Formula sheet

We’ve put together a list of key functions you can expect to have tested as you
complete numerical reasoning tests. We’ve started with the most common ones and
move towards some of less common ones you could encounter later in the module.

Calculating the mean (average)

𝑆𝑢𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑠
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 =
𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑠

Percentages
Working out a percentage:
𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
%=( ) 𝑥 100
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙

For example, if we had two products, Product A with yearly revenue of £3,000 and
Product B with yearly revenue £10,000 we’d work out the percentage of total
revenue that Product A was responsible for by the following formula:

3,000
𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡 𝐴 = ( ) × 100 = 23%
13,000

Working out a percentage increase

𝑁𝑒𝑤 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 = (1 + 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒) × (𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡)

Working out percentage decrease

𝑁𝑒𝑤 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 = (1 + 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒) × (𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡)

For example, if I have a coat that cost £20 and was discounted by 15%, how much
does the coat cost?

𝑁𝑒𝑤 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 = (1 − 0.15) × (20) = £17

Percentage change
When you’re given a new value and the original value, this is how you work out the
percentage change.

Percentage increase
𝑁𝑒𝑤 𝑎𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 − 𝑂𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡
( ) × 100
𝑂𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙

Percentage decrease
𝑂𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 − 𝑁𝑒𝑤 𝑎𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡
( ) × 100
𝑂𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙

If a coat cost £20 and a week later was offered at £17, what would be the
percentage discount of the coat?

20 − 17
( ) × 100 = 15%
20

Reversed percentages
If you’ve been given the new value following a percentage increase or decrease,
this is how you work out the original value.

Percentage increase:
𝑁𝑒𝑤 𝑎𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡
𝑂𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 = ( )
1 + 𝐼𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒

Percentage decrease
𝑁𝑒𝑤 𝑎𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡
𝑂𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 = ( )
1 − 𝐷𝑒𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒

If a coat cost £24 after a 20% increase, how much did it cost before?
24
𝑂𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 = ( ) = £20
1 + 0.20
Percentage change over multiple years = [(Start / Finish)^(time period) - 1] x 100%

Ratios
Used to express the relative size of two or more values.

a:b:c is a given ratio

N is the total number of items

The number of a =
𝑎
( )×𝑁
𝑎+𝑏+𝑐

For instance, if I have a product that is produced in batches of 90 in three separate

colours Red, Green and Blue with ratios of 2:3:1, how many blue products are in a
single batch?

1
( ) × 90 = 15
2+3+1