ENGINEERING APTITUDE

(QUANTATIVE APTITUDE AND ANALYTICAL ABILITY)

(For ESE & GATE Exam)
(CE, ME, PI, CH, EC, EE, IN, CS, IT)

Salient Features :

• 171 topics under 25 chapters in 5 units

• 531 theoretical examples for comprehensive understanding
• 388 chapterwise solved examples for practice
• 633 Questions segregated chapterwise from last 38 years of UPSC/GATE/ESE
Exams with detailed solutions

Office : F-126, (Lower Basement), Katwaria Sarai, New Delhi-110016 Phone : 011-26522064
Mobile : 8130909220, 9711853908 E-mail: info@iesmasterpublications.com, info@iesmaster.org
Web : iesmasterpublications.com, iesmaster.org
IES MASTER PUBLICATION
F-126, (Lower Basement), Katwaria Sarai, New Delhi-110016
Phone : 011-26522064, Mobile : 8130909220, 9711853908
E-mail : info@iesmasterpublications.com, info@iesmaster.org
Web : iesmasterpublications.com, iesmaster.org

All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2018, by IES MASTER Publications. No part of this booklet may
be reproduced, or distributed in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise or stored in a database or
retrieval system without the prior permission of IES MASTER, New Delhi. Violates
are liable to be legally prosecuted.

First Edition : 2018

Typeset at : IES Master Publication, New Delhi-110016

 PREFACE

Union Public Services Commission (UPSC) in its quest for best engineering minds looks for the very basic pride
of an engineer, which it tests through your quantitative and analytical abilities. The profession itself calls for putting
you in situations, both human and technical, where things are tied into hundred knots. As an engineer you are
expected to think critically, detect systematic themes while analysing data, and achieve thoroughness with accuracy
in deriving solutions under challenging circumstances.

To test these qualities in an ESE aspirant, in the year 2016, UPSC introduced Engineering Aptitude as a part of
the syllabus for common paper of ESE in 2016. With an objective to develop these abilities, IES Master has come
up with this Engineering Aptitude book that brings you face-to-face with thousands of problems under various sub-
heads such as probability, polynomials, speed-time, work-time, clock and calendar, as well as geometry and
measurements that you might encounter as a professional. Covering 171 topics under 25 chapters in 5 units, this
book is an effort by IES Master to expose you to the complete theory of ESE syllabus along with previous years
questions from UPSC (last 38 years), GATE (last 9 years), and ESE (last 2 years).

As you flip through the pages of this book, it captures your imagination with subtleness, and exposes you to more
than 1,200 problems, enough to give your pen the required strength to take on any competitive exams including
ESE, GATE and PSUs.

Under the expert guidance of Mr Kanchan Kumar Thakur (Ex-IES), Mr Puneet Sharma, who has more than 14
years of teaching, has tamed the tornado that will blow you away, with its concept clarity and conciseness. Having
gone through it, we hope that as your fingers follow your command, the brain will engineer solutions no matter how
difficult the challenge is.

IES Master Publication

New Delhi
 CONTENTS

UNIT 1 : QUANTITATIVE REASONING

1.1 Number System .................................................................................................. 01–40
(i) Number Line ..................................................................................................... 01
(ii) Definition of Various Types of Numbers .......................................................... 01
(iii) Various forms of Number Tree ......................................................................... 02
(iv) Concept of Prime and Composite Numbers .................................................... 04
(v) Factorization ...................................................................................................... 06
(vi) Factorial ............................................................................................................ 06
(vii) Factorization of Factorial .................................................................................. 07
(viii) Last Digit Problems .......................................................................................... 09
(ix) Number of Zeros at the End of any Product .................................................. 10
(x) Divisibility Rules ................................................................................................ 11
(xi) Relations between Dividend, Divisor and Quotient ......................................... 13
(xii) Successive Division .......................................................................................... 14
(xiii) Remainder Theorem ......................................................................................... 15
(xiv) LCM and HCF ................................................................................................... 18
(xv) Indices or Powers ............................................................................................. 24
(xvi) Surds ................................................................................................................. 25
(xvii) Simplification ..................................................................................................... 28

Solved Examples ........................................................................................................ 31

