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Approximation practice questions for bank exams

By the PrepMatic team · Updated 9 Oct 2026 · 3 min read

In an approximation question you do not need the exact value. You round every number to something friendly, calculate quickly and pick the option nearest to your answer. Exact arithmetic on 49.98% of 799.9 is slow, while 50% of 800 takes a second, which is why bank-exam Quant sections reward this skill. The five questions below are at prelims level; the symbol ≈ means "closest option".

Approximation versus simplification

The two look alike on the page but are solved in opposite ways. For the exact-value version, see simplification.

Fractions to memorise

Rounding works best when you can swap a percentage for a fraction without thinking.

Five practice questions

Question 1

49.98% of 799.9 + 15.02 × 11.97 ≈ ?

• A. 560
• B. 580
• C. 600
• D. 620

Question 2

2394 ÷ 18.98 + (14.99)² ≈ ?

• A. 331
• B. 341
• C. 351
• D. 361

Question 3

√2024.9 × 3.98 − 25.1% of 79.9 ≈ ?

• A. 160
• B. 170
• C. 180
• D. 190

Question 4

(11.98)² − (8.01)² + 45.02% of 299.8 ≈ ?

• A. 185
• B. 195
• C. 205
• D. 215

Question 5

1/3 of 1799 + 24.97% of 1204 − 12.02 × 19.98 ≈ ?

• A. 650
• B. 660
• C. 670
• D. 680

Answers and explanations

1. B. Round to 50% of 800 = 400 and 15 × 12 = 180. The total is 580. The exact value is 579.58.
2. C. 2394 is divisible by 19 (19 × 126), so 18.98 becomes 19 and the division gives 126. Also 14.99² ≈ 15² = 225. The total is 351. The exact value is 350.83.
3. A. √2025 = 45, so √2024.9 ≈ 45. Then 45 × 4 = 180. Also 25.1% of 79.9 ≈ 25% of 80 = 20. The answer is 180 − 20 = 160. The exact value is 159.04.
4. D. 12² = 144 and 8² = 64, so the difference is 80. Also 45% of 300 = 135. The total is 215. The exact value is 214.33.
5. B. 1/3 of 1800 = 600, and 25% of 1200 = 300. Also 12 × 20 = 240. The total is 600 + 300 − 240 = 660. The exact value is 660.15.

How to prepare approximation

• Round to make the next step easy, not to the nearest ten. In Question 2, 18.98 became 19 because 2394 divides by 19. Look at the other number before you round.
• Round one number up and the next down. Errors then cancel instead of piling up in one direction.
• Read the options before you round. If they are 10 or more apart, round hard. If they are 2 or 3 apart, keep one decimal place.
• Know squares to 30 and common roots, so that √2024.9 is 45 at a glance.
• Use the fraction table rather than multiplying by 0.375 or 0.1667.
• Do not chase the exact value. If your answer is close to one option and far from the rest, mark it and move on.

Aim for about 25 to 30 seconds a question. The IBPS PO prelims Quant test allows 20 minutes for 35 questions (see the IBPS PO exam pattern), so the faster you clear approximation sets, the more time remains for data interpretation and word problems.

The full approximation topic test is on PrepMatic (about 15 questions in 30 minutes). For the wider picture, read the Quantitative Aptitude guide or return to the bank exam preparation hub.

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