Basics of Rules related to Simplification

Basics of Simplification

Hello readers,
As we all know that simplification is most widely asked topic in almost every banking exam. So let us try to understand what is actually meant by word ‘Simplification’.
Simplification means to find out a final answer for a complex calculation.
Simplification questions are asked to check the ability of a student 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.

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 by ‘multiplication(*)’. Similiarly ‘/’ 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 bracket first and not multiplication. So now coming to 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 bracket first and not multiplication. So now coming to 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 same priority(Do that operation first which is on left)
Explanation: Though division has more priority than multiplication according to ‘BODMAS’ but we can perform any of the two operations first if mutiplication is on left.
Example:  8*30/15
                8*30 ÷ 15
Solution: In this question, we have two things – Multiplication & Division. Multiplication is on left So we can perform that first.
Doing Multiplication first:
                240 ÷ 15
                16
Doing division first:
                8*2
                16
Rule-(IV) Addition & Subtraction have same priority.
Explanation: Though addition has more priority than division according to ‘BODMAS’ but we can perform any of the 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 same priority.
Doing Addition first:
                70 – 15
                55
Doing Subtraction first:
                30 + 25
                55
Rule-(V) Don’t hesitate in rounding the numbers to nearest integers.
Explanation: Most of the times 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 realised by looking at the given options).
Example: (324.5*15)/(5.01*24.98)
Solution: (325*15)/(5*25)
   =13*3
   =39

Some previous year questions asked in banking 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) 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.2) 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.3) 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.4) 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.5) 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 related to Simplification:

• Replace ‘of’ by ‘Multiplication’.
• Replace ‘/’ by ‘Division’.
• Always do the operations in priority according to ‘BODMAS’.
• Division & Multiplication have same priority (Start from left).
• Addition & Subtraction have 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 elimination of options.