FAST-NUCES Entry Test 2026

Basic Mathematics — Complete Study Guide

Formulas · Tricks · Traps · 50 Solved Practice MCQs

20 MCQs | No Calculator | Negative Marking −0.25
How to Use This Guide
• Read each topic's formulas once, then focus on the Quick Tricks — they save 20-30 seconds per question.
• Work every example mentally before checking the solution.
• Attempt all 50 practice MCQs at the end, timed at ~50 seconds each.
• Revise the Master Formula Sheet the night before your test.

1. Number System
Key Definitions
Prime numbers up to 100: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43, 47, 53, 59, 61, 67, 71, 73, 79, 83, 89, 97
• HCF (GCD): largest number dividing all given numbers
• LCM: smallest number divisible by all given numbers
• Relation: HCF × LCM = Product of two numbers (for two numbers only)

Divisibility Rules
Divisible by Rule

2 Last digit even

3 Sum of digits divisible by 3

4 Last 2 digits divisible by 4

5 Ends in 0 or 5

6 Divisible by both 2 and 3

8 Last 3 digits divisible by 8

9 Sum of digits divisible by 9

11 (Sum at odd places) − (Sum at even places) divisible by 11

Quick Tricks
• Use Euclid's method for HCF: divide larger by smaller, remainder becomes new divisor, repeat till remainder = 0.
• LCM = (Product of numbers) ÷ HCF, for two numbers.
• Memorize squares 1²–30² and cubes 1³–15³ (see Master Sheet).

Example
Find HCF and LCM of 18 and 24.
24 = 18×1 + 6 → 18 = 6×3 + 0 → HCF = 6. LCM = (18×24)/6 = 72
2. Fractions & Decimals
Key Formulas
• Compare fractions by cross-multiplying: a/b vs c/d → compare a×d vs b×c
• Recurring decimal to fraction: 0.333... = 3/9 = 1/3; 0.272727... = 27/99

Quick Tricks
• Memorize common fraction–decimal–percentage conversions (Master Sheet) — questions often disguise percentages as
fractions.
• Convert everything to the same base (all fractions or all decimals) before combining operations.

Example
Which is bigger: 5/7 or 7/10? → 5×10=50, 7×7=49 → 50>49 → 5/7 is bigger

3. Percentages (Highest-Weightage Topic)

Key Formulas
• Percentage = (Part/Whole) × 100
• Increase by x%: multiply by (1 + x/100). Decrease by x%: multiply by (1 − x/100)
• If A is x% more than B: B is [x/(100+x)]×100% less than A
• If A is x% less than B: B is [x/(100−x)]×100% more than A
• Successive % change a% and b%: net change = a + b + (ab/100)

Quick Tricks
• 10% trick: move decimal one place left, then scale — 5% = half of 10%, 20% = double 10%, 1% = 10%÷10, 25% =
quarter.
• Simplify the fraction before multiplying by 100 in 'x is what % of y' questions.
• Never add successive percentage changes directly — always use the net-change formula.

Example
Price increased 20%, then decreased 10%. Net change = 20 − 10 + (20×−10)/100 = 20−10−2 = +8%

4. Ratio & Proportion

• a:b = c:d ⇒ ad = bc (cross multiplication)
• Componendo-dividendo: if a/b = c/d, then (a+b)/(a−b) = (c+d)/(c−d)
• Dividing N in ratio a:b:c → shares = N·a/(a+b+c), N·b/(a+b+c), N·c/(a+b+c)
• Direct proportion: x/y = constant. Inverse proportion: x·y = constant

Quick Tricks
• Simplify ratios to lowest terms immediately.
• Combine two ratios (a:b, b:c → a:b:c) by equalizing the common term.
Example
Divide Rs. 1200 in ratio 2:3:5 → total parts=10 → shares = 240, 360, 600

5. Averages
• Average = Sum of terms / Number of terms
• Sum = Average × Number of terms
• Average speed (equal distances): 2xy/(x+y) — NOT the simple average
• New average after adding a value = (Old Sum + New Value)/(n+1)
• Weighted average = (w₁x₁+w₂x₂+...)/(w₁+w₂+...)

Quick Trick
• If a value is replaced and average changes by d: change in sum = n × d — solve instantly without recomputing.

Example
Car travels 40 km/h one way, 60 km/h back. Average speed = 2×40×60/100 = 48 km/h (not 50!)

