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TRICK BOOKLET
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Calculation Tricks
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Calculation Trick: 1

Sum of 10 Consecutive Numbers

Step 1: Write the consecutive numbers in ascending order.

Step 2: Write a 5 after the fifth number and this is the answer.

Ex: 24 + 25 + 26 + 27 + 28 + 29 + 30 + 31 + 32 + 33
Sol: Here first we check that the numbers are in ascending order. The
fifth number in ascending order is 28. Hence, we have to just
write 5 after 28. Therefore the answer is 285.

Question to Practice:
1. 65248 + 65249 + 65250 + 65251 + 65252 + 65253 + 65254 +
65255 + 65256 + 65257

2. 48535 + 48527 + 48533 + 48529 + 48531 + 48530 + 48532 +

48528 + 48534 + 48526
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Calculation Trick: 2

Summing Consecutive Odd Numbers

Trick: The sum of the first n odd numbers is n2.

Example:
To find the sum of the first 7 odd numbers: 1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 + 11 + 13

Answer is 72 = 49

Question to practice:

1. 1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 + 11 + 13 + 15 + 17 + 19 + 21 + 23 + 25 + 27 +
29 +31

2. 1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 + 11 + 13 + 15 + 17 + 19 + 21 + 23 + 25 + 27 +
29 +31 +33 + 35 + 37 + 39 + 41 + 43 + 45
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Calculation Trick: 3

Subtracting any number from 1000, 10000, 100000 and so on

Ex: 10000 - 7478 = ?

Except for the last digit, subtract each of the digits in 7478 from 9.
The last digit (8) must be subtracted from 10.

Step 1: 9 - 7 = 2 (First digit of the answer)

Step 2: 9 - 4 = 5 (Second digit of the answer)
Step 3: 9 - 7 = 2 (Third digit of the answer)
Step 4: 10 - 8 = 2 (Last digit of the answer)

So the answer is, 10000 – 7478 = 2522.

Questions to practice:
1. 100000 - 12345
2. 10000000 – 7648569
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Calculation Trick: 4

Multiplying a whole number with 5

Write a zero at the end of the number and divide the obtained
number by 2

Ex: 6284 x 5=?

Step 1: Writing 0 at the end of number: 62840

Step 2: Divide the new number obtained by 2:

62840/2 = 31420
6284 x 5= 31420

Questions to practice:
1. 98154 × 5
2. 516513 × 5
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Calculation Trick: 5

Multiplying a decimal number with 5

Shift decimal to one place right and divide the new obtained
number by 2.

Ex: 3950.2 x 5

Step 1: Shifting decimal place right: 39502.0 = 39502

Step 2: Multiplying the number obtained by 2 : 79004

Hence, the answer is : 79004

Questions to practice:
1. 25485.25 × 5
2. 1564.126 × 5
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Calculation Trick: 6

Dividing a Large number by 5

Multiply the number by 2 and move one decimal place to the

left.

Ex: 3456 / 5 = ?

Step 1: Multiply the number by 2.

3456 x 2 = 6912

Step 2: Move one decimal place.

That would be, 691.2

So, the answer is 3456 / 5 = 691.2

Questions to practice:
1. 5489.48/5
2. 4584/5
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Calculation Trick: 7

Product of two numbers

(Sum of digits on unit place is 10 and rest of the digits is same)

Let the nos. being multiplied be ab and ac such that b and c are the unit
digits of the respective numbers such that b+c is 10 and a represents
rest of the number. For example, for the numbers 256 and 254, a is 25, b
is 6, c is 4.

Step 1: Multiply b and c. Let the product be equal to k

Step 2: Find the value of a(a+1). Let the value of this be m.

The answer is mk.

Ex: 203 × 207

Sol. Here a = 20, b = 3, c = 7. b+c = 10.
m = a(a+1) = 20 × 21 = 420
k = b×c = 21
Hence the answer is mk = 42021 (Nos. are to be written side by
side and don’t confuse it with multiplication)

Question to practice:
1. 152 × 158
2. 394 × 396
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Calculation Trick: 8

Multiplication of number with 11

Ex: 3524 × 11
Step 1: Write down the number with a space before each digit:
__3 __5 __2 __4 __
Step 2: Start from the right, and add each digit to its neighbor:
__3(3 + 5) (5 + 2) (2 + 4)4__
Ans: 385

Ex: 495×11
Sol: Writing, numbers with spaces. _4_2_5_,
Addition in pair _4(4+9)(9+5)5_ = 4(13)(14)5
Unit digit will be 5, ten’s place will be 4 and sending 1 carry
over to the next number, hence, next place is 13+1 = 14, 4 will
be hundreds place, and sending 1 carry over to the next number
and hence thousands place will be 4+1 = 5
Hence, answer is 5445

Question to practice
1. 9281 × 11
2. 4556 × 11
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Calculation Trick: 9

Multiplication of a number with 9 or 99 or 999 ….

