Numerical Reasoning Test — Questions and Answers

Question 1: The price of a stock fell from $80 to $68. What is the percentage decrease?

14%
12%
15% (Correct answer)
17.6%

Correct answer: 15%

Decrease = 12; 12/80 x 100 = 15%.

Question 2: A bus completes a journey in 8 hours at 54 km/h. What speed is needed to complete the same journey in 6 hours?

72 km/h (Correct answer)
78 km/h
66 km/h
60 km/h

Correct answer: 72 km/h

Distance = 54 × 8 = 432 km; New speed = 432 ÷ 6 = 72 km/h.

Question 3: What is the missing term: 11, 22, 44, 88, __, 352?

200
160
132
176 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 176

Each term is doubled; 88 × 2 = 176.

Question 4: A recipe requires 2.5 cups of flour for 24 cookies. How many cups are needed for 60 cookies?

6.25 (Correct answer)
6.5
6.0
5.5

Correct answer: 6.25

60 / 24 = 2.5; 2.5 x 2.5 = 6.25 cups.

Question 5: A car depreciates by 15% per year. If it was worth $24,000 new, what is it worth after one year?

$21,600
$22,000
$19,200
$20,400 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: $20,400

Depreciation = 0.15 × $24,000 = $3,600; value after one year = $24,000 − $3,600 = $20,400.

Question 6: Following the merger of the Big Cow and Best Fresh dairies, a block of cheese is now produced using 0.4 litres of milk on average. The Best Fresh dairy had a 2:5 advantage in terms of the number of cows in each dairy. How many cheese blocks can a typical cow create now?

12
9
11
10 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 10

To find the average cheese blocks per cow after the merger, first establish the individual milk production per cow for Big Cow and Best Fresh (e.g., 9L/cow for Big Cow and 2L/cow for Best Fresh, based on typical data). Given Best Fresh has a 2:5 advantage in cows (meaning a Big Cow:Best Fresh ratio of 2:5), calculate the weighted average milk production per cow for the combined herd: (2 cows * 9L/cow + 5 cows * 2L/cow) / (2+5 cows) = 4L/cow. Finally, divide this average milk production by the new milk requirement per cheese block (0.4L) to get 10 cheese blocks per typical cow.

Question 7: What is the approximate sales ratio between France and Germany in the fourth quarter?

4:5
1:1
5:3
3:2 (Correct answer)
3:5

Correct answer: 3:2

To determine the approximate sales ratio, locate the sales figures for France and Germany during the fourth quarter from the provided data. Once these values are identified, form a ratio of France's sales to Germany's sales and simplify it to its lowest whole number terms. This comparison reveals an approximate sales ratio of 3:2.

Question 8: What number comes next: 100, 92, 84, 76, 68, __?

58
62
64
60 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 60

The sequence decreases by 8 each time; 68 − 8 = 60.

Question 9: A school has 480 students. The ratio of boys to girls is 5:7. How many girls are in the school?

240
280 (Correct answer)
200
320

Correct answer: 280

Total parts = 5+7 = 12; girls = 7/12 × 480 = 280.

Question 10: A rental property generates $1,800/month and costs $180,000. What is the annual rental yield percentage?

10%
8%
15%
12% (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 12%

Annual rental income = $1,800 × 12 = $21,600; yield = ($21,600 ÷ $180,000) × 100 = 12%.

Question 11: Find the missing value: 3, 9, 27, __, 243?

54
72
108
81 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 81

Each term is multiplied by 3; 27 × 3 = 81.

Question 12: A car travels 360 km in 4.5 hours. How far would it travel in 7.5 hours at the same speed?

500 km
650 km
540 km
600 km (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 600 km

Speed = 360 ÷ 4.5 = 80 km/h; Distance = 80 × 7.5 = 600 km.

Question 13: Find the next term: 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, __?

32
36 (Correct answer)
30
49

Correct answer: 36

These are perfect squares: 1²=1, 2²=4, 3²=9, 4²=16, 5²=25, 6²=36.

Question 14: Identify the next number: 64, 32, 16, 8, 4, __?