Previous Years Questions UPSC/GATE/ESE ............................................................ 34
1.2 Ratio and Proportion ......................................................................................... 41–54
(i) Ratio .................................................................................................................. 41
(ii) Proportion .......................................................................................................... 43
(iii) Partnership ........................................................................................................ 46

Solved Examples ........................................................................................................ 47

Previous Years Questions UPSC/GATE/ESE ............................................................ 48
VI | ENGINEERING APTITUDE GS AND ENGINEERING APTITUDE

1.3 Percentage ........................................................................................................... 55–68

(i) Percentage ........................................................................................................ 55
(ii) Concept of Multiplying Factors ........................................................................ 56
(iii) Successive Percentage Change ...................................................................... 57

Solved Examples ........................................................................................................ 60

Previous Years Questions UPSC/GATE/ESE ............................................................ 61

1.4 Profit and Loss ................................................................................................... 69–82

(i) Profit or Gain .................................................................................................... 69
(ii) Loss ................................................................................................................... 69
(iii) Concept of Multiplying Factor Related to Profit and Loss ............................. 69
(iv) Discount ............................................................................................................ 73
(v) Three Special Cases of Profit and Loss ......................................................... 74

Solved Examples ........................................................................................................ 76

Previous Years Questions UPSC/GATE/ESE ............................................................ 79

1.5 Simple Interest and Compound Interest ......................................................... 83–90

(i) Simple Interest .................................................................................................. 83
(ii) Compound Interest ........................................................................................... 83
(iii) Difference between CI and SI for First Two Years ......................................... 85

Solved Examples ........................................................................................................ 87

Previous Years Questions UPSC/GATE/ESE ............................................................ 89

1.6 Average and Alligation .................................................................................... 91–116

(i) Average ............................................................................................................. 91
(ii) Problems based on Ages ................................................................................. 93
(iii) Weighted Average ............................................................................................ 95
(iv) Alligation ............................................................................................................ 96
(v) Problems based on Mixture of Two Liquids .................................................. 101
(vi) Addition of Pure Solution in a Mixture .......................................................... 102
(vii) Removal and Replacement ............................................................................ 103

Solved Examples ...................................................................................................... 107

Previous Years Questions UPSC/GATE/ESE ...........................................................111
GS AND ENGINEERING APTITUDE CONTENTS | VII

1.7 Time and Work ............................................................................................... 117–134

(i) Concept of Variation ....................................................................................... 117
(ii) Work-Time ....................................................................................................... 119
(iii) Men Days ........................................................................................................ 119
(iv) Types of Questions ......................................................................................... 120

Solved Examples ...................................................................................................... 125

Previous Years Questions UPSC/GATE/ESE .......................................................... 129

1.8 Speed, Distance and Time ............................................................................ 135–162

(i) Speed .............................................................................................................. 135
(ii) Analysis of Speed, Distance and Time Relationship .................................... 136
(iii) Average Speed ............................................................................................... 138
(iv) Relative Speed ................................................................................................ 140
(v) Boats and Streams ......................................................................................... 141
(vi) Linear and Circular Races ............................................................................. 142

Solved Examples ...................................................................................................... 147

Previous Years Questions UPSC/GATE/ESE .......................................................... 152

1.9 Geometry and Mensuration ........................................................................... 163–218

(i) Basic Concepts ............................................................................................... 163
(ii) Polygon ........................................................................................................... 167
(iii) Triangle ........................................................................................................... 170
(iv) Triangle Classification .................................................................................... 171
(v) Similar Triangles ............................................................................................. 177
(vi) Quadrilaterals .................................................................................................. 182
(vii) Perimeter and Areas of Quadrilaterals .......................................................... 184
(viii) Hexagon .......................................................................................................... 186
(ix) Circle ............................................................................................................... 186
(x) Properties of Circle ......................................................................................... 187
(xi) Mensuration ..................................................................................................... 193

Solved Examples ...................................................................................................... 198

Previous Years Questions UPSC/GATE/ESE .......................................................... 206
VIII | ENGINEERING APTITUDE GS AND ENGINEERING APTITUDE

UNIT 2 : ANALYTICAL REASONING

2.1 Ranking Test ................................................................................................... 219–224
(i) Introduction ...................................................................................................... 219

