IBPS PO Quantitative Aptitude: Mathematics for Finance questions with solutions

Q1. What should come in place of the question mark '?' in the following number series? 50, 51, 55, ?, 80, 105

1. I
2. 47
3. 22
4. 64

Answer: 64

The series follows the pattern of adding consecutive squares: 50 + 1 = 51, 51 + 4 = 55, 55 + 9 = 64, 64 + 16 = 80, and 80 + 25 = 105. So the missing term is 64.

Q2. What will come in place of the question mark (?) in the following question? 20% of (28 × 40) - \(\sqrt{?}\) = 156 × 30 ÷ 26

1. 144
2. 784
3. 1296
4. 1936

Answer: 1936

Compute 20% of (28 × 40) = 20% of 1120 = 224. Also, 156 × 30 ÷ 26 = 180. So 224 - \(\sqrt{?}\) = 180, giving \(\sqrt{?} = 44\). Therefore, ? = 44² = 1936.

Q3. The age difference between Aditya and his mother is 20 years. After 5 years, his mother’s age will be twice Aditya’s age at that time. Find Aditya’s present age.

1. 12 years
2. 15 years
3. 10 years
4. 20 years

Answer: 15 years

Let Aditya’s present age be x years, so his mother’s age is x + 20. After 5 years, their ages will be x + 5 and x + 25. Given that the mother’s age then is twice Aditya’s age: x + 25 = 2(x + 5), which gives x = 15.

Q4. Solve the given quadratic equations and mark the correct option. I. $(3x - 2)^2 = 16$ II. $y^2 + 7y + 12 = 0$

1. x < y
2. x = y or no relation can be established between x and y.
3. x > y
4. x \le y

Answer: x > y

From $(3x-2)^2=16$, we get $3x-2=\pm 4$, so $x=2$ or $x=-\frac{2}{3}$. From $y^2+7y+12=0$, we get $(y+3)(y+4)=0$, so $y=-3$ or $y=-4$. In all possible cases, x is greater than y.