating. If they are far apart, round boldly; if they differ only in the last digit, use the unit digit or digit-sum check.
- Revise tables daily: squares to 30, cubes to 20, and fraction-percent equivalents. Five minutes a day is enough after the first week.
- Keep an error log of every wrong answer. Most mistakes repeat (sign errors, "of" handled late, ÷ and × swapped).
Simplification Quick Revision Table
| Situation | Fastest move |
|---|---|
| Percent of a number (12.5%, 37.5%, 62.5%) | Convert to eighths: 1/8, 3/8, 5/8 |
| Product of numbers near 100 or 1000 | Base method (deficit or surplus) |
| Product like 46 × 54 | (a − b)(a + b) = a² − b² |
| Square ending in 5 | n(n + 1) followed by 25 |
| Multiply by 11 | Split digits, put their sum in the middle |
| Same factor in two terms | Take it common: 7.5 × k + 2.5 × k = 10k |
| Decimals like 24.99, 449.97 | Round to 25, 450 and pick the nearest option |
| Checking a big product | Digit-sum test |
| Square root of a 4-digit perfect square | Last digit gives two choices; nearest tens square decides |
| Cube root of a perfect cube up to 6 digits | Last digit gives the unit digit; leading part gives the tens digit |
Common Mistakes in Simplification
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Doing × before ÷ when ÷ comes first | Go left to right for ÷ and × |
| Treating "of" like ordinary × | "Of" comes before ÷: 36 ÷ 1/4 of 8 = 36 ÷ 2 = 18 |
| Rounding every number up in approximation | Round some up and some down to cancel errors |
| Forgetting the negative sign in brackets | −(a − b) = −a + b |
| Squaring a sum term by term | (a + b)² = a² + 2ab + b², not a² + b² |
Simplification Practice Questions (with Answers)
- 40% of 650 + 3/7 of 490 = ? → 470 (260 + 210)
- √2025 − ∛1728 = ? → 33 (45 − 12)
- 62.5% of 480 − 37.5% of 320 = ? → 180 (300 − 120)
- 63 × 11 + 58 × 11 = ? → 1331 (693 + 638)
- 94 × 98 = ? → 9212 (92 | 12)
- 65² − 35² = ? → 3000 ((65 + 35)(65 − 35) = 100 × 30)
- 144 ÷ 12 × 3 + 15 − 9 = ? → 42 (12 × 3 = 36; 36 + 15 − 9)
- 2744 ÷ 14 + 23² = ? → 725 (196 + 529)
Simplification FAQs
What is the full form of VBODMAS?
Vinculum, Brackets, Of, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction.
How many simplification questions come in bank exams?
Usually around 5 in IBPS/SBI Clerk and PO prelims (simplification, approximation or missing-number equations), but the count varies by year and shift.
How can I improve speed in simplification?
Learn squares to 30, cubes to 20, the fraction-percent table and the 11, base and (a + b)(a − b) tricks. Then do 15 to 20 timed questions daily.
What is the difference between simplification and approximation?
Simplification has exact values. Approximation uses decimals like 24.99 or 449.97, where you round and choose the nearest option.
Is BODMAS the same as PEMDAS?
Yes, they describe the same order. PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division, Addition/Subtraction) is used in the US.
Related topics: revise approximation questions for bank exams, mixture and alligation questions for bank exams and caselet DI for SBI Clerk next.
Practice Next
- Timed practice: IBPS PO Quantitative Aptitude Sectional Mock Test 01 and SBI PO Quantitative Aptitude Sectional Mock Test 02.
- New topic-wise test: IBPS Clerk Simplification and Approximation Mock Test 01: BODMAS, Percentage and Square Root Questions (20 Questions).
- SBI Clerk drills: SBI Clerk Simplification & Approximation Mock Test 01 and Mock Test 02.
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- Browse all study notes.