Ex: 591x 99999

Step 1: Write zeros after the number to be multiplied with

99..9. The number of zeroes will be equal to the
number of 9s in the multiplication: In this scenario, it
is 5 zeroes after 591: 59100000
Step 2: Subtract the original number form the number
obtained in step 1: It is 59100000 - 591 = 59099409

Hence, 59099409 is the answer.

Questions to practice:
1. 261456 x 99
2. 1565 x 999
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Calculation Trick: 10

Multiplying Two-Digit Numbers Ending in the Same Digit

Trick: Multiplying two-digit numbers ending in the same digit.

Example:
To find 43×63
• Multiply the tens digits: 4×6=24
• Add the units digit to the product: 24+3=27
• Multiply the units digit 3×3=09
• Combine the two number: 2709
• Hence the answer is 2709

Question to practice:
1. 38 × 78
2. 61 × 51
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Calculation Trick: 11

Multiplication of numbers close to 100.

(when both the numbers are more than 100)

Ex: 103×104

Step 1: The first number is 3 more than 100, second number is 4 more
than 100. Hence, last two digits will be 3×4 = 12.
Step 2: Since, both numbers are more than 100, we perform cross
addition

Cross addition - 103 + 4 = 107

Step 3: Combining the two numbers. Ans. is 10712

Question to practice:
1. 102×109
2. 113×111
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Calculation Trick: 12

Multiplication of numbers close to 100.

(when both the numbers are less than 100)

Ex: 92×97

Step 1: The first number is 8 less than 100, second number is 3 less
than 100. Hence, last two digits will be 8×3 = 24.
Step 2: Since, both numbers are less than 100, we perform cross
subtraction

Cross addition - 92 + 3 = 89

Step 3: Combining the two numbers. Ans. is 8924

Question to practice:
1. 95×94
2. 91×96
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Calculation Trick: 13
Multiplying Large Numbers Using Vedic Mathematics:
Trick: Use the vertically and crosswise method from Vedic mathematics for
multiplying two-digit numbers.

Example:
To find 89×93:
Step 1: Split the numbers into (80 + 9) and (90 + 3).
Step 2: Use the vertically and crosswise method:

i. Vertically: 9×3=27
ii. Crosswise: (8×3)+(9×9)=24+81=105
iii. Vertically: 8×9=72.

Combine the results, and add as follows:

i. Let the first number be as it is = 27
ii. Multiply next crosswise number with 10 : 105×10 = 1050
iii. Multiply next vertical number with 100: 72×100 = 7200
iv. Add the numbers – 8277
Answer is 8277

Question to practice:
1. 48 × 57
2. 92 × 81
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Calculation Trick: 14
Multiplying any 2-digit number by 111:

Ex: 1 - 81× 111

To multiply a two-digit number by 111, add the two digits and if the
sum is a single digit, write this digit two times in between the original
digits of the number. Here 8+1 = 9
Hence, 81× 111 = 8991

Ex: 2: 95 × 111
The same idea works if the sum of the two digits is not a single digit,
but you should write down the last digit of the sum twice, but remember
to carry if needed. Here 9 + 5 = 14
Hence, answer will be of the form: 9_ _5
In the right most blank, fill 4 (from 14, the sum) and carry over 1,
Next blank will be filled by 14 + 1(from carry over) = 15. Hence will
the blank by 5 and carry over 1.
Therefore leftmost number gets changed because of carry over and
9+1 = 10
Hence the answer is 10545

Question to practice:
1. 25× 111
2. 93 × 111
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Calculation Trick: 15
Multiplying any 3-digit number by 111:
Ex: 352× 111
Step 1: Find the following sums –
• Write the unit digit of original number : 3
• Write the sum of last two digits : 5 + 2 = 7
• Write the sum of all three digits : 3 + 5 + 2 = 10
• Write the sum of first two digits: 3 + 5 = 8
• Write the first digit : 3

Step 2: Writing the answer-

• Unit digit will be the unit digit of original number : 3
• Second last place will be filled by 5+2 = 7
• Third last place will be filled by 3+5+2 = 10. Fill the third
last place with 0 and carry over 1.
• Fourth last place will be filled by 3 + 5 + 1(carry over) = 9
• Fifth last place will be filled by 3
Hence the answer is 39073

Questions to practice:
1. 984× 111
2. 289 × 111
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Calculation Trick: 16
Square of numbers ending with 5

Let the [Link] square is to be found is of the form a5. (The unit digit
is 5 and the rest of the number is represented by a). For example, for the
number 245, a is 24.

