CHAPTER – 5
APPROXIMATIONS
‘Approximate calculation’ is one of the approaches to
arrive at the answer to a question much faster. With the
help of approximate calculations, one can save a lot of
time and this can be utilized in other questions.
In most cases in various exams, the approach towards
a question depends on the answer choices. From the
answer choices, one should decide which method to
follow – actual calculations or approximate calculations.
In most exams, for solving questions based on
simplifications, data interpretation, ratios, percentages,
etc., the use of approximations is very handy.
Approximation in any calculation depends on the degree
of accuracy required. The closer the given answer
choices, the greater the need for closer approximation.
Ex.1: For which of the following values is the increase
the highest
a. 3164 to 4072
b. 2422 to 3218
c. 4234 to 5866
d. 1876 to 2761
In order to solve the above question, if we calculate
accurately, we will get 4072 – 3164 = 908; 3218 – 2422
= 796; 5866 – 5234 = 632; 2761 – 1876 = 885.
If we try approximate calculations,
Rounded off to
4072 4100
Rounded off to
3164 3200
Here the subtraction is very simple.
4100 – 3200 = 900.
During the process of rounding off, if the last two digits
are 50 or greater than 50, then the figure must be
rounded off to the next higher hundred. Otherwise, it
should be rounded off to the next lower hundred. Thus,
3164 would be rounded off to 3200, while 4072 would be
rounded off to 4100. In fact, in such calculations, even
the hundreds (i.e., the last two zeroes) need not be
considered since the two zeroes are present in every
number. This means that the above calculation would be
further simplified by mentally treating it as 41 – 32 = 9.
Other calculations can be done in a similar manner.
In case of multiplications like 389 x 1456, suppose the
answer choices are given as below:
(A) 564322 (B) 565400 (C) 566384 (D) 572356
We can go for 390 x 1450 which is 565500 whereas the
actual answer here is 566384. This is far from the actual
answer. Instead, we could have paid attention to the units
digit of the product. Among the choices, only one choice ends
with 4, hence without actually calculating, we can say that
choice (C) is the answer.
Suppose the answer choices are closer, like
(A) 565424 (B) 566644 (C) 566384 (D) 572354
then the above approximation will not be useful. Then
the approach should be 1455 x 389 which gives us
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565995. Hence the answer should be very close to
565995 but should be more than that which is 566384.
Ex.2: Calculate 37.22 % of 1384
The actual calculation takes around 45 to 75 seconds,
depending on the speed of the person.
Suppose the answer choices for the above calculation
are mentioned as
(A) 564 (B) 515 (C) 529 (D) 542
As the answer choices are not very close, calculating for
40% and reducing that by 3% may be sufficient for
answering the question.
10% of 1384 = 138.4. Four times that is 554 and 3% is
approximately equivalent to 42. Hence the answer is 552
– 42 i.e., 510.
Therefore, the closest answer is 515.
Suppose the answer choices for the above calculation
are mentioned as:
(A) 510.264 (B) 515.124 (C) 519.316 (D) 522.356
It is clear that the answers are very close. But if you
approximate 37.22% equivalent to 37.5%, you can
simply convert the calculation into 3/8 of 1384. As 1384
is 173 times of 8, the answer is 519. Hence, 519.316
cannot be the answer, as it should be less than 519 but
very close to 519, which is 515.124.
Now, let us consider another question.
5843
Ex.3: Find the value of x 100
31200
(A) 17.56 (B) 18.38 (C) 18.72 (D) 16.96
This ratio can be calculated faster by two very useful
methods than by conventional division.
Method – 1
The first approach can be called the “ten percent
method”. In this method, 10% of the denominator is first
obtained by simply shifting the decimal point in the
denominator by one place to the left. Similarly, 1% of the
denominator, 0.1% etc., can also be successively
obtained by shifting the decimal point to the left by one
more place in each successive step. Then the numerator
is expressed as the nearest possible multiple of 10% of
the denominator along with some excess or shortfall.
For example,
10% of 31200 = 3120
And 5843 = 1 × 3120 + 2723 (excess)
Again, the excess of 2723 can be expressed as a
multiple of say,
5% of denominator plus some excess.
Half of 10% of 31200 = 5% of 31200 = 1560
Hence, 2723 = 5% of 31200 + 1163
Further, 1163 is slightly less than 4 times (1% of 31200)
i.e., 1248.
Thus, 5843 ≅ (10% + 5% + 4%) of 31200
≅ 19% of 31200.
The correct figure must be slightly less than 19% of
31200. Hence from the choices, the answer can be
Choice (C).
SM1002001/26
Method – 2 Thus, 19.23% is close to 20%. Therefore Choice (D) is
correct.
The second approach to quickly calculate the ratio
5843 Approximations for divisions can be done in two ways.
is by using of the decimal equivalent values of The first one is cross multiplication. The following
31200
example shows how to solve an approximation problem
the reciprocals of the first few natural numbers. In this
using cross multiplication.
approach, the numerator and denominator are first
5800 5.01. Find the value of x.
approximated as , which is further approximated
31200 38 x
=
5.8 5.8 154 190
to which is close to
31 . 2 3 × 10.4
38 x 190
(i.e., 4% less than 19.3), Sol. x =
i.e., 18.54. But since in the first approximation we had 154
taken 5800 instead of 5843, the answer has to be slightly 19 1
= x 190 ~ x 190 ~ 47.5
more than 18.54. Thus, Choice (C) is the answer. 77 4
6164
Find the value of x 100
26879 The second method is to find the approximate ratio of
the numerators or denominators and arrive at the
(A) 21.68 (B) 22.16 (C) 22.93 (D) 23.37 solution. This is illustrated in the following two examples.
By observing the given choices, we understand that the 5.02. Find the value of x.
answer should be close to 22.22% (i.e., 2/9) (Here, one
should remember reciprocals and their multiples.). The 54 11
=
calculation is: 238 x
2
× 26879 = 5973. As 5973 is about 190 less than 6164, Sol. 5.4 x 2 = 10.8
9
we need to add about 190 to 5973. But as we are 1
11 – 10.8 = 0.2 ≅ x 0.54
interested in percentages, 190 forms slightly more than 3
0.5% but less than 1%. The answer should be more than 1
22.7% but less than 23.22%. From the choices, only So, 11 = 5.4 x 2 + x 0.54
3
choice (C) is satisfied.
1
∴x = 23.8 x 2 + x 2.38
Find the value of (2911 / (3784 x 4)) x 100. 3
(A) 17.86 (B) 18.15 (C) 21. 76 (D) 19.23 = 47.6 + 0.8 = 48.4

