Government of Tamilnadu

Department of Employment and Training

Course : Railway Recruitment Board

Subject : Reasoning

Topic : Problem Solving

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 PROBLEM SOLVING

In this type of test, artificial signs are allotted to the original signs like +,-,* and / in the
questions. The questions involving these operations are set using artificial symbols.It is required
to substitute the real signs and solve the questions accordingly.

1) Problem solving by substitution:

In this, you are given substitutes for various mathematical symbols or numerals followed
by question involving calculation of an expression or choosing the correct/incorrect equation.
The candidate is required to put in real signs or numerals in the given equation and then solve the
questions as required.

BODMAS rule:

While solving the equation, the following order should be followed.

B → Brackets first (parentheses)

O → Of (orders i.e. Powers and Square Roots, Cube Roots, etc.)

DM → Division and Multiplication (start from left to right)

AS → Addition and Subtraction (start from left to right)

2) Interchanging of signs and numbers:

Examples:

If the given interchanges namely: signs + and ÷ and numbers 2 and 4 are made in signs
and numbers, which one of the following four equations would be correct?

a) 2 + 4 ÷ 3 = 3 b) 4 + 2 ÷ 6 =1.5 c) 4÷2+3=4 d) 2+4÷6=8

Solution:

Interchanging ( + and ÷ ) and (2 and 4), we get:

a) 4÷2+3=3 or 5 = 3, which is false

b) 2 ÷ 4 +6=1.5 or 6.5=1.5 which is false

 c) 2 + 4 ÷ 3= 4 or 10/3=4 which is false

d) 4 ÷ 2 + 6 =8 or 8 = 8, which is true

Hence the answer is (d)

3) Derive the appropriate conclusion:

In this type of questions,certain relationship between different sets of elements is given

(in terms of less than,greater than or equal to using either the real symbols or substituted
symbols.It is required to replace the symbols and find whether the given expression is true or not.

Example:

If A + B > C + D and B + C > A + D, then it is definite that

a)D>B b)C>D c) A>D d)B > D

Answer:

Given :

A + B > C + D ……..(i)

B + C > A + D …….(ii)

Adding (i) and (ii),

(A + B) + (B+C) > (C + D) + (A+D)

=A + 2B + C > C + 2D + A

=2B > 2D

=B>D

Hence the answer is (d)

Example.1. If + stands for ‘division’, × stands for ‘addition’, – stands for ‘multiplication’
and ÷ stands for subtraction, then which of the following equations is correct?
(a) 36 × 6 + 7 ÷ 2 – 6 = 20

(b) 36 + 6 – 3 × 5 ÷ 3 = 24.

(c) 36 ÷ 6 + 3 × 5 – 3 = 45.

(d) 36 -6 + 3 × 5 ÷ 3 = 74.

Ans. d
Solution
36 – 6 + 3 × 5 ÷ 3

→ 36 × 6 ÷ 3 + 5 – 3.

→ 36 × 2 + 5 – 3 = 74.

→ 72 + 5 – 3 = 74.

Example. If P denotes ‘+’, Q denotes ‘–‘, R denotes ‘×’ and S denotes ‘‚’, then which of the
following statement is correct ?
(a) 16 R 12 P 49 S 7 Q 9 = 200

(b) 32 S 8 R 9 = 160 Q 12 R 12

(c) 8 R 8 P 8 S 8 Q 8 = 57

(d) 36 R 4 S 8 Q 7 P 4 = 10

Ans. c
Solution
=8×8+8÷8–8

= 8 × 8 + (8/8) – 8

= 64 +1 – 8 = 57.