IBPS SO Quantitative Aptitude (Numerical Ability) Syllabus

Quantitative Aptitude (Numerical Ability) syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Quantitative Aptitude (Numerical Ability) in IBPS SO, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Number System and Simplification

   4 topics

   • Simplification and Approximation (BODMAS)
   • Number Series
     • Missing number series
     • Wrong number series
   • Surds, Indices and Square / Cube Roots
   • HCF, LCM and Factors
2. 2

   Arithmetic

   7 topics

   • Percentage and Ratio-Proportion
   • Profit, Loss and Discount
   • Simple Interest and Compound Interest
   • Time, Speed, Distance and Trains
     • Relative speed and trains
     • Boats and streams
   • Time and Work, Pipes and Cisterns
   • Mixture, Alligation and Partnership
   • Average, Age and Mensuration
3. 3

   Data Interpretation

   4 topics

   • Tabular and Line / Bar Graph DI
   • Pie Chart and Mixed / Caselet DI
   • Missing Data and Quantity Comparison DI
   • Data Sufficiency in Quant
4. 4

   Probability and Combinatorics

   3 topics

   • Permutation and Combination
   • Probability
   • Quadratic Equations and Inequalities

Quantitative Aptitude (Numerical Ability) flashcards for IBPS SO

21 of 50 cards from the Quantitative Aptitude (Numerical Ability) deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. State the BODMAS rule used in simplification.

   Order of operations: Brackets, Of, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction. Within brackets, solve in order ( ) then { } then [ ].

2. In BODMAS, how do you handle 'of' (e.g., 1/2 of 60)?

   'Of' means multiplication and is performed right after brackets, before division and multiplication. 1/2 of 60 = 30.

3. What is the quick approximation technique for simplifying expressions like 19.98% of 449.9?

   Round each number to the nearest convenient value: 20% of 450 = 90. Approximation problems ask for the nearest option, not the exact value.

4. In a number series, how do you identify the pattern type quickly?

   Check differences between consecutive terms (arithmetic), ratios (geometric), then look for squares/cubes, prime patterns, or alternating/double series.

5. What kind of number series is 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ...? Give the rule and next term.

   Differences increase by 2 (4,6,8,10...) i.e. n(n+1): 1·2, 2·3, 3·4... Next term = 42 (6·7).

6. Identify the pattern: 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, ... and 1, 8, 27, 64, ...

   First is perfect squares (n²); second is perfect cubes (n³). Recognizing square/cube series is essential for series questions.

7. What is a surd? Give an example.

   A surd is an irrational root that cannot be simplified to a rational number, e.g., √2, √3, ∛5. √4 is NOT a surd (= 2).

8. State the laws of indices: aᵐ × aⁿ, aᵐ ÷ aⁿ, (aᵐ)ⁿ, a⁰, a⁻ⁿ.

   aᵐ × aⁿ = aᵐ⁺ⁿ; aᵐ ÷ aⁿ = aᵐ⁻ⁿ; (aᵐ)ⁿ = aᵐⁿ; a⁰ = 1; a⁻ⁿ = 1/aⁿ.

9. How do you rationalize the denominator of 1/(√a + √b)?

   Multiply numerator and denominator by the conjugate (√a − √b): result = (√a − √b)/(a − b).

10. Express a fractional index a^(m/n) in radical form.

    a^(m/n) = ⁿ√(aᵐ) = (ⁿ√a)ᵐ, the nth root of a raised to the mth power.

11. How do you find the HCF (GCD) of two numbers?

    Use prime factorization (product of common prime factors at lowest powers) or the Euclidean division/long-division method.

12. How do you find the LCM of two numbers?

    Product of all prime factors at their highest powers; or use LCM = (product of numbers) ÷ HCF.

13. State the relation between HCF, LCM and two numbers a and b.

    HCF(a,b) × LCM(a,b) = a × b.

14. How many factors does a number N = p^a × q^b × r^c (p,q,r prime) have?

    Number of factors = (a+1)(b+1)(c+1).

15. To convert a fraction to a percentage and vice versa, what do you do?

    Fraction to %: multiply by 100. % to fraction: divide by 100. E.g., 3/4 = 75%; 40% = 40/100 = 2/5.

16. If a value increases by x% then decreases by x%, what is the net change?

    Net change is a decrease of x²/100 percent (always a net loss). E.g., +20% then −20% gives −4%.

17. If A:B = 2:3 and B:C = 4:5, find A:B:C.

    Make B common: A:B = 8:12, B:C = 12:15, so A:B:C = 8:12:15.

18. In direct vs inverse proportion, how do quantities relate?

    Direct: both increase/decrease together (a/b constant). Inverse: one increases as the other decreases (a×b constant).

19. State the formulas for profit/loss percentage.

    Profit% = (Profit/CP) × 100; Loss% = (Loss/CP) × 100. Both are computed on Cost Price.

20. Give the formula relating SP, CP and profit/loss percentage.

    SP = CP × (100 + Profit%)/100, or SP = CP × (100 − Loss%)/100.

21. What is discount, and on which price is it calculated?

    Discount is a reduction on the Marked Price (MP). Discount% = (Discount/MP) × 100; SP = MP × (100 − Discount%)/100.

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