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How to Solve Approximation Questions? Check important Tips & Tricks

By BYJU'S Exam Prep

Updated on: September 25th, 2023

The quantitative Aptitude section of the Banking exam consists of a very important chapter called Simplification, Approximation. In almost all the bank and insurance exams, you can expect 5-10 questions from this chapter.

So this becomes a very important topic from bank exams perspectives. With a little bit of dedication and sheer practice, you can easily score full marks in this chapter in the upcoming SBI PO and IBPS PO prelims exam. Let’s discuss some of the important tips and tricks to solve approximation questions.

In most of the Banking Prelims exam, the major chunk of questions is asked from the topic Approximation and Simplification. They are very easy and require good calculation skills. 

Here is a short study guide to help you crack questions on Approximation“. To solve approximation questions, you must understand the basic rules of Simplification. 

Importance of Approximation in Bank Exams?

  • You can expect 5-10 approximation questions in every bank exam especially in the prelims phase.
  • These questions are quite easy to solve if you have practiced well on your calculation speed.
  • You can solve all the questions within 3-4 minutes with 100% accuracy.
  • These questions can increase your chances of clearing the exam.

Basic Rules of Simplification

BODMAS Rule

It defines the correct sequence in which operations are to be performed in a given mathematical expression to find the correct value. This means that to simplify an expression, the following order must be followed –

B = Bracket,
O = Order (Powers, Square Roots, etc.)
D = Division

M = Multiplication
= Addition

S = Subtraction

1. Hence, to solve approximation questions correctly, you must apply the operations of brackets first. Further, in solving for brackets, the order – (), {} and [] – should be strictly followed. 
2.
Next you should evaluate exponents (for instance powers, roots, etc.)

3. Next, you should perform division and multiplication, working from left to right. (division and multiplication rank equally and are done left to right).

4. Finally, you should perform addition and subtraction, working from left to right. (addition and subtraction rank equally and are done left to right).

EXAMPLE 1: Solve 12 + 22 ÷ 11 × (18 ÷ 3)^2 – 10

= 12 + 22 ÷ 11 × 6^2 – 10 (Brackets first)
= 12 + 22 ÷ 11 × 36 – 10 (Exponents)
= 12 + 2 × 36 – 10 = 12 + 72 – 10 (Division and multiplication, left to right)
= 84 – 10 = 74 (Addition and Subtraction, left to right)

EXAMPLE 2: Solve 4 + 10 – 3 × 6 / 3 + 4

= 4 + 10 – 18/3 + 4 = 4 + 10 – 6 + 4 (Division and multiplication, left to right)
= 14 – 6 + 4 = 8 + 4 = 12 (Addition and Subtraction, left to right)

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Tips to Solve Approximation

Conversion of decimal numbers to the nearest number

To solve such questions, first, convert the decimal to the nearest value. Then simplify the given equation using the new values that you have obtained.

EXAMPLE 1: Solve 4433.764 – 2211.993 – 1133.667 + 3377.442

Here,
4433.764 = 4434
2211.993 = 2212
1133.667 = 1134
3377.442 = 3377

Now simplify, 4434 –  2212 – 1134 + 3377 = 4466

EXAMPLE 2: Solve 530 x 20.3% + 225 x 16.8%

Here, 20.3% becomes 20% and 16.8% becomes 17%
Now, simplify 530 x 20% + 225 x 17%
= 106 + 38.25 = 144.25

EXAMPLE 3: 38.97×15.02-27.94×10.02=(36+?)×4.92   As per the BODMAS rule, the priority in which the operations should be done is:

\

Note: Addition and subtraction can be treated on the same priority (from left to right) when they are in consecutive order.

38.97×15.02-27.94×10.02=(36+?)×4.92
Approximating the value to the nearest integer:
39×15-28×10=(36+?)×5 
585-280=(36+?)×5 
305=(36+?)×5 
How to Solve Approximation Questions? Check important Tips & Tricks=36+? 
61=36+? 
?=61-36 
?=25

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EXAMPLE 4: √483.9915 + (7.0215)= ? *6.0212  – 1.02153   As per the BODMAS rule, the priority of order should be followed.

Note: Addition and subtraction can be treated on the same priority (from left to right) when they are in consecutive order.

√483.9915 + (7.0215)= ? * 6.0212  – 1.02153
Approximating the value to the nearest integer:
√484+72 =?*6.0212-13
22+49=?×6-1
71+1=6?
72=6?
?=How to Solve Approximation Questions? Check important Tips & Tricks
?=12

EXAMPLE 5: 64% of (?) + (?)% of 76 = 76.89% of 286 + 73.87% of 147

This is written as:
⇒ How to Solve Approximation Questions? Check important Tips & Tricks  (Cancel 100s)
⇒ 64 (?) + (?)76 = 77 × 286 + 74 × 147 
⇒ 140(?) = 22022 + 10878 
⇒ 140(?) = 32900 
⇒ (?) = How to Solve Approximation Questions? Check important Tips & Tricks 
Hence, (?) = 235

EXAMPLE 6: (√80.997 – √25.001) × (√120.98 + √16.02) = ?

Approximating the values: 
(√81 – √25) × (√121 + √16) = ? 
(9 – 5) × (11 + 4) = ? 
4 × 15 = ? 
? = 60

You can check other quantitative Aptitude study materials here:

S.No

Topics

1

Simplification & Approximation

2

Calculation Short Tricks

3

D.I Basics

4

Number series

5

Quadratic Equation

6

Simple Interest

7

Compound Interest

8

Mixture & Alligation

9

Partnerships

10

Percentages

11

Pipes & Cisterns

12

Age-based problems

13

Profit, Loss & Discount

14

Ratio & Proportion

15

Time, Speed & Distance

16

Time & Work

17

Probability

EXAMPLE 7: (14.99% of 4799.995) How to Solve Approximation Questions? Check important Tips & Tricks ? = (170% of 7.111)2   How to Solve Approximation Questions? Check important Tips & Tricks2 
How to Solve Approximation Questions? Check important Tips & Tricks ? How to Solve Approximation Questions? Check important Tips & Tricks 
How to Solve Approximation Questions? Check important Tips & Tricks ?How to Solve Approximation Questions? Check important Tips & Tricks 5  

EXAMPLE 8: (89)2 + ? % of 560.30 + (14.99)2= 95.45*286   (89)2 + ? % of 560.30 + (14.99)2= 95.45*286 
7921 + 560x/100 + 225= 27170 
560x/100= 27170- 7921-225 
560x/100= 19024 
x= 3397  

EXAMPLE 9: 100/3 % of 768.9 + 25% of 161.2 – 68.12=?   100/3 % of 768.9 + 25% of 161.2 – 68.12=? 
= 100/3 * 1/100 *768 + 40 – 68 
= 256+ 40 -68 
= 228  

EXAMPLE 10: 795.002÷14.998+768.025÷11.985-1273.025÷19.022=x   x=795÷15+768÷12-1273÷19 
x=53+64-67 
x=50
   

Attempt Important Quizzes of Quantitative aptitude: Quantitative Aptitude Quiz

The chapter can be useful for the following exams:

S. No.

Name of the exam

1

SBI Clerk

2

 SBI PO

3

IBPS Clerk

4

IBPS PO

5

 IBPS RRB

6

RBI Assistant

7

 RBI Grade-B

8

 NABARD Grade-A

10

 SBI Apprentice

12

 LIC AAO

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