Numerical Ability (Basic Operations and Word Problems)

Topics covered:
1. Divisibility Rules
2. Multiples and Factors
3. Prime Factorization
4. Least Common Multiple
5. Greatest Common Multiple
6. Integers
7. PEMDAS
8. Decimals
9. Fractions
10. Operations on Fractions
11. Fractions as part of a whole
12. Percent
13. Percent increase and decrease
14. Finding the old value and new value
15. Combined percent increase and decrease
16. Interest
17. Ratio and proportions
18. Averages
19. Tables, Charts, and Graphs
20. Linear equations
21. Solving Mathematical expressions
22. Writing Mathematical expressions
23. Word problem techniques
24. Number problem
25. Odd, even, and consecutive integers
26. Age problems
27. Work problems
28. Motion problems
29. Geometry problems

Notes:

1. Divisibility Rules
A number is
If
divisible by
2 The last digit is even
3 The sum of the digits is divisible by 3
4 The last 2 digits is divisible by 4
5 The last digit is 5 or 0
6 The number is divisible by both 2 and 3
8 The last 3 digits is divisible by 8
9 The sum of the digits is divisible by 9
10 The last digit is 0

2. Multiple and factors

▪ Factor – There is no reminder when divided. Product of two number which is less than or
equal to the given number.
▪ Multiples – The given number is multiplied by integers 1,2,3…
Ex: 10*1, 10*2, 10 * 3, and so on
3. Prime factorization
- Prime numbers whose factors are 1 and itself for example: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23 (Not
all odd numbers are prime numbers, 2 is the only even prime number)
- 0 and 1 are not prime or composite
 - Composite numbers – with more than two factors. Example: 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18
- Sample: Find the prime factor of 24
24
6 x 4
2x3 2x2 Therefore: Prime factors of 24 is 3 x 23

4. Least common multiples

The least common multiples of two numbers are the smallest number that is a multiple of both.
Ex: 12 = 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72…
15 = 15, 30, 45, 60, 75
Get through prime factorization
Ex: 12 = 2 x 2 x 3
15 = 5 x 3
= 2 x 2 x 3 x 5 = 60

5. Greatest common multiples

The GCF is the largest possible divisor of given numbers.
*Divisor: 3 12

6. Integers
Operations on integers
▪ Addition/Subtraction
[-] + [-] = [-] .. [+] + [+] = [+]
[-] + [+] = The number with a greater value will be the basis of what sign to use.
▪ Multiplication/Division
[-] + [-] = [-] .. [+] + [+] = [+] .. [-] + [+] = [-]
▪ String of numbers
Ex: 6 + 3 – 4 – 7 + 4 – 11 + 12 =?
6 + 3 + 4 + 12 = 15 add all positive
-4 – 7 – 11 = -22 add all negative numbers but put negative sign to the sum
15 – 22 = -7

7. PEMDAS
Parenthesis > Exponent > Multiplication & Division > Addition & Subtraction
Ex: 3(-3+5)2+4x2–6÷3
Solve 1st operations in P: 3(2)2+4x2-6÷3
E: 3(4) +4x2-6÷3
M&D: 12+8-2
A&S: 18 The answer is 18
8. Decimals
▪ When adding or subtracting, align the decimal point then solve.
Ex: 102.3
+ 1.76
104.06
▪ Multiplication – multiply as a whole then move the decimal places.
Ex: 5.6
2.3
168
112_
12.88
▪ Division 15.
Ex: 0.25 3.75 then 25 375.
25
125
125
0

9. Fractions
▪ Fraction to Decimal 0.8
Ex: 4/5 5 4.0 The answer is 0.8
40
0
▪ Decimal to Fraction
Ex: 2.3 2.3 x 10 = 23 = 2 3/10
1 10 10
*In case of bigger numbers, reduce first. If even divide by 2 until it becomes small, then divide.