Step 1: Find the value of a(a+1). Let the value of this be m

The answer is m25

Ex: 2852
Sol: Here a = 28,
m = a(a+1) = 28×29 = 812
Hence the answer is m25 = 81225 (Nos. are to be written side by
side and don’t confuse it with multiplication)

Question to practice:
1. 4552
2. 3352
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Calculation Trick: 17

Square of numbers close to 50

(both numbers are more than 50)

Step 1: Let the number be a more than 50.

Step 2: Find a2
Step 3: Add a to 25.
Step 4: Keep the first two digits found in step 3 and next two digits
found in step 2.

Ex: 522
Sol: No. is 2 more than 50. Square of 2 is 04.
Since the number is more than 50, we add 2 to 25 = 27
Hence, answer is 2704

Question to practice:
1. 572
2. 582
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Calculation Trick: 18

Square of numbers close to 50

(both numbers are less than 50)

Step 1: Let the number be a less than 50.

Step 2: Find a2
Step 3: Subtract a from 25.
Step 4: Keep the first two digits found in step 3 and next two digits
found in step 2.

Ex: 472
Sol: No. is 3 less than 50. Square of 3 is 09.
Since the number is less than 50, we subtract 3 from 25 = 22
Hence, answer is 2209

Question to practice:
1. 412
2. 452
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Calculation Trick: 19

Finding square of any number

Ex: 782

Step 1: Write square of 7 and 8 sideways. 72 = 49, 82=64, therefore

writing it sideways, we get 4964
Step 2: Multiply all the digits present in the term 782. 7×8×2 = 112
Step 3: Adding 112 to 4964 leaving the unit digit place.
4964 + 112_ = 6084
Ans: 6084

Question to practice:
1. 712
2. 372
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Calculation Trick: 20

Finding Remainder when a number is divided by 4

No matter how big the number is, consider the last two digits of the
number.

The remainder we get by dividing the last two digit numbers by 4, is the
answer to the remainder we will get by dividing the original number by
4

Example:

• To find the remainder of 12345 when divided by 4

• Trick -
• Last two digits of 12345 are 45
• 45 divided by 4 gives remainder 1
• Hence 12345 when divided by 4 gives remainder 1

Question to practice:
1. Find the remainder when 2548965 is divided by 4
2. Find the remainder when 95516 is divided by 4
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Calculation Trick: 21

Finding Remainder when a number is divided by 8

No matter how big the number is, consider the last three digits of the
number.

The remainder we get by dividing the last three digit numbers by 4, is

the answer to the remainder we will get by dividing the original number
by 4

Example:

• To find the remainder of 95212345 when divided by 8

• Trick -
• Last three digits of 95212345 are 345
• 345 divided by 8 gives remainder 1
• Hence 95212345 when divided by 8 gives remainder 1

Question to practice:
1. Find the remainder when 67872548965 is divided by 8
2. Find the remainder when 35495516 is divided by 8
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Calculation Trick: 22

Finding Remainder when a number is divided by 9

Example:

• To find the remainder of 12345 when divided by 9

• Trick - Add the digits of the given number. If the number obtained
is single digit number, this is your answer. If not, again add the
digits of the number obtained and keep on adding until you obtain
a single digit number. Finally obtained single digit number is your
answer.
• For 12345 : Add the digits -> 1+ 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 = 15
• Add the digits of 15 again : 1 + 5 = 6
• Answer is 6.

Question to practice:
1. Find the remainder when 2548965 is divided by 9
2. Find the remainder when 95516 is divided by 9
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Calculation Trick: 23
Finding Remainder when a number is divided by 3

Example:

Trick:
Step 1: Add the digits of the given number whose remainder is to be
found when divided by 3. You will obtain a new number. Add
its digits again to obtain a new number. Add its digits again
and keep on repeating the process until you reach to a single
digit number.
Step 2: Divide this single digit number by 3 and the remainder you get
will be the remainder of the original number when divided by
3.