Solved Examples ...................................................................................................... 221

Previous Years Questions UPSC/GATE/ESE .......................................................... 223

2.2 Dices and Cubes ............................................................................................ 225–242

(i) Cubes .............................................................................................................. 225
(ii) Types of Problems .......................................................................................... 225
(iii) Type 1 : Counting of Cubes .......................................................................... 225
(iv) Type 2 : Concept of Dice/Cube with Numbers ............................................. 226
(v) Type 3 : (Unfolded Cube/Dice) ...................................................................... 228
(vi) Type 4 : (Maximum Number of Pieces with ‘x’ Cuts) ................................... 229
(vii) Type 5 : (Minimum Number of Cuts with ‘n’ Pieces) .................................... 230
(viii) Type 6 : (Colouring of Cubes) ....................................................................... 231

Solved Examples ...................................................................................................... 235

Previous Years Questions UPSC/GATE/ESE .......................................................... 239

2.3 Direction Sense .............................................................................................. 243–262

(i) Introduction ...................................................................................................... 243
(ii) Reference Compass ....................................................................................... 243
(iii) Problem Solving Technique ............................................................................ 243
(iv) Types of Problems .......................................................................................... 244
(v) Type I : Shortest Distance Based Questions ................................................ 244
(vi) Type II : Direction Based Questions ............................................................. 247
(vii) Type III : Shadow Based Questions .............................................................. 248
(viii) Type IV : Clocks Based Questions ................................................................ 249
(ix) Type V : Faulty Compass Based Questions ................................................. 250
(x) Type VI : Rotation Based Questions ............................................................. 250

Solved Examples ...................................................................................................... 254

Previous Years Questions UPSC/GATE/ESE .......................................................... 258
GS AND ENGINEERING APTITUDE CONTENTS | IX

2.4 Blood Relationship ......................................................................................... 263–276

(i) Introduction ...................................................................................................... 263
(ii) Symbols Used in Family Diagram ................................................................. 263
(iii) Types of Questions ......................................................................................... 264
(iv) Blood Relation Based on Conversation ......................................................... 264
(v) Blood Relation Based on Puzzle ................................................................... 267
(vi) Coded Blood Relationship .............................................................................. 268
Solved Examples ...................................................................................................... 271
Previous Years Questions UPSC/GATE/ESE .......................................................... 274

2.5 Seating Arrangement ..................................................................................... 277–294

(i) Introduction ...................................................................................................... 277
(ii) Linear Seating Arrangements ......................................................................... 277
(iii) Circular Arrangement ...................................................................................... 281
(iv) Two Row Sitting Arrangements ...................................................................... 283
(v) Complex Arrangements ................................................................................... 285
Solved Examples ...................................................................................................... 287
Previous Years Questions UPSC/GATE/ESE .......................................................... 292

2.6 Coding Decoding ............................................................................................ 295–304

(i) Introduction ...................................................................................................... 295
(ii) Type I : Change in Relative Position of Letters ........................................... 295
(iii) Type II : Shifting of Letters to Form New Word ........................................... 295
(iv) Type III : Coding Letter to Numbers.............................................................. 297
(v) Type IV : Substitution Based Coding ............................................................ 298
(vi) Type V : Mixed Number Coding .................................................................... 298
(vii) Type VI : Mixed Letter Coding ....................................................................... 299
(ix) Type VII : Direct Letter Coding ...................................................................... 300
(x) Type VIII : Mixed Type Coding ...................................................................... 300

Solved Examples ...................................................................................................... 302

Previous Years Questions UPSC/GATE/ESE .......................................................... 304

2.7 Puzzles ............................................................................................................. 305–328

(i) Introduction ...................................................................................................... 305

Solved Examples ...................................................................................................... 311

Previous Years Questions UPSC/GATE/ESE .......................................................... 314
X | ENGINEERING APTITUDE GS AND ENGINEERING APTITUDE

2.8 Clocks .............................................................................................................. 329–340