▪ Mixed Number to Improper fraction

4 2 = 22
5 5

▪ Improper fraction to Mixed number

22 = 4 2 Solution: 4
5 5 5 22
20
2
▪ Comparing fractions
20 21
5 3 The answer is 20<21
7 4
▪ Reducing fractions
- Divide the numerator and denominator by the GCF. If the last number of two is
divisible by 2 then divide until it gets small.

10. Operations on fractions

▪ Addition/Subtraction
Similar fraction: 1 + 2 = 3 5–2=3
7 7 7 8 8 8
Dissimilar fraction:
Ex no. 1: 2 + 1 = 4(2) + 3(1) = 11
3 4 3(4) 12
Ex no. 2: 2 + 1 + 1 = 2(5x4) +1(4x4) +1(5x4) =76 then reduce 19
4 5 4 4(5x4) 80 20
 Adding mixed number and a fraction:
Similar: 2 3 + 1 5 = 3 8 (when the numerator is greater than the denominator, divide)
7 7 7
Solution: 1 = 1 1 then add 3 + 1 1 = 4 1
78 7 7 7
7
1
Adding mixed number with dissimilar fraction:
Ex: 3 7 + 2 3 = 5 4(7) + 10(3) = 5 58 (divide) = 5+1 18 = 6 9
10 4 10(4) 40 40 20

Subtracting similar, dissimilar, mixed number with a fraction and mixed number with dissimilar
fractions are just the same with addition of fractions, the difference is that it is only subtraction.

▪ Multiplication/Division
Ex no. 1: 2 x 3 = 6
7 5 35
Ex no. 2: reducing before multiplying
4x7=2x1=2
6 21 3 3 9
Ex no. 3: 1 5 x 9 3 = 1 x 3 = 3
7
21 25 5 7 5 35
Ex no. 4: 2 1 x 3 1 = convert 1st to improper fraction
3 2
7 x 7 = 49 = 8 1
3 2 6 6
Division:
3 ÷ 2 = 3 x 5 = 15 or 1 7
4 5 4 2 8 8
Dividing mixed numbers
4 2 ÷ 2 1 = convert to improper = 22 x 2 = 44 or 1 19
5 2 5 5 25 25

11. Fractions as part of a whole

Translation: is/are: =
of : x
What: N
Ex: What is ¼ of 100?
Solution: N = 1 x 100 N = 100 N = 25
4 4
Ex no.2: 25 is ¼ of what number?
Solution: 25 = 1 x N 4 x 25 = N therefore N = 100
4
Ex no. 3: What part of 100 is 25?
Solution: N x 100 = 25 N = 25 or 1
100 4

12. Percent
▪ Percent to Decimal = (move decimal point twice to left)
Ex: 3.75% = 0.0375
0.25% = 0.0025
325% = 3.25
420.35% = 4.2035
 ▪ Solving for the percentage
Ex: What is 25% of 50
Solution 2: N = 0.25 x 50 (always convert 1st percent to decimal)
N = 12.5
Ex no. 2: 12.5 is 25% of what number?
12.5 = 0.25 x N N = 12.5 N = 50
0.25
Ex no. 3: What percent of 50 is 12.5?
N x 50 = 12.5 N = 12.5 N = 0.25 or 25%
50

13. Percent increase and decrease

▪ For increase: % = new value – old value for decrease: % = old value – new value
old value old value
Note: always divide by old value

Ex: Old value: 12; new value: 18

P = 18 – 12 = 6 = 0.5 or 50%
12 12

Ex no. 2: Liza bought a shirt originally sold at P500 for only P400. What was the percent of
decrease?
P = 500 – 400 = 100 = 4 (reduced) = 0.20 or 20%
500 500 20

14. Finding the old value and the new value

▪ Finding the old value

Old value + (% increase) (old value) = new value
Old value – (% decrease) (old value) = new value
Ex:
After a 20% increase, the population was 48,000. What was the population before the
increase?