Example: To find the remainder of 925486 when divided by 3

Step 1: Add the digits -> 9+2+5+4+8+6 = 34
Step 2: Add the digits again -> 3+4 = 7
Step 3: Dividing 7 by 3 dives remainder 1.
Hence, on dividing 925486 by 3, we get remainder 1

Question to practice:
1. Find the remainder when 2548965 is divided by 3
2. Find the remainder when 95516 is divided by 3
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Calculation Trick: 24

Checking Divisibility by 7

Trick: Double the last digit and subtract it from the rest of the number.
With this newly obtained number, repeat the process again
until you cannot do it further. If this finally obtained number is
divisible by 7, your original number is also divisible by 7.

Example:

To check if 2032 is divisible by 7:

• Double the last digit: 2×2=4.
• Subtract from the rest of the number: 203 − 4= 199
• Double the last digit of 199: 9×2=18
• Subtract from the rest of the number: 19 - 18 = 1
• 1 is not divisible by 7, hence 2032 is not divisible by 7.

Question to practice
1. Check if 8965 is divisible by 7
2. Check if 95516 is divisible by 7
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Calculation Trick: 25

Checking Divisibility by 13

Trick: Multiply the unit digit with 4 and add it to the rest of the
number. With this newly obtained number, repeat the process
again until you cannot do it further. If this finally obtained
number is divisible by 13, your original number is also divisible
by 13.

Example:

To check if 2032 is divisible by 13:

• Multiply the last digit by 4: 2×4=8.

• Add to the rest of the number: 203 + 8= 211
• Multiply the last digit of 211 by 4: 1×4=4
• Add to the rest of the number: 21 + 4 = 25
• 25 is not divisible by 13, hence 2032 is not divisible by 13.

Question to practice:
1. Check if 8965 is divisible by 13
2. Check if 95516 is divisible by 13
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Calculation Trick: 26

Checking Divisibility by 17

Trick: Multiply the unit digit by 5 and subtract it from the rest of the
number. With this newly obtained number, repeat the process
again until you cannot do it further. If this finally obtained
number is divisible by 17, your original number is also divisible
by 17.

Example:

To check if 2032 is divisible by 17:

• Multiply the last digit by 5: 2×5=10.
• Subtract from the rest of the number: 203 − 10= 193
• Multiply the last digit of 193 by 5: 3×5=15
• Subtract from the rest of the number: 19 - 15 = 4
• 4 is not divisible by 17, hence 2032 is not divisible by 17.

Question to practice:
1. Check if 8965 is divisible by 17
2. Check if 95516 is divisible by 17
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Calculation Trick: 27

Checking Divisibility by 19
Trick: Double the last digit and add it to the rest of the number. With this newly obtained number, repeat
the process again until you cannot do it further. If this finally obtained number is divisible by 19,
your original number is also divisible by 19.

Example:

To check if 2032 is divisible by 19:

• Multiply the last digit by 5: 2×5=10.
• Add to the rest of the number: 203 + 4= 207
• Double the last digit of 207: 7×2=14
• Add to the rest of the number: 20 + 14 = 34
• 34 is not divisible by 19, hence 2032 is not divisible by 19.

Question to practice:
1. Check if 8965 is divisible by 19
2. Check if 95516 is divisible by 19
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Calculation Trick: 28

Counting number of triangles 1

Step 1: Mark the number of smallest triangles.

Add the marked numbers: 1+2+3 = 6

There are 6 triangles in total.

Questions to practice:
1. Find the number of triangles
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Calculation Trick: 29
Counting number of triangles 2

Step 1: Mark the number of smallest triangles and add the markings
1+2+3 = 6

Step 2: Count the number of horizontal lines. In this scenario it is 2

Ans. is product of numbers in step 1 and step 2.
Hence, ans. is 6×2 = 12

Questions to practice:
1. Find the number of triangles
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Calculation Trick: 30
Counting number of triangles 3

Step 1: Check out all the horizontal lines.

In this figure, there are 3 bases.