6. Profit, Loss & Discount

• Profit = SP−CP; Loss = CP−SP
• Profit% = (Profit/CP)×100; Loss% = (Loss/CP)×100
• SP = CP×(1+Profit%/100) or CP×(1−Loss%/100)
• Discount% = (MP−SP)/MP × 100; SP = MP×(1−Discount%/100)
• Successive discounts a%,b%: net discount = a+b−(ab/100)

Quick Trick
• CP is the base for profit/loss %; MP is the base for discount % — mixing these up is the #1 mistake.

Example
MP=Rs.1000, successive discounts 10% & 20%: net = 10+20−2=28% → SP = 1000×0.72 = Rs. 720

7. Simple & Compound Interest

• SI = (P×R×T)/100; Amount = P + SI
• CI: A = P(1+R/100)^T; CI = A−P
• For 2 years: CI − SI = P×(R/100)²

Quick Trick
• For small integer rates & T=2 or 3, expand (1+R/100)^T manually — faster than logs without a calculator.

Example
P=1000, R=10%, T=2 yrs compound: A=1000×1.21=1210 → CI = Rs. 210
8. Time, Speed & Distance
• Speed = Distance/Time
• km/h → m/s: ×5/18. m/s → km/h: ×18/5
• Relative speed: same direction = S₁−S₂; opposite direction = S₁+S₂
• Time to cross (opposite directions) = (L₁+L₂)/(S₁+S₂)
• Boats: Downstream = Boat+Current; Upstream = Boat−Current
• Boat speed (still water) = (Down+Up)/2; Current speed = (Down−Up)/2

Quick Trick
• Always convert both speeds to the same unit system before calculating.

Example
Trains 100m & 150m move toward each other at 20 & 30 m/s. Time = 250/50 = 5 sec

9. Time & Work

• A's 1-day work = 1/a (if A finishes in 'a' days)
• Combined 1-day work = 1/a + 1/b; Time together = ab/(a+b)
• Efficiency ratio → time taken is in inverse ratio
• Pipes & cisterns: inlet = positive rate, outlet = negative rate; net rate = sum of rates

Quick Trick
• Assume total work = LCM of given days — converts fractions into whole numbers for fast mental math.

Example
A finishes in 10 days, B in 15. LCM=30 units → A=3/day, B=2/day → together = 30/5 = 6 days

10. Basic Algebra

• (a+b)² = a²+2ab+b²; (a−b)² = a²−2ab+b²
• a²−b² = (a+b)(a−b)
• (a+b)³ = a³+3a²b+3ab²+b³
• a³+b³=(a+b)(a²−ab+b²); a³−b³=(a−b)(a²+ab+b²)
• Quadratic formula: x = [−b ± √(b²−4ac)] / 2a

Quick Trick
• Most Basic-Math algebra is 2-variable linear systems, not quadratics — set up two equations and solve directly.

Example
Sum of two numbers=25, difference=5 → x+y=25, x−y=5 → x=15, y=10
11. Mensuration (Area, Perimeter, Volume)
2-D Shapes
Shape Area Perimeter

Square side² 4×side

Rectangle l×w 2(l+w)

Triangle ½×base×height sum of sides

Circle πr² 2πr

Parallelogram base×height 2(a+b)

Trapezium ½×(a+b)×h sum of sides

3-D Shapes
Shape Volume Surface Area

Cube side³ 6×side²

Cuboid l×w×h 2(lw+wh+hl)

Cylinder πr²h 2πr(h+r)

Sphere (4/3)πr³ 4πr²

Cone (1/3)πr²h πr(r+l)

Quick Tricks
• Use π≈22/7 when radius is a multiple of 7; use 3.14 otherwise.
• Memorize Pythagorean triples: (3,4,5), (5,12,13), (8,15,17), (7,24,25).

Example
Right triangle legs 6, 8 → Area = ½×6×8 = 24 (hypotenuse=10)

12. Basic Probability & Sets

Probability
• P(Event) = Favorable outcomes / Total outcomes
• P(A or B) = P(A)+P(B)−P(A and B); P(not A) = 1−P(A)
• Independent events: P(A and B) = P(A)×P(B)

Sets
• n(A∪B) = n(A)+n(B)−n(A∩B)
• n(A∪B∪C) = n(A)+n(B)+n(C)−n(A∩B)−n(B∩C)−n(A∩C)+n(A∩B∩C)
Example
Class of 50: 30 play cricket, 20 football, 10 both. Neither? → n(C∪F)=40 → Neither = 10

13. Mixtures & Alligation

• Rule: (Qty cheaper)/(Qty dearer) = (CP dearer − Mean)/(Mean − CP cheaper)

Quick Trick
• Draw the alligation cross: cheaper & dearer prices on left, mean in middle, diagonal differences give the ratio.