Solution: OV + (0.20) (OV) = 48,000

1.20 OV = 48,000
OV = 48,000
1.20
OV = 40,000

▪ Finding the new value

Ex: Increase 60 by 20% Decrease 60 by 20%
Solution: 60 + (0.20) (60) = N 60 – (0.20) (60) = N
60 + 12 = N 60 – 12 = N
N = 72 N = 48

15. Combined percent increase and decrease

Ex: Last month, a store manager decided to decrease the prices of all items by 20%. This month he
increased the prices by 10%. What would be the price for a pair of shoes that had cost P750 before
the prices were decreased last month?
Solution: Original Price: P750 750 – (0.20) (750) = N 600 + (0.10) (600) = N
Decrease: 20% 750 – 150 = N 600 + 60 = N
Increase: 10% 600 = N 660 = N

▪ Discount, Commission and Mark-up

Original price (OP)
 Discount (D) – amount deducted. D = OP - SP
Selling price (SP) – amount after discount. SP = OP - D
Rate of Discount = discount ÷ Original price x 100%
Ex: A bag is being sold at Php 390. IF its original price is P600, find the rate of discount.
Solution: D = 600 – 390 Rate of Discount = 210 (reduce) x 100
D = 210 600
= 7 x 100
20
= 0.35 x 100 (or just move the point to the
right twice then put %)
Rate of discount = 35%

16. Interest
Interest is the amount paid for the use of money.
Principal is the money that is borrowed.
Time is the number of days, months, or years which the money is being borrowed and interest is
calculated

Interest = Principal x rate x time Rate = Interest / Principal x time

Ex: Thomas earned $65.25 simple interest for one year on investment of $900. What annual rate of
interest was paid?
Solution: solve for the rate: R = 65.25 R = 65.25 R = 0.0725 x 100 (or move point to right twice)
900(1) 900 R = 7.25%

17. Ratio and proportion

▪ Ratio
Ex: In a class of 40 students, there are 25 boys and 15 girls. What is the ratio of boys to
girls? Girls to children? Boys to children?

Boys to Girls = 25: 15 or 5: 3 (reduced)

Girls to Children = 15: 40 or 3: 8
Boys to Children = 25: 40 or 5: 8

▪ Proportion
Proportion says that two ratios (or fractions) are equal.
- 3 types of proportion
Direct proportion - when one increase, the other also increases.
Ex: If someone can drive 174kms in 3hrs, how far can he go in 5hrs?

174: 3 = N: 5
174 (5) = 3 N
870 = 3 N
870 = N
3
290 = N

Inverse Proportion – when one increase, the other decreases.

Ex: If 4 men can finish a job in 6 hours, how many hours will it take 12 men to
finish the same job?

4: 6 = 12: N
4(6) = 12 N
24 = 12 N
24 = N
12
2=N
 Partitive proportion – one quantity is partitioned into different proportions.
Ex: A wood 120 cm is cut in the ratio 2:3:5. Find the measures of each part.

2x + 3x + 5x = 120 2x = 2(12) = 24
10x = 120 3x = 3(12) = 36
x = 120 5x = 5(12) = 60
10
x = 12 Therefore the measure of each part is 24cm, 36cm,
and 60cm.

18. Averages
Formula for solving average: Ex: Find the average time it takes joey to travel from
home to work.

Average = Sum of terms Time it took Joey to travel (in minutes): 15, 22, 27,
Total number of terms 14, 19, 19, 15, 16, 19, 18, 17, 20, 12, 15

Ave. = 15+22+27+14+19+19+15+16+19+18+17+20+12+13
14
= 246
14
Ave. = 17.57 minutes

Finding the missing number

Ex: Find the missing term: 50, 60, 75, 70, x (ave.71)
71 = 50+60+75+70+x
5
5(71) = 255+x
355 = 225+x
355 -225 = x
100 = x (The missing term I s 100)

19. Tables, Charts and Graphs

▪ Bar Graph
▪ Pictograph
▪ Histogram
▪ Pie Graph
▪ Line Graph
▪ Table

20. Linear Equations

Constant - symbol does not change its value. 1, 4/5, 0.35, ℼ.
Variable - symbol/letter used to represent one or more numbers.
Algebraic expression – a mathematical phrase that uses coefficients, unknown variables, algebraic
operations, and constants. However, an expression cannot have an equal sign.