(i) Clocks .............................................................................................................. 329
(ii) Types of Problems .......................................................................................... 330
(iii) Type 1: Angle Between Two Hands (when time is given) ........................... 330
(iv) Type 2 : Time (when angle between two hands is given) ........................... 330
(v) Type 3 : Slow and Fast Clocks ..................................................................... 332
(vi) Type 4 : Overall Gain or Loss of Time ......................................................... 332
(v) Type 5 : Mirror Based Problems ................................................................... 333
Solved Examples ...................................................................................................... 324
Previous Years Questions UPSC/GATE/ESE .......................................................... 336

2.9 Calendars ........................................................................................................ 341–347

(i) Concepts of Extra Days (or) Odd Days ........................................................ 341
(ii) Important Points .............................................................................................. 341
(iii) Types of Problems .......................................................................................... 342
Solved Examples ...................................................................................................... 345
Previous Years Questions UPSC/GATE/ESE .......................................................... 347

UNIT 3 : CRITICAL REASONING

3.1 Basic Concepts of Syllogism ....................................................................... 348–372
(i) Introduction ...................................................................................................... 348
(ii) Basic Terminology ........................................................................................... 348
(iii) Classification of Propositions ......................................................................... 350
(iv) Elimination Techniques of Venn Diagrams .................................................... 353
(v) Adjectives in Syllogism ................................................................................... 354
(v) Conclusions from Multiple Statements ........................................................... 354
(vi) Types of Conclusions ..................................................................................... 355
(vii) Special Case (The Case of “EITHER ... OR ...”) ......................................... 356
Solved Examples ...................................................................................................... 358
Previous Years Questions UPSC/GATE/ESE .......................................................... 371

3.2 Critical Reasoning .......................................................................................... 373–392

(i) Introduction ...................................................................................................... 373
(ii) Basic Terminology ........................................................................................... 373
(iii) Steps Followed in Critical Reasoning ............................................................ 373
(iv) Types of Questions ......................................................................................... 374
Solved Examples ...................................................................................................... 380
Previous Years Questions UPSC/GATE/ESE .......................................................... 389
GS AND ENGINEERING APTITUDE CONTENTS | XI

UNIT 4 : MODERN MATHS

4.1 Sequences and Series ................................................................................... 393–422
(i) Sequence ........................................................................................................ 393
(ii) Series .............................................................................................................. 393
(iii) Arithmetic Progression (AP) ........................................................................... 393
(iv) Geometric Progression (GP) .......................................................................... 396
(v) Arithmetico–Geometric Progression (AGP) .................................................... 400
(vi) Harmonic Progression (HP) ............................................................................ 401
(vii) Sum of General Series ................................................................................... 402
(viii) Hidden Sequences .......................................................................................... 405
Solved Examples ...................................................................................................... 406
Previous Years Questions UPSC/GATE/ESE .......................................................... 413

4.2 Polynomials ..................................................................................................... 423–458

(i) Introduction ...................................................................................................... 423
(ii) Algebraic Expression and Various Terms ...................................................... 423
(iii) Graph of Elementary Functions ..................................................................... 425
(iv) Linear Equation ............................................................................................... 426
(v) Quadratic Equations ....................................................................................... 428
(vi) Roots of a Polynomial of Higher Degree ...................................................... 432
(vii) Maximum and Minimum Values of a Polynomial ........................................... 434
(ix) Inequalities ...................................................................................................... 435
(x) Quadratic Inequalities ..................................................................................... 437
(xi) Modulus ........................................................................................................... 439
(xii) Logarithms ....................................................................................................... 440
(xiii) Logarithmic Inequalities .................................................................................. 443
Solved Examples ...................................................................................................... 445
Previous Years Questions UPSC/GATE/ESE .......................................................... 450

4.3 Set Theory ....................................................................................................... 459–478

(i) Set ................................................................................................................... 459
(ii) Types of Set ................................................................................................... 459
(iii) Venn Diagrams of Different Sets ................................................................... 461
(iv) Standard Results Based on Venn Diagrams ................................................. 462
(v) Algebraic Laws of Sets .................................................................................. 463
(vi) Concept of maximizing or Minimizing the Intersection and Union ............... 465
Solved Examples ...................................................................................................... 467
Previous Years Questions UPSC/GATE/ESE .......................................................... 470
XII | ENGINEERING APTITUDE GS AND ENGINEERING APTITUDE