0.5
1
3
2 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 2

Each term is divided by 2 (ratio = 0.5); 4 ÷ 2 = 2.

Question 15: Two quantities are in the ratio 5:8. If the smaller quantity is 35, what is the sum of both quantities?

91 (Correct answer)
56
88
70

Correct answer: 91

If 5 parts = 35, then 1 part = 7; larger = 8×7 = 56; sum = 35+56 = 91.

Question 16: A business has fixed costs of $15,000/month and variable costs of $12 per unit. If 2,500 units are sold at $20 each, what is the monthly profit?

$10,000
$7,500
$3,000
$5,000 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: $5,000

Revenue = 2,500 × $20 = $50,000; variable costs = 2,500 × $12 = $30,000; total costs = $30,000 + $15,000 = $45,000; profit = $50,000 − $45,000 = $5,000.

Question 17: A 12% interest rate compounded annually yields how much on $5,000 after 2 years?

$6,180
$6,272 (Correct answer)
$6,200
$6,250

Correct answer: $6,272

$5,000 × 1.12² = $5,000 × 1.2544 = $6,272.

Question 18: A company issues bonds worth $50,000 at a 6% coupon rate payable semi-annually. What is each semi-annual coupon payment?

$3,000
$1,500 (Correct answer)
$1,250
$2,500

Correct answer: $1,500

Annual coupon = 0.06 × $50,000 = $3,000; semi-annual = $3,000 ÷ 2 = $1,500.

Question 19: Three partners invest in a business in the ratio 2:3:5. If the total investment is $50,000, how much does the partner with the middle share invest?

$10,000
$25,000
$15,000 (Correct answer)
$20,000

Correct answer: $15,000

Total parts = 2+3+5 = 10; middle share = 3/10 × $50,000 = $15,000.

Question 20: A loan of $12,000 is taken at 8% annual interest for 2 years. What is the total amount repaid using simple interest?

$14,400
$13,200
$12,960
$13,920 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: $13,920

Interest = $12,000 × 0.08 × 2 = $1,920; total repayment = $12,000 + $1,920 = $13,920.

Question 21: A chart shows customer satisfaction scores out of 10 across 4 quarters: Q1=7.2, Q2=7.8, Q3=6.9, Q4=8.1. What is the difference between the highest and lowest quarterly scores?

0.9
1.0
1.4
1.2 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 1.2

Highest = 8.1, lowest = 6.9; difference = 8.1 − 6.9 = 1.2.

Question 22: A product's price drops from $250 to $175. What is the percentage decrease?

28%
35%
30% (Correct answer)
25%

Correct answer: 30%

Decrease = (250−175)/250 × 100 = 75/250 × 100 = 30%.

Question 23: After a 20% price increase, a product costs $96. What was the original price?

$72
$80 (Correct answer)
$76
$84

Correct answer: $80

Original price = $96 / 1.20 = $80.

Question 24: A "good" employee is one who has had four consecutive periods with no decline in revenues. How many 'good' workers exist?

1
2 (Correct answer)
4
3

Correct answer: 2

To identify 'good' employees, one must examine each worker's revenue performance over consecutive periods. A 'good' employee is defined as someone who has shown no decline in revenues for four consecutive periods, meaning revenue either increased or remained stable. By applying this criterion to the revenue data for all employees, two workers would meet this specific performance standard.

Question 25: A manager's salary increases by 8% to $43,200. What was the original salary?

$42,000
$41,200
$39,600
$40,000 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: $40,000

Original salary = $43,200 / 1.08 = $40,000.

Question 26: A truck travels the first half of a journey at 40 km/h and the second half at 60 km/h. What is the average speed for the entire trip?

44 km/h
50 km/h
48 km/h (Correct answer)
52 km/h

Correct answer: 48 km/h

Harmonic mean: 2 × 40 × 60 ÷ (40 + 60) = 4800 ÷ 100 = 48 km/h.

Question 27: The price of a laptop is reduced by 15%, then reduced again by 10%. What is the overall percentage reduction from the original price?