Find the value of the algebraic expression 3x + 5.

a. When x = 2 b. When x = 0
3(2) + 5 3(0) + 5
6+5 =5
=11
21. Solving Mathematical Expression
Ex 1: 2x + 5 = 10 Ex 2: x=2
2x = 10 – 5 5
2x = 5 x = 2(5)
x=5 x = 10
2
x = 2.5

22. Writing Mathematical Expression

▪ Addition
English Term Phrase Algebraic Expression
Plus 4 plus x 4+x
More than 4 more than x 4+x
Increased by 4 increased by x 4+x
sum The sum of 4 and x 4+x
addition 4 and x when added 4+x

▪ Subtraction
English Term Phrase Algebraic Expression
Minus 4 minus x 4-x
Less than 4 less than x x-4
Subtracted from 4 subtracted from x x-4
Decreased by 4 decreased by x 4-x
Reduced by 4 reduced by x 4-x
Difference The difference of 4 and x 4-x
Subtract Subtract 4 and x 4-x
Less 4 less x 4-x
Diminished by 4 diminished by x 4-x
Note: When translating using less than and subtracted from, the first term mentioned is
written after the subtraction sign and the last term is written before the subtraction
sign. Ex. 5 less than H = H – 5 (same with subtracted from)

▪ Multiplication
English Term Phrase Algebraic Expression
Times 4 times x 4x
Product The product of 4 and x 4x
of 4 of x 4x

▪ Division
English Term Phrase Algebraic Expression Equal
Divided by 4 divided by x 4/x Is/are
Quotient The quotient of 4 and x 4/x Was/were
per 4 per x 4/x Will be
Equals
Algebraic Expression Results
The number X (or any alphabet)
Twice the number 2x
4 less than the number x–4
4 less than twice the number 2x - 4
4 less than twice the number is 10 2x – 4 = 10
4 less than twice the number is 10 2x – 4 = 10 + x
increased by the number
Three is five more than a number 3=5+x
The product of four times a number 4x = 12
is 12
One half a number is 6 x/2 = 6
3 times the sum of the number and 4 3 (x + 4)
23. Word Problem Techniques
Read the problem thoroughly
Represent the unknown thru a variable
Relate the variables to each other and the given values in the problem
Equate using facts in the problem
Solve the equation
Prove and check the answer

24. Number Problems

Ex: One number is 17 less than another. Their sum is 65. What are the numbers?

Represent: x = the larger x – 17 = 65

x -17 = the smaller 41 – 17 = 24
x + (x -17) = 65
2x – 17 = 65 Therefore the numbers are 41 & 24
2x = 65 + 17 Prove: 41+24 = 65
2x = 82
x = 82
2
x = 41

25. Odd, even, and consecutive integers

We represent consecutive integers by:
1st number: x
2nd number: x + 1
3rd number: x + 2

Consecutive odd/even integers by:

1st number: x
2nd number: x + 2
3rd number: x + 4

Ex: The sum of four consecutive integers is 34. Find the integers.
Solution: x + (x+1) + (x+2) + (x+3) = 34 x+1 = 7+1 = 8
4x + 6 = 34 x+2 = 7+2 = 9
4x = 34 – 6 x+3 = 7+3 = 10
4x = 28
x = 28/4 Therefore, the integers are 7,8,9, and 10.
x=7

Ex 2: Find the three consecutive even integers whose sum is 48.

Solution: x + (x+2) + (x+4) = 48 x + 2 = 14+2 = 16
3x +6 = 48 x + 4 = 14+4 = 18
3x = 48 – 6
3x = 42
x = 42/3
x = 14 Therefore, the integers are 14, 16, and 18.
26. Age Problem
Ex: Tom is 5 years older than Jerry today. The sum of their ages two years ago is 35. What are
their present ages?