Example
Tea at Rs.60/kg & Rs.80/kg mixed to get Rs.65/kg. Ratio = (80−65):(65−60) = 15:5 = 3:1

14. Clocks & Calendars

• Angle at H:M = |(30×H) − (11/2)×M| degrees
• Minute hand gains 5.5° per minute over hour hand
• Hands overlap every 65 5/11 minutes
• Odd days: ordinary year=1, leap year=2. 0=Sun,1=Mon,2=Tue,3=Wed,4=Thu,5=Fri,6=Sat

Example
Angle at 4:20 → |120−110| = 10°

15. Basic Statistics

• Mean = Sum of values / Number of values
• Median = middle value when sorted (average of two middle values if even count)
• Mode = most frequent value; Range = Max−Min

Example
Data 3,7,7,9,12 → Mean=7.6, Median=7, Mode=7

16. Number Series & Patterns

• Arithmetic: constant difference (2,5,8,11...)
• Geometric: constant ratio (3,6,12,24...)
• Hidden squares/cubes (1,4,9,16... or 1,8,27,64...)
• Alternating operations (+2,×2,+2,×2...)
• Second-order differences (2,3,5,8,12 → diffs 1,2,3,4)

Quick Trick
• Compute first differences, then second differences if needed — reveals the pattern fast.
Master Formula Sheet — Memorize Cold
Squares
11²=121, 12²=144, 13²=169, 14²=196, 15²=225, 16²=256, 17²=289, 18²=324, 19²=361, 20²=400, 21²=441, 22²=484, 23²=529,
24²=576, 25²=625, 30²=900

Cubes
1³=1, 2³=8, 3³=27, 4³=64, 5³=125, 6³=216, 7³=343, 8³=512, 9³=729, 10³=1000, 12³=1728, 15³=3375

Fraction ↔ Percentage
1/2=50%, 1/3=33.3%, 1/4=25%, 1/5=20%, 1/6=16.67%, 1/7=14.28%, 1/8=12.5%, 1/9=11.1%, 1/10=10%, 1/11=9.09%,
1/12=8.33%, 1/20=5%

Unit Conversions
1 km/h = 5/18 m/s | 1 m/s = 18/5 km/h

Golden Rules
• CP → base for profit/loss; MP → base for discount
• Successive % change: a + b + ab/100 (use correct sign for decrease)
• Average speed (equal distance) ≠ simple average — use 2xy/(x+y)
• Ratio problems: always simplify to lowest terms first
• Time & Work: use the LCM method, not fractions

Exam-Day Strategy for Basic Math

• Attempt all 20 — this section is generally easier/faster than Advanced Math, so skipped questions are wasted
opportunity.
• Speed target: ~45–60 seconds per question. If a question exceeds 90 seconds, mark and move on.
• Do easy topics first (percentages, averages, ratios) before harder ones (probability, algebra), if navigation allows.
• Estimate before calculating exactly — eliminate options with rough estimation, save real math for 1–2 close options.
• Practice mental math daily for at least 2 weeks before the test — this section rewards speed over depth.
50 Practice MCQs — Fully Solved
Distributed by topic weight. Attempt without a calculator, timed at ~50 sec/question. Solutions are shown after the arrow
(→).

Percentages (Q1–7)
1. 40% of a number is 68. What is the number? → 68/0.4 = 170
2. A price is increased by 25% then decreased by 20%. Net change? → 25−20−(25×20/100) = 0% (no change)
3. If 15% of A = 20% of B, then A:B = ? → 15A=20B → A:B = 4:3
4. In an exam, 70% of 300 students passed. How many failed? → 30%×300 = 90
5. A number decreased by 10% becomes 180. Original number? → 180/0.9 = 200
6. What percent of 3/4 is 1/2? → (1/2)/(3/4)×100 = 66.67%
7. Salary increased from 20,000 to 25,000. % increase? → 5000/20000×100 = 25%

Ratio, Proportion & Averages (Q8–15)

