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Simplification practice questions for bank exams

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

Simplification questions ask for the exact value of an expression that mixes fractions, decimals, percentages, roots and powers. They are the quickest marks in the bank-exam Quant section, because there is no decision to make, only BODMAS and clean arithmetic. Try the five questions below, set at IBPS PO and SBI prelims level, and aim for about 40 seconds each.

What simplification covers

Every question is built from a few blocks. Know each one cold and a long expression turns into three or four easy steps.

• BODMAS order: brackets first, then "of", powers and roots, then division and multiplication from left to right, then addition and subtraction from left to right.
• Fractions and "of": in "3/4 of 640 ÷ 16", the "of" is a multiplication and is done before the division.
• Percentages of a number, such as 12.5% of 96, which is one-eighth of 96.
• Squares up to 30, cubes up to 15 and the roots that come out of them.
• Telescoping sums such as 1/(1×2) + 1/(2×3) + 1/(3×4), where the middle terms cancel.

Five practice questions

Question 1

24.5 × 8 + 156 ÷ 12 − 45 = ?

• A. 154
• B. 172
• C. 164
• D. 184

Question 2

(3/4 of 640) ÷ 16 + 15% of 240 = ?

• A. 66
• B. 56
• C. 72
• D. 78

Question 3

√1296 + ∛2744 − (18² ÷ 12) = ?

• A. 21
• B. 25
• C. 27
• D. 23

Question 4

(18% of 450 + 25% of 360) ÷ (12.5% of 96) = ?

• A. 13.75
• B. 14.25
• C. 14.75
• D. 15.25

Question 5

1/2 + 1/6 + 1/12 + 1/20 + 1/30 = ?

• A. 4/5
• B. 6/7
• C. 5/6
• D. 7/8

Answers and explanations

1. C. 24.5 × 8 = 196, and 156 ÷ 12 = 13. Then 196 + 13 − 45 = 164. Multiplication and division come before addition and subtraction.
2. A. 3/4 of 640 = 480, and 480 ÷ 16 = 30. Also 15% of 240 = 36. So 30 + 36 = 66.
3. D. √1296 = 36 and ∛2744 = 14. The bracket gives 18² = 324, and 324 ÷ 12 = 27. So 36 + 14 − 27 = 23.
4. B. 18% of 450 = 81 and 25% of 360 = 90, so the numerator is 171. The denominator is 12.5% of 96 = 12. Then 171 ÷ 12 = 14.25.
5. C. Write each term as 1/(n × (n + 1)): 1/(1×2) + 1/(2×3) + 1/(3×4) + 1/(4×5) + 1/(5×6). Each term equals 1/n − 1/(n + 1), so the sum collapses to 1 − 1/6 = 5/6.

How to prepare simplification

• Learn the tables once. Squares to 30 and cubes to 15 should be instant. Also recognise larger perfect squares and cubes on sight, such as 1,296 (36²), 1,764 (42²) and 2,744 (14³).
• Split before you multiply. 24.5 × 8 is 24 × 8 + 0.5 × 8 = 192 + 4. You rarely need a pen for a single step, and writing less saves seconds.
• Cancel before you calculate. Reduce fractions and divide out common factors first, so you never carry large numbers into the next step.
• Treat percentages as fractions. 12.5% is 1/8, 25% is 1/4 and 37.5% is 3/8. Questions like Question 4 become one-line divisions.
• Mind the signs. Most wrong answers come from a minus sign in front of a bracket. Write the sign change down.
• Set a pace. The IBPS PO prelims Quant test gives 20 minutes for 35 questions, about 34 seconds each (see the IBPS PO exam pattern). Simplification has to run well under that so the saved time goes to word problems.

Keep an error log with one line per slip, such as "forgot 'of' comes first" or "sign error". Within a week you will see which habit costs you marks. Once exact values feel easy, move to approximation, where you round first.

The full simplification topic test is on PrepMatic: about 15 questions in 30 minutes. The Quantitative Aptitude guide shows where simplification fits in the section, and the bank exam preparation hub has the full plan.

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