10 arithmetic questions
Question 1: A sum of money, when invested at a certain rate of simple interest, doubles itself in
8 years. In how many years will it become four times itself at the same rate of simple interest?
Solution:
● Step 1: Understand Simple Interest. Simple Interest (SI) = (P × R × T) / 100, where P
= Principal, R = Rate, T = Time.
● Step 2: Calculate the Rate (R).
○ If the sum doubles, the interest earned (SI) is equal to the Principal (P). So, SI =
P.
○ P = (P × R × 8) / 100
○ 1 = (R × 8) / 100
○ 8R = 100
○ R = 100 / 8 = 12.5% per annum.
● Step 3: Calculate Time (T) for the sum to become four times.
○ If the sum becomes four times, the interest earned (SI) is 3 times the Principal
(P). So, SI = 3P.
○ 3P = (P × 12.5 × T) / 100
○ 3 = (12.5 × T) / 100
○ 300 = 12.5T
○ T = 300 / 12.5
○ T = 3000 / 125 (Multiply numerator and denominator by 10 to remove decimal)
○ T = (25 × 120) / 125 = 120 / 5 = 24 years.
● Final Answer: It will become four times itself in 24 years.
Question 2: A train travelling at a certain speed crosses a stationary pole in 10 seconds and a
platform 150 meters long in 25 seconds. What is the length of the train?
Solution:
● Step 1: Define variables and formulas.
○ Let the length of the train be L meters.
○ Let the speed of the train be S meters/second.
○ Time = Distance / Speed, or Distance = Speed × Time.
● Step 2: Formulate equation for crossing a pole.
○ When a train crosses a pole, the distance covered is its own length.
○ L = S × 10 (Equation 1)
● Step 3: Formulate equation for crossing a platform.
○ When a train crosses a platform, the distance covered is the sum of its own
length and the platform's length.
○ (L + 150) = S × 25 (Equation 2)
● Step 4: Solve the system of equations.
○ From Equation 1, S = L / 10.
○ Substitute S into Equation 2: (L + 150) = (L / 10) × 25 (L + 150) = 2.5L
● Step 5: Isolate L.
○ 150 = 2.5L - L
○ 150 = 1.5L
○ L = 150 / 1.5
○ L = 1500 / 15 (Multiply numerator and denominator by 10)
○ L = 100 meters.
● Final Answer: The length of the train is 100 meters.
Question 3: A and B can do a piece of work in 10 days. B and C can do it in 12 days. C and A
can do it in 15 days. In how many days can A, B, and C together complete the work?
Solution:
● Step 1: Calculate the one-day work rate for each pair.
○ (A + B)'s 1 day's work = 1/10
○ (B + C)'s 1 day's work = 1/12
○ (C + A)'s 1 day's work = 1/15
● Step 2: Add the one-day work rates of the pairs.
○ (A + B) + (B + C) + (C + A)'s 1 day's work = 1/10 + 1/12 + 1/15
○ 2(A + B + C)'s 1 day's work = (6 + 5 + 4) / 60 (LCM of 10, 12, 15 is 60)
○ 2(A + B + C)'s 1 day's work = 15 / 60 = 1/4
● Step 3: Calculate the one-day work rate for A, B, and C together.
○ (A + B + C)'s 1 day's work = (1/4) / 2 = 1/8
● Step 4: Determine the total days to complete the work.
○ If they complete 1/8 of the work in one day, they will complete the whole work in 8
days.
● Final Answer: A, B, and C together can complete the work in 8 days.
Question 4: A mixture of milk and water contains 80% milk. If 20 liters of water are added to the
mixture, the percentage of milk in the new mixture becomes 60%. What was the original
quantity of the mixture?
Solution:
● Step 1: Define variables.
○ Let the original quantity of the mixture be X liters.
○ Original quantity of milk = 0.80X liters
○ Original quantity of water = 0.20X liters
● Step 2: Formulate quantities after adding water.
○ New quantity of mixture = X + 20 liters
○ Quantity of milk remains the same = 0.80X liters
○ New quantity of water = 0.20X + 20 liters
● Step 3: Set up the equation based on the new milk percentage.
○ (Quantity of milk / New quantity of mixture) × 100 = 60
○ (0.80X / (X + 20)) × 100 = 60
● Step 4: Solve for X.
○ 80X / (X + 20) = 60
○ 80X = 60(X + 20)
○ 80X = 60X + 1200
○ 80X - 60X = 1200
○ 20X = 1200
○ X = 1200 / 20
○ X = 60 liters.
● Final Answer: The original quantity of the mixture was 60 liters.
Question 5: The average age of a class of 20 students and their teacher is 15 years. If the
teacher's age is excluded, the average age of the students becomes 14 years. What is the age
of the teacher?
Solution:
● Step 1: Calculate the total age of students and teacher.
○ Total number of people = 20 students + 1 teacher = 21
○ Total age = Average age × Number of people
○ Total age (students + teacher) = 15 years × 21 = 315 years.
● Step 2: Calculate the total age of students only.
