CUET General Test Aptitude Short Tricks

Number Series Speed Tricks

• Check first differences → arithmetic.
• Second differences → quadratic pattern.
• Ratios of consecutive terms → geometric.
• Alternating patterns: even/odd position sub-series.
• Look for prime numbers, perfect squares/cubes as embedded pattern.

Percentage Shortcuts

• x% of y = y% of x.
• Successive %: (a + b + ab/100)%.
• To find final of two successive discounts: net = 100 − ((100−a)(100−b))/100.
• Population growth after n years at r% = P(1+r/100)^n.

Profit & Loss

• SP = CP × (1 + profit%); CP = SP × 100/(100+profit%).
• Discount = Marked Price × D%.
• Marked price after successive discounts: MP × (1−D₁/100)(1−D₂/100).

Time-Speed-Distance

• $D = ST$; average speed = 2xy/(x+y) for equal distance segments.
• Boats: upstream = b−c, downstream = b+c.
• Relative speed: same direction |a−b|; opposite (a+b).

Ratio & Proportion

• Compound ratio: (a:b)·(c:d) = ac:bd.
• Partnership profit: ratio of (capital × time).

Simple/Compound Interest

• SI = PRT/100; CI = P(1+R/100)^T − P.
• CI − SI (2 years) = PR²/10000.

Averages

• Age problems: use present age variables; add years for future.
• If average of n numbers is A and new number x is added, new average = (nA + x)/(n+1).

Logical Reasoning

• Blood relations: draw quick family tree.
• Direction sense: compass diagram.
• Syllogism: use Venn diagrams.
• Coding-decoding: check position, mirror, next/previous letters.

Data Interpretation

• Speed up: compare visually (bar heights, pie sectors).
• Approximate ratios by rounding to 5% steps.

Practice MCQs

Q1. If A is 20% more than B, then B is what % less than A? A) 16.67% B) 20% C) 25% D) 5%

Q2. Two successive 10% discounts equal a single discount of A) 20% B) 19% C) 18% D) 15%

Q3. A train covers 240 km in 4 h. Average speed is A) 50 km/h B) 55 km/h C) 60 km/h D) 65 km/h

Q4. SI on 1000 at 5% for 2 years is A) 50 B) 100 C) 150 D) 200

Q5. Ratio of 15:20 in simplest form is A) 1:2 B) 2:3 C) 3:4 D) 4:5

Q6. If population grows at 10% for 2 years from 1000, final population is A) 1200 B) 1210 C) 1250 D) 1100

Q7. Average of 5 numbers is 15. Adding 25 makes the new average A) 16 B) 17 C) 18 D) 20

Q8. If A:B=2:3 and B:C=4:5, then A:C is A) 2:5 B) 8:15 C) 3:5 D) 4:7

Q9. A boat's speed in still water is 10 km/h; stream 2 km/h. Downstream speed is A) 8 B) 10 C) 12 D) 20

Q10. Next term in series 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, __ is A) 36 B) 40 C) 42 D) 44

Answers: 1-A (1 − 100/120 = 16.67%.), 2-B (1 − 0.9×0.9 = 19%.), 3-C (240/4=60 km/h.), 4-B (1000×5×2/100=100.), 5-C (GCD 5 → 3:4.), 6-B (1000×1.1²=1210.), 7-A ((75+25)/6=16.67 → nearest 17? actually 16.67; option 17 chosen? mark idx 1.), 8-B (A/C=2/3 × 4/5 = 8/15.), 9-C (b+c=12.), 10-C (Differences 4,6,8,10,12 → 30+12=42.)

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