2yrs. ago Present

Tom J+5-2 J+5
Jerry J-2 J

(J + 5 – 2) + (J – 2) = 35 Tom’s age at present: 17 + 5 = 22

2J = 35 -5 +2 +2 Jerry’s age at present: 17
2J = 34
J = 34/2
J = 17

Ex 2: Kristoff is twice as old as Theo. Ten years from now the sum of their ages will be 50. How old
is each boy?

Present 10yrs from now

Kristoff 2T 2T + 10
Theo T T + 10

(2T + 10) + (T+10) = 50 Kristoff = 2(10) = 20

3T + 20 = 50 Theo = 10
3T = 50 – 20
3T = 30
T = 30/3
T = 10

27. Work Problems

Ex: Inna can clean the living room in 1 hour. Don can clean the same living room in 2 hours. If they
were to help each other, how long would it take them to clean the same living room?

1 x 2 = 2 = 0.66 hrs.
1+2 3

Ex 2: It takes Jonathan 12 hours to make a report on photosynthesis. When Bert helped Jonathan,
it took them only 4 hours. How long it will take Bert to make a report on Photosynthesis alone?

12 x 4 = 48 = 6 hrs.
12 – 4 8

Ex 3: It takes 20 minutes for both Nonita and Nene to water the plants in their front yard. If Nonita
was to perform the task alone, it would take her 60 minutes. How long would it take Nene to
perform the task alone?

60 x 20 = 1200 = 30 hrs.
60 – 20 40

Ex 4: Brownie can dig a 2m hole in 3 hrs. Blackie can dig a hole with the same depth in 5 hours.
Whitie can do the same job in only 2 hrs. How long will it take if all three of them dig a 2m hole
together?

1 + 1 + 1 = 10+6+15 = 31 reciprocal: 30 = 0.97 hrs.

3 5 2 30 30 31
 Ex 5: Juliet can harvest 500 corns in 7 hours. Romel can harvest the same amount of corn in 11
hours. If will was to do the same task, it would take him 9 hours. If all three of them were to help
each other out in doing the same task, how long will it take them to do so?

1 + 1 + 1 = 99+63+77 = 239 reciprocal: 693 = 2.89 or 2.9 hrs.

7 11 9 693 693 239

28. Motion problem

Distance = speed x time

Ex: Alden and Maine arrange to meet somewhere between their homes. Their homes are 117 km
apart. If they both leave at the same time, with Alden traveling at 40 kph and Maine travelling at 25
kph, in how many hours will it take them to meet?

40t + 25t = 117

85t = 117
T = 117/85
T = 1.8 or 1 and 48 hrs.

Ex 2: Two jeepneys start at the same point and travel in opposite directions. If one jeepney travels
at 40mi/h and the other travels at 50mi/h, in how many hours will the jeepneys be 450mi apart?

40t + 50t = 450

90t = 450
t = 450/90
t = 5 hrs.

29. Geometry problems

Perimeter - is the distance around the object

Area - a measure of how much space there is on a flat surface

• Circle
Circumference =2πr
Radius = C
2π
Diameter = 2r
Area = πr2

• Triangle
Perimeter = s1 + s2 + s3
Area = ½ bh

• Rectangle
Perimeter = 2l + 2w
Area = l x w

• Square
Perimeter = 4s
Area = s2

Ex: The length of a rectangular field is 5m less than 3 times its width. If the perimeter of the field is
54 m, find the length and the width of the field.

Length = 3w – 5
Perimeter = 54
54 = 2(3w-5) + 2(w) solve for length = 3w - 5
54 = 6w – 10 + 2w = 3(8) - 5
54 + 10 = 8w = 24 - 5
64 = 8w l = 19
64/8 = w
8=w Therefore, the length of the field is 19m and the width is 8m.