 6695 − 3784  5.03. Find the value of x

  × 100
125 175
=  
3784
=
4 220 x
This is approximated as:
6700 − 3800 Sol. 175 is 40% more than 125
× 100 ∴ x is 40% more than 220, i.e. 308.
3800 × 4
2900 2900 Therefore we understand that approximations are very
= =
38 × 4 152 useful in additions, subtractions, multiplications,
divisions, percentage calculations, etc.
2900 3000
is slightly less than = 20
152 150

Exercise – 5(a)
Directions for questions 1 to 14: Fractions 59 171
=
31 x
1. Find the approximate value of x.
(A) 76 (B) 85 (C) 88 (D) 90
52 x
=
367 917 4. Find the approximate value of x.
(A) 130 (B) 134 (C) 138 (D) 126 243 81
=
619 x
2. Find the approximate value of x. (A) 207 (B) 206 (C) 205 (D) 203
43 11
=
174 x 5. Find the approximate value of x
(A) 43 (B) 44 (C) 47 (D) 46 72 x
=
431 647
3. Find the approximate value of x. (A) 103 (B) 105 (C) 108 (D) 111
nd
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6. Find the approximate value of x from the given 19. 635.97 + 329.14 – 984.95 + 88.19 =?
choices. (A) –68 (B) 68 (C) 32 (D) –32
23 x
= 20. 247.93 × 8.01 + 9.02 × 93.99 =?
149 791
(A) 2380 (B) 3280 (C) 2830 (D) 2850
(A) 122 (B) 132 (C) 112 (D) 123

