Quantitative aptitude

20 AIIMS NORCET (Nursing Officer) practice questions on Quantitative aptitude, part of General Knowledge and Aptitude. The first 20 are below; the first 5 with answers and explanations (tap Show answer after you have chosen), the rest in Learn with a free account.

1. Question 1 · Easy

   A pharmacy issues 360 strips of paracetamol to two wards in the ratio 5 : 7. The larger share is:

   1. A150 strips
   2. B180 strips
   3. C252 strips
   4. D210 strips

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   Answer: D · 210 strips

   The ratio has 5 + 7 = 12 parts, so each part is 360 / 12 = 30 strips. The larger share is 7 x 30 = 210 strips and the smaller is 5 x 30 = 150 strips. The two shares add back to 360, which checks the answer. Always divide by the sum of the ratio terms.

   • A: 150 strips is the smaller share (5 parts).
   • B: 180 strips is an equal split that ignores the ratio.
   • C: 252 strips divides by 10 instead of the 12 total parts (360 x 7/10).

2. Question 2 · Medium

   The price of a box of gloves is raised by 20% and the new price is then reduced by 20%. Compared with the original price, the final price is:

   1. A4% lower
   2. BUnchanged
   3. C4% higher
   4. D2% lower

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   Answer: A · 4% lower

   Take the original price as 100. A 20% rise makes it 120, and a 20% fall on 120 removes 24, leaving 96. The final price is therefore 4% below the original. The shortcut for an equal rise and fall of x% is a net loss of x squared / 100 = 400 / 100 = 4%.

   • B: The two changes do not cancel because the 20% cut is taken on a larger base.
   • C: A net rise would need the increase to act on the larger base, which is the reverse of what happens.
   • D: 2% halves the true net change of x squared / 100.

3. Question 3 · Easy

   What is the simple interest on Rs 5,000 at 8% per annum for 3 years?

   1. ARs 6,200
   2. BRs 1,298.56
   3. CRs 1,200
   4. DRs 400

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   Answer: C · Rs 1,200

   Simple interest = P x R x T / 100 = 5,000 x 8 x 3 / 100 = Rs 1,200. Simple interest is charged on the original principal only, so it is the same every year (Rs 400 a year here). The amount at the end would be 5,000 + 1,200 = Rs 6,200. Compound interest would be higher because interest earns interest.

   • A: Rs 6,200 is the amount (principal plus interest), not the interest.
   • B: Rs 1,298.56 is the compound interest for the same terms.
   • D: Rs 400 is the interest for one year only.

4. Question 4 · Medium

   Nurse A can complete an inventory of the store in 12 days and Nurse B in 18 days. Working together, they finish it in:

   1. A6 days
   2. B7.2 days
   3. C30 days
   4. D15 days

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   Answer: B · 7.2 days

   In one day A does 1/12 of the job and B does 1/18. Together they do 1/12 + 1/18 = 3/36 + 2/36 = 5/36 of the job per day. The time needed is 36 / 5 = 7.2 days. The combined time must be less than the time of the faster worker alone.

   • A: 6 days halves the faster worker's time, as if B were as fast as A.
   • C: 30 days adds the two times, as if they worked one after the other.
   • D: 15 days is the average of the two times, which is longer than A working alone.

5. Question 5 · Hard

   Inlet pipe A fills a tank in 6 hours and inlet pipe B in 8 hours, while a leak empties the full tank in 12 hours. If both pipes are opened with the leak present, the empty tank fills in:

   1. A4 hours 48 minutes
   2. B4 hours 8 minutes
   3. C2 hours 40 minutes
   4. D3 hours 26 minutes

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   Answer: A · 4 hours 48 minutes

   Per hour, A fills 1/6, B fills 1/8 and the leak empties 1/12. Net filling = 4/24 + 3/24 - 2/24 = 5/24 of the tank per hour. Time = 24 / 5 = 4.8 hours. Since 0.8 hour is 0.8 x 60 = 48 minutes, the tank fills in 4 hours 48 minutes.