4.4 Permutation and Combination ...................................................................... 479–518

(i) Fundamental Principle of Counting ................................................................ 479
(ii) Permutation ..................................................................................................... 480
(iii) Combination .................................................................................................... 482
(iv) Total Number of Combinations ....................................................................... 484
(v) Difference between Permutation and Combination ....................................... 485
(vi) Permutation of Alike Items ............................................................................. 487
(vii) Division of Items into Groups of Different Sizes ........................................... 489
(viii) Division of Different Items into Groups of Equal Size .................................. 489
(ix) Distribution of Different Items......................................................................... 491
(x) Distribution of Identical Items into Groups .................................................... 492
(xi) Circular Permutation ....................................................................................... 494
(xii) Sum of all Numbers formed from given Digits .............................................. 495
(xiii) Rank of a Word .............................................................................................. 496
(xiv) Number of Dearrangements ........................................................................... 498
(xv) If Only Selections or Rejections is to be Considered .................................. 499
(xvi) Formation of Words / Formation of Numbers ............................................... 500

Solved Examples ...................................................................................................... 502

Previous Years Questions UPSC/GATE/ESE .......................................................... 508

UNIT 5 : DATA INTERPRETATION

5.1 Data Interpretation .......................................................................................... 519–562
(i) Introduction ...................................................................................................... 519
(ii) Some Theoretical Concpets ........................................................................... 519
(iii) Tables .............................................................................................................. 520
(iv) Line Graph ...................................................................................................... 524
(v) Bar Graph ....................................................................................................... 527
(v) Pie Charts ....................................................................................................... 536
(vi) Double pie charts ........................................................................................... 543
(vii) Combination of Graphs .................................................................................. 546
Solved Examples ...................................................................................................... 551
Previous Years Questions UPSC/GATE/ESE .......................................................... 555
 1.1 NUMBER SYSTEM

NUMBER LINE
Number line is a line on which all the positive and negative numbers can be represent in a sequence. It stretches from
negative infinity to positive infinity.

– +
–3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3

DEFINITION OF VARIOUS TYPES OF NUMBERS

Natural Numbers
Counting Numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, ..... are called Natural Numbers. The symbolic representation is N, i.e.,
N = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, .....}.

Whole Numbers
All the natural numbers together with ‘0’ are called Whole Numbers and the symbolic representation is W, i.e.,
W = {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, .....}

Integers
An integer is a number that can be written without a fractional component, it is represented by ’Z’.
Integers are further classified into positive integers (2, 4, 5 etc.), zero (0) and negative integers (–2, –5 etc.).

Rational Numbers
p
A number which can be expressed in the form of where, p and q are integers and q  0, is called a rational number..
q
For example : Any integer number is a rational number since, it can be written as the ratio of two integer numbers,
one the integer number itself and another number is 1.
2 3
Other examples of rational number are ,  ,… etc.
3 7
Note : A decimal represents a rational number if and only if it has a finite number of digits. But recurring decimals
are exceptions as they are also assumed as Rational Numbers, i.e., all recurring decimals are rational numbers.

Irrational Numbers
A real number, which is not rational, is called irrational number. An irrational number has non-terminating and non-
recurring decimal part.
Between any two numbers, there are infinite numbers of irrational numbers.
Examples of irrational numbers are : 3, 5, 3 7, 4 11
Numbers  and e are also irrational number because both have non-terminating and non-recurring decimal part.
 = 3.14159265358979… and e = 2.71828182859045… where, e is called Euler’s number.
2 | ENGINEERING APTITUDE GS AND ENGINEERING APTITUDE

Note : Any terminating or recurring decimal is a rational number. Any non-terminating and non-recurring decimal
is an irrational number.

Example 1

Which one of the following is not a rational number?

3 111
(a) (b)  (c) 2 (d) None of these
8 23
Sol. (c)

The number is option (a) and (b) are rational numbers, as they are the ratio of two integers. The number 2 is
non-recurring, so it is not a rational number.

Real Numbers
The real numbers include all the measuring numbers. The symbol for the real number is R. All the numbers which
can be represented on the number line are called real numbers.