7. Find the approximate value of x from the given 21. 1224.77 × 15.83 + 38.01 × 14.98 =?
choices. (A) 690 (B) 710 (C) 720 (D) 730
167 419
= 22. 33.93 × 43.12 ÷ 16.97 + 27.91 =?
x 721 (A) 112 (B) 114 (C) 116 (D) 118
(A) 283 (B) 290 (C) 285 (D) 287
23. 42% of 600 + 18.9% of 180 + 33.8% of 800 =?
8. Find the approximate value of x from the given (A) 546 (B) 548 (C) 550 (D) 556
choices
17 x 24. Choose the approximate value of x from the given
= choices.
256 87
79 197
(A) 4 (B) 5 (C) 6 (D) 7 =
21 x
9. Choose the value of x from the given choices. (A) 57 (B) 55 (C) 52 (D) 51
78 x
= (14.49 )(8.75 )(6.09 ) + (19.01)(4.53 )(19.9)
391 2737 25. =?
(A) 544 (B) 548 (C) 546 (D) 542 152 + 22.1
10. Find the approximate value of x. (A) 10 (B) 8 (C) 6 (D) 5
31 x
=
274 143 26. 63% of 599.99 + 31.01% of 80 – 27.97% of 300 =?
(A) 14 (B) 16 (C) 17 (D) 18 (A) 317 (B) 318 (C) 319 (D) 320

11. Choose the approximate value of x from the choices 27. 3

512.12 × 3 215.98 × 3 1330.76 =?
given below.
(A) 524 (B) 528 (C) 532 (D) 536
11 x
=
320 87
(A) 2.8 (B) 2.7 (C) 3.2 (D) 3 28. 196 × 19 =?2 + 8% of 2524
(A) 7 (B) 8 (C) 9 (D) 11
12. Choose the approximate value of x.
39 x 29. 16789 – 7835 + 12143 =? + 9673
= (to the nearest tens)
63 95 (A) 11420 (B) 11400 (C) 14120 (D) 14100
(A) 60 (B) 59 (C) 57 (D) 55

13. Choose approximate value of x from the given choices. 30. 49.04 × 43 + 18 × 15.89 =? × 37.3% of 500
21 x (A) 4 (B) 6 (C) 2 (D) 5
=
83 125
(A) 30 (B) 34 (C) 36 (D) 32 31. 336620 ÷ 67325 + 394 – 19 =?
(A) 375 (B) 365 (C) 355 (D) 377
14. Choose the approximate value of x from the given
choices. 32. 8493.6 – 6532.4 + 4562.1 – 2343 =? (to the nearest
hundred)
43 108
= (A) 4100 (B) 4200 (C) 4300 (D) 4400
59 x
(A) 146 (B) 148 (C) 150 (D) 152 33. 3465.8 – 6346.1 + ? + 136 = 6358.3
(A) 9000 (B) 9200 (C) 9100 (D) 9300
Directions for questions 15 to 45: From the given
choices, select the correct alternative. 80 ?
34. =
15. 134.98 × 6.03 + 8.01 × 89.93 =? 19 134
(A) 1035 (B) 1350 (C) 1530 (D) 1503 (A) 562 (B) 564 (C) 566 (D) 568

16. 32% of 399.99 + 15% of 240.22 + 40.8% of 600 =? 35. Choose the approximate value of x from the given
(A) 409 (B) 415 (C) 420 (D) 430 choices.
77 171
=
17. 1520 .86 ÷ 169 .12 × 12.33 =? 23 x
(A) 13 (B) 37 (C) 39 (D) 18 (A) 51 (B) 52 (C) 50 (D) 49