   • B: 4 hours 8 minutes reads 4.8 hours as 4 hours 8 minutes.
   • C: 2 hours 40 minutes adds the leak as if it were a third inlet (24/9 hours).
   • D: 3 hours 26 minutes is the time with no leak (24/7 hours).

6. Question 6 · Medium

   What is the compound interest on Rs 10,000 for 2 years at 10% per annum, compounded annually?

   1. ARs 1,100
   2. BRs 2,100
   3. CRs 2,000
   4. DRs 12,100

   Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

7. Question 7 · Easy

   A nurse buys a blood pressure monitor for Rs 400 and later sells it for Rs 500. Her profit percent is:

   1. A25%
   2. B125%
   3. C80%
   4. D20%

   Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

8. Question 8 · Easy

   An ambulance travels at a steady 60 km/h. How long does it take to cover 45 km?

   1. A45 minutes
   2. B80 minutes
   3. C15 minutes
   4. D75 minutes

   Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

9. Question 9 · Medium

   A nurse drives to a health sub-centre at 40 km/h and returns along the same road at 60 km/h. Her average speed for the whole journey is:

   1. A50 km/h
   2. B100 km/h
   3. C20 km/h
   4. D48 km/h

   Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

10. Question 10 · Easy

    The average birth weight of four newborns in a nursery is 3.0 kg. A fifth baby weighing 3.5 kg is admitted. What is the new average weight?

    1. A3.5 kg
    2. B3.1 kg
    3. C3.25 kg
    4. D3.0 kg

    Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

11. Question 11 · Medium

    The average age of 10 staff nurses rises by 2 years when one nurse aged 30 is replaced by a new nurse. The new nurse's age is:

    1. A50 years
    2. B40 years
    3. C28 years
    4. D32 years

    Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

12. Question 12 · Hard

    A dishonest trader claims to sell rice at cost price but uses a weight of 900 g in place of 1 kg. His actual gain percent is:

    1. A111%
    2. B9.1%
    3. C11.1%
    4. D10%

    Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

13. Question 13 · Easy

    A medical ward has 40 beds and the bed occupancy on a given day is 85%. How many beds are occupied?

    1. A30
    2. B32
    3. C34
    4. D36

    Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

14. Question 14 · Medium

    A shopkeeper marks a wheelchair 25% above its cost price and then allows a 10% discount on the marked price. His profit percent is:

    1. A35%
    2. B12.5%
    3. C15%
    4. D2.5%

    Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

15. Question 15 · Hard

    A boat moves at 15 km/h in still water and the river flows at 3 km/h. How long does it take to go 36 km upstream and come back to the start?

    1. A6 hours
    2. B4.8 hours
    3. C4 hours
    4. D5 hours

    Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

16. Question 16 · Medium

    Two trains 150 m and 100 m long run on parallel tracks in opposite directions at 40 km/h and 50 km/h. How long do they take to cross each other completely?

    1. A90 seconds
    2. B10 seconds
    3. C4 seconds
    4. D6 seconds

    Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

17. Question 17 · Medium

    The present ages of A and B are in the ratio 3 : 5. After 6 years the ratio will be 2 : 3. What is B's present age?

    1. A30 years
    2. B18 years
    3. C24 years
    4. D36 years

    Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

18. Question 18 · Hard

    The difference between compound interest and simple interest on a sum for 2 years at 5% per annum is Rs 25. What is the sum?

    1. ARs 1,000
    2. BRs 500
    3. CRs 10,000
    4. DRs 250

    Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

19. Question 19 · Medium

    A container holds 20 litres of a 10% salt solution. How much pure water must be added to make it an 8% solution?

    1. A4 litres
    2. B5 litres
    3. C25 litres
    4. D2 litres

    Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

20. Question 20 · Hard

    A pharmacist must prepare 300 mL of a 15% solution by mixing a 10% solution with a 25% solution. How much of the 10% solution is needed?

    1. A100 mL
    2. B200 mL
    3. C150 mL
    4. D180 mL

    Answer and explanation in LearnFree account