Basics of Simplification with Important Questions, Formula, Rules and Concepts for Bank Exams

Simplification generally means finding an answer for the complex calculation that may involve numbers on division, multiplication, square roots, cube roots, plus and minus.

Simplification questions are asked in the Bank and Insurance exam to check the ability of an aspirant to deal with numbers which can be in one of the following two types.

• Sometimes, a calculation is given and one of the numbers is missing from the calculation. To find out the missing number, we have to approximate the given numbers or do the basic operations.
• Sometimes all the numbers are given with some operations between them & we have to simplify the calculation.

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Rules Related to Simplification

Rule-(I) Replace ‘of’ by ‘Multiplication’ & ‘/’ by ‘Division’.

Explanation: Whenever we find ‘of’ in a simplification problem, we can replace that with ‘multiplication(*)’. Similarly ‘/’ can be replaced by ‘÷’.

Example: Find ¼ of 20

Solution: (¼) x 20 = 20÷4 = 5

Rule-(II) Always keep in mind the “BODMAS” rule. These operations have priorities in the same order as mentioned.

Explanation: Whenever we have more than one operation in the given calculation, we have to do the operations according to the priority specified by ‘BODMAS’

• B-Bracket
• O-Of (means multiplication)
• D-Division
• M-Multiplication
• A-Addition
• S-Subtraction

Example: Simplify: (2+3)*30

Solution: In this question, we have two things-Bracket & Multiplication. According to the BODMAS rule, we have to solve the bracket first and not multiplication. So now coming to the bracket, we have only one operation-Addition, so we will do addition.

(2+3)*30 = 5*30

Now we have only one operation to do – Multiplication

5*30 = 150

Example: Simplify: (2+5) of 80

Solution: In this question, we have three things – bracket, addition & of. Replacing ‘of’ by ‘multiplication’.

(2+5) of 30 = (2+5)*80

Now we have three things – bracket, addition & Multiplication. According to the BODMAS rule, we have to solve brackets first and not multiplication. So now coming to the bracket, we have only one operation-Addition, we will do addition.

(2+5)*80 = 7*80

Now we will do multiplication.

7*80 = 560

Rule-(III) Multiplication & Division have the same priority(Do that operation first which is on left)

Explanation: Though division has more priority than multiplication according to ‘BODMAS’, we can perform any two operations first if multiplication is on the left.

Example:  8*30/15

                8*30 ÷ 15

Solution: In this question, we have two things – Multiplication & Division. Multiplication is on the left So we can perform that first.

Doing Multiplication first:

                240 ÷ 15

                16

Dividing first:

                8*2

                16

Rule-(IV) Addition & Subtraction have the same priority.

Explanation: Though addition has more priority than division according to ‘BODMAS’, we can perform any two operations first.

Example:  30+40-15

Solution: In this question, we have two things – Addition & Subtraction. So we can perform any operation first as they have the same priority.

Doing Addition first:

                70 – 15

                55

Doing Subtraction first:

                30 + 25

                55

Rule-(V) Don’t hesitate in rounding the numbers to the nearest integers.

Explanation: Most of the time the numbers are given in such a way that you can round them quickly and get the answer (Rounding should be done or not, It can be realized by looking at the given options).

Example: (324.5*15)/(5.01*24.98)

Solution: (325*15)/(5*25)

   =13*3

   =39

Previous Years Questions Asked in Bank Exams from Simplification

Now let us see some of the previous year questions asked from 'Simplification' & try to apply the rules learnt so far.

Q. 1) (17 -13)⁴ - 17⁴ – 13⁴ – [- 52(17)³ – 68(13³)] = (?)*221

Using formula: (a – b)⁴ = a⁴ – 4a³b + 6a²b² – 4ab³+ b⁴) 
⇒ (a – b)⁴ - a⁴ + 4a³b + 4ab³ - b⁴ = + 6a²b² 
(17 -13)⁴ - 17⁴ – 13⁴ – [- 52(17)³ – 68(13³)] = (?)*221 
Here, a = 17 and b = 13 
⇒ (?)= (6 (17)² (13)²)/221 
⇒ (?) = (6 × 289 × 169)/221 
⇒ (?) = 1326

Q.2) Simplify: 127.001 * 7.998 + 6.05 * 4.001

1. 1000
2. 1020
3. 1040
4. 1080
5. None of these

       Solution: Using the rounding concept

                127 * 8 + 6 * 4

       Using the BODMAS rule

                1016 + 24

                1040 (Option 3)

Q.3) What will come at place of ?: 9876 ÷ 24.96 + 215.005 - ? = 309.99

1. 270
2. 280
3. 290
4. 300
5. 310

       Solution: Using the rounding concept

                 9875 ÷ 25 + 215 - ? = 310

      Using the BODMAS rule

                395 + 215 - ? = 310

                610 - ? = 310

                ? = 300 (Option 4)

Q.4) What will come at place of a: (128 ÷ 16 x a – 7*2)/(7²-8*6+a²) = 1

1. 1
2. 5
3. 9
4. 13
5. 17

    Solution: Using the BODMAS rule

                (8*a – 14)/(49-48+a²) = 1

                (8*a – 14)/(1 + a²) = 1

                8a – 14 = 1 + a²

                a² – 8a + 15 = 0

                a=3 or 5 (Option 2)

Q.5) What will come at place of ?: 85.147 + 34.192*6.2 + ? = 802.293

1. 400
2. 450
3. 550
4. 600
5. 500

    Solution: Using the rounding concept

                85 + 35*6 + ? = 803

    Using the BODMAS rule

                85 + 210 + ? = 803

                295 + ? = 803

                ? = 508 [approx. = 500] (Option 5)

Q.6) What will come at place of ? : (3/8 of 168)*15 ÷ 5 + ? = 549 ÷ 9 + 235

1. 189
2. 107
3. 174
4. 296
5. None of these

Solution: Using the BODMAS rule

                (3*168÷8)*15 ÷ 5 + ? = 549 ÷ 9 + 235

                (504÷8)*3 + ? = 61 + 235

                63*3 + ? = 296

                189 + ? = 296

                ? = 107 (Option 2)

Key Points to Remember while Solving Simplification Question

• Replace ‘of’ by ‘Multiplication’
• Replace ‘/’ by ‘Division’
• Always do the operations in priority according to ‘BODMAS’
• Division & Multiplication have the same priority (Start from left)
• Addition & Subtraction have the same priority
• Rounding can be done to simplify problems
• When the given options are very close then rounding doesn’t help much
• Always look at the options before doing simplification that can help in the elimination of options

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