Complex Numbers
All the numbers that can be represented in a + ib form where a & b are real numbers and i = 1 are called Complex
Numbers.
C = {a  ib; a, b  R & i2  1}

VARIOUS FORMS OF NUMBER TREE

Form - 1 : Numbers Form - 2 :

Numbers
Real Numbers Complex Numbers

Integers Decimals
Rational Numbers Irrational Numbers

Terminating Non-Terminating
Integers Factions
Recurring
Whole numbers
Non-Recurring
Rational Numbers (Irrational Numbers)

Natural numbers

Form - 3 :
Complex Numbers
Real Number Irrational
Rational Fractions
Integers (–ve Integers)
Whole Number

Natural
Numbers
 GS AND ENGINEERING APTITUDE NUMBER SYSTEM | 3

Example 2

Consider the following statements :

I. Every natural number is a real number. II. Every real number is a rational number.
III. Every integer is a real number. IV. Every rational number is a real number.
Which of the above statements are correct?
(a) I, II and III (b) I, III and IV (c) II and III (d) III and IV

Sol. (b)
From the number tree, given above, all natural numbers are real numbers but its converse is not true. So, statement
(I) is true.
Every real number is not a rational number, some may be irrational numbers. Hence, statement (II) is wrong.
Similarly, from number tree, we can say about statement (III) and (IV) that both the statements are true.

Recurring Decimals
A decimal in which a digit or a set of digits is repeated continuously is called a recurring decimal. For representing
recurring decimal, we place bar on the repeated numbers.
For example : (i) The number 0.247632476324763  can be represented as 0.24763
(ii) and similarly, the number 0.1555  can be represented as 0.15

Example 3

Express the recurring decimal 0.230 in the form of a fraction.

Sol.
The given decimal can be written as 0.230 = 0.230230230… …(i)
As the bar is placed on three digits, so, we will multiply the above equation by 103
0.230  103 = 230.230230… …(ii)
From equation (i) and (ii), we can write
230 230
(103  1) 0.230 = 230 or 0.230 = 3 =
10  1 999

Example 4

The value of 1.34  4.12 is

133 371 219 461
(a) (b) (c) 5 (d) 5
90 90 990 990
Sol. (d)
The decimal 1.34 can be written as 1.34 = 1.343434… …(i)
As the bar is placed on two digits after decimal point, so, we will multiply the above equation by 102

1.34  10 2 = 134.3434… …(ii)

From equation (i) and (ii)
133
(10 2  1) 1.34 = 133 1.34 = 99 
In 4.12 , the bar is place on one digit so it can be written as 4.12 = 4.1222 … …(i)
by multiplying 102 in above equation 4.12  10 2 = 412.222… …(ii)

IES MASTER Publications

34 | ENGINEERING APTITUDE GS AND ENGINEERING APTITUDE

1. Product of 82540027 and 43253 is the chess group meets every fourth day, the yachting
(a) 3570403787831 (b) 3570403787832 group meets every fifth day and the photography
group meets every sixth day. How many times do
(c) 3570403787833 (d) 3570403787834 all the five groups meet on the same day within 180
[UPSC–1985] days?
2. In binary system, 1010 is equivalent to (a) 3 (b) 5
(a) 8 (b) 9 (c) 10 (d) 18 [UPSC–2013]
(c) 10 (d) 11 [UPSC–1986] 9. A gardener has 1000 plants. He wants to plan them
3. If n is an integer between 20 and 80, then any of in such a way that the number of rows and the
the following could be (n + 7) except number of columns remains the same. What is the
minimum number of plants that he needs more for
(a) 47 (b) 58
this purpose?
(c) 84 (d) 88 [UPSC–1988]
(a) 14 (b) 24
4. Zero was invented by
(c) 32 (d) 34 [UPSC–2013]
(a) Aryabhata (b) Varahamihira
10. Three persons start walking together and their steps
(c) Bhaskara I (d) An unknown Indian measure 40 cm, 42 cm and 45 cm respectively.
[UPSC–1995] What is the minimum distance each should walk
so that each can cover the same distance in
5. A person has to completely put each of three liquids:
complete steps?
403 litres of petrol, 465 litres of diesel and 496
litres of mobil oil in bottles of equal size without (a) 25.20 m (b) 50.40 m
mixing any of the above three types of liquids such (c) 75.60 m (d) 100.80 m
that each bottle is completely filled. What is the
least possible number of bottles required? [UPSC–2013]