8. Divide 900 in ratio 4:5. Larger share? → 900×5/9 = 500
9. If a:b=3:4 and b:c=8:9, find a:b:c. → make b=32 → 24:32:36 = 6:8:9
10. Average of 5 numbers is 20. Excluding one, average becomes 18. Excluded number? → Sum=100, new sum=72 →
excluded=28
11. Average age of 30 students is 12. Including teacher, average becomes 12.5. Teacher's age? → 31×12.5−30×12 = 27.5
12. Two numbers in ratio 5:6, sum=121. Smaller number? → 121×5/11 = 55
13. Average speed for 100 km at 50 km/h and 100 km at 25 km/h? → 2×50×25/75 = 33.33 km/h
14. A,B,C share Rs.2400 in ratio 2:3:5. B's share? → 2400×3/10 = 720
15. Average of first 20 natural numbers? → (20×21/2)/20 = 10.5

Profit, Loss, Discount & Interest (Q16–24)

16. CP=Rs.500, SP=Rs.575. Profit %? → 75/500×100 = 15%
17. Item marked Rs.2000 sold at 10% discount. SP? → 2000×0.9 = 1800
18. Successive discounts 20% & 10% on Rs.5000. Final price? → 5000×0.8×0.9 = 3600
19. SI on Rs.8000 at 5% for 3 years? → 8000×5×3/100 = 1200
20. CI on Rs.10,000 at 10% for 2 years? → 10000×1.21−10000 = 1210
21. A man loses 20% selling for Rs.800. CP? → 800/0.8 = 1000
22. Marked 40% above CP, 25% discount given. Profit%? → 1.4×0.75=1.05 → 5%
23. Difference between CI & SI on Rs.5000, 2 yrs at 8%? → 5000×(8/100)² = 32
24. A sum doubles in 8 years at SI. Find rate. → SI=P → P=P×R×8/100 → R=12.5%

Time, Speed, Distance & Work (Q25–34)

25. Convert 90 km/h to m/s. → 90×5/18 = 25 m/s
26. A car covers 180 km in 3 hours. Speed in m/s? → 60 km/h × 5/18 = 16.67 m/s
27. Trains 120m & 180m move opposite at 25 m/s & 15 m/s. Time to cross? → 300/40 = 7.5 sec
28. Boat's downstream speed 20 km/h, upstream 12 km/h. Current speed? → (20−12)/2 = 4 km/h
29. A does a job in 12 days, B in 18. Together, time taken? → LCM=36 → A=3/day,B=2/day → 36/5=7.2 days
30. 6 men build a wall in 10 days. Days for 15 men? → 6×10=15×d → d=4 days
31. A is twice as efficient as B. B takes 20 days. A alone? → 10 days
32. Pipe fills tank in 6 hrs, another empties in 10 hrs. Both open, fill time? → 1/6−1/10=1/15 → 15 hrs
33. A man walks 5 km in 1 hour. Time for 12.5 km? → 2.5 hours
34. 36 km/h equals how many m/s? → 36×5/18 = 10 m/s

Algebra, Number System & Mensuration (Q35–44)

35. Find HCF of 36 and 60. → 12
36. Find LCM of 12 and 18. → 36
37. Sum of two numbers is 40, difference is 10. Larger number? → (40+10)/2 = 25
38. Solve: 3x + 5 = 20 → x = 5
39. If x²−5x+6=0, find roots. → (x−2)(x−3)=0 → x=2 or 3
40. Area of a rectangle with length 12 and width 7. → 84
41. Area of a circle with radius 7 (π=22/7). → 22/7×49 = 154
42. Volume of a cube with side 5. → 125
43. Right triangle legs 9 and 12. Hypotenuse? → 3-4-5 pattern ×3 → 15
44. Simplify: (a+b)² − (a−b)² → = 4ab

Probability, Sets, Mixtures & Series (Q45–50)

45. A die is rolled once. P(number greater than 4)? → {5,6}/6 = 1/3
46. Class of 60: 25 like tea, 30 coffee, 10 both. How many like neither? → 25+30−10=45 → 60−45=15
47. Mix liquids at Rs.40/L & Rs.60/L to get Rs.50/L. Ratio? → (60−50):(50−40)=1:1
48. Find next term: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ? → differences 4,6,8,10,12 → 42
49. Mean of 4, 8, 6, 10, 12? → 40/5 = 8
50. Two coins tossed. P(at least one head)? → 1 − 1/4 = 3/4

Good luck! This guide covers every Basic Math topic FAST tests, with formulas, tricks, and 50 solved practice questions.
Redo these until each takes under a minute, and combine with daily mixed-topic drills for the strongest realistic shot at
20/20.