18. 516.08 ÷ 128.89 + 42.12 ÷ 7.03 =? 36. 281% of 80 =?2

(A) 4 (B) 6 (C) 8 (D) 10 (A) 10 (B) 20 (C) 25 (D) 15

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37. 836 – 216 + 43 × 9.42 – 35% of 684 =? 1
(A) 239 (B) 468 (C) 596 (D) 786 41. 443 ÷ 17 of 26 ÷ × 4 – 14 + 6 =?
13
(A) 44 (B) 48 (C) 52 (D) 60
588
70% of 630 +
38. 6 =? 42. 7745 × 2810 ÷ 1940 = ?
1 .8 6
× 428 + 126 × (A) 106 (B) 116 (C) 136 (D) 160
21.4 42
(A) 8 (B) 10 (C) 12 (D) 13 43. 360.98 − 3 2743 .67 = ?
(A) 9 (B) 7 (C) 5 (D) 12
39. 425 × 18.95 – 396.15 ÷ 18 =?
(A) 7096 (B) 8032 44. 3
2196 + 290 = ?
(C) 8073 (D) 8065 (A) 13 (B) 25 (C) 15 (D) 30

40. 3
125 × 239% of 3 =?2 45. 2304.32 − 1763.62 = ?
(A) 6 (B) 8 (C) 9 (D) 11 (A) 2 (B) 3 (C) 4 (D) 6

Exercise – 5(b)
Directions for questions 1 to 15: Fractions 9. Choose the approximate value of x from the given
choices.
1. Choose the approximate value of x from the given
65 139
choices. =
19 48 254 x
= (A) 539 (B) 543 (C) 544 (D) 545
37 x
(A) 94 (B) 93 (C) 92 (D) 91 10. Choose the approximate value of x from the given
choices.
2. Choose the approximate value of x from the given
53 x
choices. =
46 x 289 328
= (A) 57 (B) 58 (C) 59 (D) 60
73 183
(A) 115 (B) 116 (C) 114 (D) 113 11. Choose the approximate value of x.
17 x
3. Choose the approximate value of x from the given =
choice. 28 96
17 26 (A) 57 (B) 58 (C) 59 (D) 56
=
18 x 12. Choose the approximate value of x.
(A) 27.5 (B) 27.1 (C) 27.6 (D) 27.8 71 x
=
4. Choose the approximate value of x from the given 91 65
choices. (A) 52 (B) 53 (C) 51 (D) 54
28 x 13. Select the approximate value of x
=
197 670 71 x
(A) 96 (B) 95 (C) 94 (D) 93 =
361 251
5. Choose the value of x from the given choices. (A) 49 (B) 50 (C) 51 (D) 48
81 406 14. Select the approximate value of x.
=
26 x 27 x
(A) 129 (B) 127 (C) 130 (D) 131 =
89 521
6. Choose the approximate value of x from the (A) 158 (B) 163 (C) 157 (D) 159
following choices. 15. Choose the approximate value of x, from the given
51 x choices.
=
323 775 16 x
=
(A) 125 (B) 123 (C) 122 (D) 121 25 42
(A) 26 (B) 27 (C) 29 (D) 30
7. Choose the approximate value of x from the
following choices. Directions for questions 16 to 45: From the given
46 x choices, select the correct alternative.
=
123 182 16. 18.03 × 24.98 – 16.94 × 15.02 = ?
(A) 64 (B) 68 (C) 72 (D) 76 (A) 255 (B) 195 (C) 270 (D) 257
8. Choose the approximate value of x from the given 17. 48.96 ÷ 7.034 + 9.48 × 4.95 = ?
choices. (A) 49 (B) 52 (D) 58 (D) 54.5
13 29
=
291 x 18. 120 .97 × 168.75 + 8.04 × 12.12 = ?
(A) 647 (B) 648 (C) 649 (D) 650 (A) 233 (B) 235 (C) 237 (D) 239
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19. 638.88 ÷ 212.91 + 95.99 ÷ 11.93 = ? 0.912 × 0.81× 3.6
(A) 11 (B) 13 (C) 15 (D) 17 34. =?
0.903
20. 518.9 + 327.03 – 641.12 = ? (A) 2.88 (B) 2.69 (C) 2.78 (D) 3.12
(A) 220 (B) 215 (C) 210 (D) 205
50
21. 71.932 ÷ 8.962 – 49.012 = ? 35. ? × 2449 =
?
(A) –37 (B) –39 (C) –41 (D) –43
1 1
(A) (B) (C) 7 (D) 49
22. 538.92 + 392.14 – 943.89 + 83.17 = ? 7 49
(A) 70 (B) 75 (C) 80 (D 85
36. Choose the approximate value of x for the equation.
23. (64.93% of 95.96 + 42 – 16.4) ÷ ? = 11 73 x
(A) 6 (B) 8 (C) 12 (D) 16 =
77 87
24. 6.034% of 5998 ÷ 9 – 18.98 = ? (A) 82 (B) 83 (C) 81 (D) 80
(A) 25 (B) 23 (C) 21 (D) 19
37. ? + (28% of 342 + 71.21 ÷ 17.81) – 103 × 4 = –298
25. Find the value of x upto two decimal places. (A) 14 (B) 16 (C) 196 (D) 216
343 x
= 38. 19.03% of ? + 12 – 37 – 95.98 ÷ 11.97 = 43
91 27
(A) 100.63 (B) 101.76 (C) 101.13 (D) 103.12 (A) 100 (B) 200 (C) 300 (D) 400