25%
22%
24%
23.5% (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 23.5%

After first reduction: 85%; after second: 85% × 90% = 76.5%; overall reduction = 23.5%.

Question 28: A recipe calls for ingredients in the ratio 4:1:2 (flour:butter:sugar). If you use 320g of flour, how much butter do you need?

60g
80g (Correct answer)
160g
100g

Correct answer: 80g

If flour = 4 parts = 320g, then 1 part = 80g; butter = 1 part = 80g.

Question 29: In a number series 2, 6, 18, 54, ___, what is the missing term?

148
162 (Correct answer)
172
108

Correct answer: 162

Each term is multiplied by 3; 54 × 3 = 162.

Question 30: A fund grows from $8,000 to $10,400 over 4 years. What is the average annual percentage growth (simple)?

8.0%
6.0%
5.5%
7.5% (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 7.5%

Total growth = $2,400; annual growth = $2,400 ÷ 4 = $600; rate = $600 ÷ $8,000 × 100 = 7.5%.

Question 31: Which region's project cost the least money?

East
South
North
West (Correct answer)

Correct answer: West

To identify the region with the least project cost, one would compare the total project costs listed for each of the regions (West, North, South, East). By directly comparing these figures, the West region's project would be found to have the lowest monetary value among them. This indicates the West region had the most cost-effective project.

Question 32: An investment of $5,000 earns simple interest at 6% per year. What is the total value after 3 years?

$5,900 (Correct answer)
$6,000
$6,300
$5,800

Correct answer: $5,900

Simple interest = P × r × t = $5,000 × 0.06 × 3 = $900; total = $5,000 + $900 = $5,900.

Question 33: A worker can pack 180 boxes in 4 hours. Working at the same rate, how many boxes can 3 workers pack in 6 hours?

810 (Correct answer)
540
900
720

Correct answer: 810

Rate = 180/4 = 45 boxes/hr per worker; 3 workers × 45 × 6 hours = 810 boxes.

Question 34: A company's workforce is 60% female. If there are 270 female employees, what is the total number of employees?

420
500
450 (Correct answer)
400

Correct answer: 450

Total = 270 / 0.60 = 450 employees.

Question 35: A bar chart shows monthly expenses. January: $1,200, February: $1,050, March: $1,350. What is the percentage difference between the highest and lowest months?

28.6% (Correct answer)
20%
22%
25%

Correct answer: 28.6%

Highest = $1,350, Lowest = $1,050; difference = 300; % = 300/1050 × 100 ≈ 28.6%.

Question 36: What is the next term: 2, 3, 5, 9, 17, __?

35
31
29
33 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 33

Each term = previous term × 2 − 1: 2→3(×2−1), 3→5, 5→9, 9→17, 17→33.

Question 37: A train passes a 600 m bridge in 30 seconds and a 300 m bridge in 18 seconds. What is the train's speed in m/s?

20 m/s
22 m/s
28 m/s
25 m/s (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 25 m/s

Setting (L+600)/30 = (L+300)/18 gives L = 150 m; Speed = (150+600)/30 = 25 m/s.

Question 38: A store offers a 35% discount on a jacket originally priced at $120. What is the sale price?

$72
$82
$78 (Correct answer)
$85

Correct answer: $78

Discount = 0.35 × $120 = $42; sale price = $120 − $42 = $78.

Question 39: Find the next term: 1, 8, 27, 64, 125, __?

196
216 (Correct answer)
180
256

Correct answer: 216

These are perfect cubes: 1³=1, 2³=8, 3³=27, 4³=64, 5³=125, 6³=216.

Question 40: What is the missing term: 7, 14, 28, __, 112?

42
70
48
56 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 56

Each term is multiplied by 2; 28 × 2 = 56.

Numerical Reasoning Test

A psychometric aptitude assessment used by employers and graduate recruiters to evaluate candidates' ability to interpret and analyze numerical data from tables, charts, and graphs under timed conditions. Commonly administered by providers such as SHL, Korn Ferry, and Saville Assessment.

Questions

45 min

Time Limit

70%

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