○ Number of students = 20
○ Total age (students only) = Average age × Number of students
○ Total age (students only) = 14 years × 20 = 280 years.
● Step 3: Find the teacher's age.
○ Teacher's age = (Total age of students + teacher) - (Total age of students only)
○ Teacher's age = 315 - 280 = 35 years.
● Final Answer: The age of the teacher is 35 years.
Question 6: A shopkeeper marked the price of an article 40% above its cost price. He then sold
it after giving a discount of 25%. If he earned a profit of ₹140, what was the cost price of the
article?
Solution:
● Step 1: Define variables.
○ Let the Cost Price (CP) be 'x'.
● Step 2: Calculate the Marked Price (MP).
○ MP = CP + 40% of CP = x + 0.40x = 1.40x
● Step 3: Calculate the Selling Price (SP).
○ Discount = 25% of MP = 0.25 × (1.40x) = 0.35x
○ SP = MP - Discount = 1.40x - 0.35x = 1.05x
● Step 4: Use the profit information to form an equation.
○ Profit = SP - CP
○ ₹140 = 1.05x - x
○ ₹140 = 0.05x
● Step 5: Solve for x (Cost Price).
○ x = 140 / 0.05
○ x = 14000 / 5 (Multiply numerator and denominator by 100 to remove decimal)
○ x = ₹2800.
● Final Answer: The cost price of the article was ₹2800.
Question 7: The ratio of the speeds of two trains is 7:8. If the second train runs 480 km in 4
hours, what is the speed of the first train?
Solution:
○ Step 1: Calculate the speed of the second train.
■ Speed = Distance / Time
■ Speed of second train = 480 km / 4 hours = 120 km/hr.
○ Step 2: Use the ratio of speeds.
■ Let the speed of the first train be S1 and the speed of the second train be
S2.
■ S1 : S2 = 7 : 8
■ S1 / S2 = 7 / 8
○ Step 3: Substitute the known speed and solve for S1.
■ S1 / 120 = 7 / 8
■ S1 = (7 / 8) × 120
■ S1 = 7 × (120 / 8)
■ S1 = 7 × 15
■ S1 = 105 km/hr.
● Final Answer: The speed of the first train is 105 km/hr.
Question 8: A sum of money is to be distributed among P, Q, and R in the ratio 3:4:8. If the total
share of P and Q together is ₹4400 less than the share of R, what is the total amount of money?
Solution:
○ Step 1: Represent shares using a common multiplier.
■ Let the shares of P, Q, and R be 3x, 4x, and 8x respectively.
○ Step 2: Formulate the equation based on the given condition.
■ Share of R - (Share of P + Share of Q) = ₹4400
■ 8x - (3x + 4x) = 4400
■ 8x - 7x = 4400
■ x = 4400
● Step 3: Calculate the total amount of money.
○ Total amount = Share of P + Share of Q + Share of R
○ Total amount = 3x + 4x + 8x = 15x
○ Total amount = 15 × 4400
○ Total amount = 15 × 44 × 100 = 660 × 100 = ₹66000.
● Final Answer: The total amount of money is ₹66000.
Question 9: A certain amount of money is distributed among A, B, and C such that A gets 3/16
of the total, and B gets 1/4 of the total. If C gets ₹810, what is the total amount of money?
Solution:
● Step 1: Find the combined share of A and B.
○ Combined share = A's share + B's share = 3/16 + 1/4
○ To add fractions, find a common denominator (LCM of 16 and 4 is 16).
○ Combined share = 3/16 + (1 × 4) / (4 × 4) = 3/16 + 4/16 = 7/16 of the total.
● Step 2: Find the share of C as a fraction of the total.
○ Total share = 1 (or 16/16)
○ C's share = Total share - Combined share of A and B
○ C's share = 1 - 7/16 = 16/16 - 7/16 = 9/16 of the total.
● Step 3: Use C's share in rupees to find the total amount.
○ If 9/16 of the total amount is ₹810, let the total amount be T.
○ (9/16) × T = 810
○ T = 810 × (16 / 9)
○ T = (810 / 9) × 16
○ T = 90 × 16
○ T = 1440.
● Final Answer: The total amount of money is ₹1440.
Question 10: A man walks at 5 km/hr for a certain distance and cycles at 10 km/hr for twice the
distance. If the total time taken for the journey is 12 hours, what is the total distance covered?
Solution:
○ Step 1: Define distances and times.
■ Let the distance walked be 'd' km.
■ Time taken walking (T1) = d / 5 hours.
■ Distance cycled = 2d km.
■ Time taken cycling (T2) = 2d / 10 = d / 5 hours.
● Step 2: Formulate the equation for total time.
○ Total time = T1 + T2
○ 12 = (d / 5) + (d / 5)
● Step 3: Solve for 'd'.
○ 12 = 2d / 5
○ 60 = 2d
○ d = 30 km.
● Step 4: Calculate the total distance covered.
○ Total distance = Distance walked + Distance cycled
○ Total distance = d + 2d = 3d
○ Total distance = 3 × 30 = 90 km.
● Final Answer (Final Revised Question 10): The total distance covered is 90 km.