(a) 34 (b) 44 11. Five persons fire bullets at a target at an interval of

6, 7, 8, 9 and 12 sec. respectively. The number of
(c) 46 (d) None of the above times they would fire the bullets together at the
[UPSC–2007] target in an hour is.
6. Four metal rods of lengths 78 cm, 104 cm, 117cm (a) 6 (b) 7
and 169 cm are to be cut into parts of equal length. (c) 8 (d) 9 [UPSC–2014]
Each part must be as long as possible. What is
the maximum number of pieces that can be cut? 12. The question is followed by two statements I and II.
Mark the answer as
(a) 27 (b) 36
(a) if the question can be answered with the help
(c) 43 (d) 480 [UPSC–2009]
of statement I alone.
7. Three bells toll at intervals of 9, 12 and 15 minutes
(b) if the question can be answered with the help
respectively. All the three begin to toll at 8am. At
of statement II, alone.
what time will they first toll together again?
(c) if both statement I and statement II are needed
(a) 08:45 am (b) 10:30 am
to answer the question.
(c) 11:00 am (d) 01:30 pm
(d) if the question cannot be answered even with
[UPSC–2013] the help of both the statements.
8. There are five hobby clubs in a college viz, If x, y and z are real numbers, is z – x even or odd?
photography, yachting, chess, electronics and
(I) xyz is odd.
gardening. The gardening group meets every second
day, the electronics group meets every third day, (II) xy + yz + zx is even. [UPSC–2014]
 GS AND ENGINEERING APTITUDE NUMBER SYSTEM | 37

ANSWER KEY
1. (a) 7. (c) 13. (b) 19. (d) 25. (d) 31. (d)

2. (c) 8. (a) 14. (c) 20. (c) 26. (a) 32. (b)

3. (d) 9. (b) 15. (d) 21. (c) 27. (d) 33. (d)

4. (d) 10. (a) 16. (b) 22. (7) 28. (b) 34. (b)

5. (b) 11. (b) 17. (c) 23. (a) 29. (b) 35. (c)

6. (b) 12. (a) 18. (d) 24. (c) 30. (b)

EXPLANATIONS
1. (a)  The required number of pieces
In this problem, we will see only last digits. These  78 104 117 169 
are 7 and 3 respectively. Hence, last digit of the =     
 13 13 13 13 
product of two numbers will be 1. Hence, option (a) = (6 + 8 + 9 + 13) = 36
is correct.
7. (c)
2. (c)
The time direction after which each bell toll
(1001)2 =1 × 23 + 0 × 22 + 0 × 21 + 1 × 20 = 9
= LCM of (9, 12 and 15 min.)
3. (d)
= 180 min. = 3 hrs
Given, 20 < n < 80 So, 20 + 7 < (n + 7) < 80 + 7
 If all the three begin to toll at 8:00 AM then the
or, 27 < (n + 7) < 87. next toll together again = 8 + 3 = 11:00 AM
Hence, option (d) is not possible. 8. (a)
4. (d) The number of days after which all the five groups
It is not clear whether Brahm Gupta or Aryabhata meet same day
was the inventor of zero. = LCM of (2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 days) = 60 days
So, option (d).
 The number of times all the groups meet on the
5. (b) 180
same day within 180 days = = 3 times
The size of bottle required to be filled 60
= HCF of (403, 465 and 1496 litres) 9. (b)
= 31 litres As the number of columns and rows are same
so, the number of plants will be a perfect square
The minimum possible number of bottles required
(i.e. n2).
403 465 496
=   = 13 + 15 + 16 = 44 The perfect square just greater than 1000 is 1024
31 31 31
so, the number of plants needed
6. (b)
= 1024 – 1000
The maximum equal size of each piece = HCF of
(78 cm, 104 cm, 117 cm and 169 cm) = 24 plants

By factorisation method, HCF can be found as below 10. (a)

The required distance = LCM of (40 cm, 42 cm and
78 = 2 × 3 × 13
45 cm).
104 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 13
By factorisation method, the LCM can be found as
117 = 3 × 3 × 13 below.
169 = 13 × 13 40 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 5
HCF = 13 cm 42 = 2 × 3 × 7
IES MASTER Publications