26. 56.98 – 78.87 + 825.01 ÷ 11 × 2 = ? 91.89 × 3968 .86

39. = 22.96 × ?
(A) 122 (B) 124 (C) 126 (D) 128 441 .11
27. 2430 ÷ 17 × 7.02 – 91.09 = ? (A) 6 (B) 8 (C) 12 (D) 14
(A) 830 (B) 910 (C) 930 (D) 970 40. (14.96 × 6.94) ÷ ? = 20.91
(A) 3 (B) 5 (C) 7 (D) 9
28. 0.00859 ÷ 60 × 10 = ? 6 2

(A) 12 (B) 18 (C) 146 (D) 325 3

41. 42.13 × 13.04 – × 5698 = ? of 45
14
29. 730 × 18 = 53.98 × ?
(A) –64 (B) –12 (C) –32 (D) –15
(A) 19 (B) 27 (C) 36 (D) 9
42. 294 + 2026 × 22 = ? × 302.98
30. 1196.96 ÷63 × 234.05 + 337.06 – 235.96 = ?
(A) 4547 (B) 4475 (C) 5744 (D) 7445 (A) 4 (B) 6 (C) 16 (D) 36

48.09 × 110.93 43. If 7568 − x = 3 9260 – 439, then find the

31. = 9.023
36.92 × ? approximate value of x.
(A) 24 (B) 36 (C) 48 (D) 16 (A) 300 (B) 350 (C) 505 (D) 550
44. Find the approximate the value of
1520 .98 × 1225 .15
32. = ? × 3.12 7920 + 18230
168 .8 × 49.14
(A) 224 (B) 212 (C) 242 (D) 422
(A) 5 (B) 25 (C) 35 (D) 45
45. 43 – 29.972 + 360 − 3 345 = ?
33. (8.99)2 × (5.92)3 = ? × 53.96
(A) 234 (B) 342 (C) 324 (D) 432 (A) 24 (B) 25 (C) 32 (D) 39

Key
Exercise – 5(a)
1. A 6. A 11. D 16. A 21. B 26. C 31. D 36. D 41. A
2. B 7. D 12. B 17. B 22. B 27. B 32. B 37. D 42. A
3. D 8. C 13. D 18. D 23. D 28. B 33. C 38. B 43. C
4. B 9. C 14. B 19. B 24. C 29. A 34. B 39. B 44. D
5. C 10. B 15. C 20. C 25. A 30. C 35. A 40. A 45. D

Exercise – 5(b)
1. B 6. C 11. B 16. B 21. C 26. D 31. D 36. A 41. D
2. A 7. B 12. C 17. D 22. A 27. B 32. B 37. C 42. C
3. A 8. C 13. A 18. D 23. B 28. A 33. C 38. D 43. C
4. B 9. B 14. A 19. A 24. C 29. D 34. A 39. C 44. A
5. C 10. D 15. B 20. D 25. B 30. A 35. A 40. B 45. B

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