Step 2: Mark the smallest triangles

corresponding to each base
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Add markings for each base separately –

Base - 1: 1 + 2 + 3+ 4 = 10
Base - 2: 1 + 2 + 3 = 6
Base - 3: 1 + 2 = 3
Add all the three numbers obtained :10 + 6 + 3 = 19

Questions to practice:
1. Find the number of triangles
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Calculation Trick: 31
Counting number of triangles 4

Step 1: Mark the smallest triangles

Step 2: Multiply the largest number in the markings by 2: 4 × 2 = 8

The answer is 8

Questions to practice:
1. Find the number of triangles
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Calculation Trick: 32

Counting number of triangles 5

Step 1: Count the number of parts in which an edge is divided into

Step 2: Create a sequence with following properties:

• Number of terms in the sequence equals the number of
parts obtained in part 1.
• kth term of the sequence is sum of first k natural numbers
• In this scenario, it will be -
• 1st term : 1, 2nd term: 1+2 = 3, 3rd term : 1+2+3 = 6, hence
the sequence is 1, 3, 6
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Step 3: Add all the terms in the sequence: 10

Step 4: Start picking terms from alternatively from right to left
leaving 1st term from right and add the picked up terms. In this
scenario, we leave 6, pick up 3, leave 1. Hence sum of picked
terms is 3
Step 5: To obtain the answer, add the sums obtained in step 3 and step
4 : 10 + 3 = 13

Questions to practice:
1. Find the number of triangles
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Calculation Trick: 33
Finding the number of squares
(when number of columns = number of rows)

Step 1: Count the number of rows. In this scenario, it is 3

Step 2: Add the square of all the numbers till 0
Ans. is 32 + 22 + 12 + 02 = 68

Question to practice:
1. Find the number of squares
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Calculation Trick: 34
Finding the number of squares
(when number of columns ≠ number of rows)

Step 1: Count the number of rows and columns. In this scenario, it is 3

rows and 4 columns.
Step 2: Multiply highest no. of column to highest no. of row. Multiply
second highest nos. of both, then third highest and so on.
Step 3: Add the numbers.

Ans. is (3×4) + (2×3) + (1×2) + (0×1) = 20

Question to practice:
1. Find the number of squares
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Calculation Trick: 35
Counting Rectangles in a Grid

Mark the number of smallest rectangles in both rows and columns

Add the markings in both rows and columns separately.

Rows → 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 = 10
Columns → 1 + 2 + 3 = 6
Next multiply the two numbers: 10 × 6 = 60
Hence 60 is the answer

Question to practice:
1. Find the number of rectangles:
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Calculation Trick: 36
Counting Diagonals in a Polygon

Step 1: Mark the vertices with numbers

Step 2: Add the markings -> 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 = 21

Step 3: Subtract twice the number of vertices from the number
obtained in step 2: 21 - (2× 6) = 9
Hence, 9 is the required answer.

Question to practice:
1. Find the number of diagonals:
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Calculation Trick: 37
Counting Cubes in a 3D Grid
Trick:

Step 1: Mark the smallest cubes in length, breadth and height.

Ex: Add the cube of marked numbers: 33 + 23 + 13 = 36

36 is the answer.

Question to practice:
1. Find the number of cubes:
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Calculation Trick: 38
Counting Regions Created by Lines

Step 1: Mark the number of lines

Step 2: Add the markings

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 = 15
15 is your answer.

Questions to Practice:
1. Find the number of regions in which
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Calculation Trick: 39

Finding the number of divisors of a number

Ex: 792

Step 1: Write the prime factorization of the number

Here 792 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 11 = 23x32x111
Step 2: For each power of prime number, add 1 to each power
and write those numbers.
Here it is:
Power of 2: 3, therefore number to be formed 3 + 1 = 4
Power of 3: 2, therefore number to be formed 2 + 1 = 3
Power of 11: 1, therefore number to be formed 1+1 = 2

Step 3: To obtain the answer, multiply the numbers obtained in

step 2: 4x3x2 = 24

Hence number of divisors of 792 are 24.

Questions to practice:
1. Find the number of divisors of
(a) 244 (b) 5546
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Calculation Trick: 40

How many times 3 is written when writing counting from

1 to 10n?

Ex: Counting the number of 3 when writing counting from 1

to 1000

Step 1: Count the number of zeros in 10n - Here, it is 1000,

hence number of zeroes is 3.
Step 2: Multiply the number obtained in step 1 by 10n-1. Here, n
= 3, hence, n - 1 = 2.

Answer is 3 x 102 = 300

The same trick works for finding the count of any single digit
number except 0 and 1.

Questions to practice:
1. Find the number of times 2 will be written when writing the
counting from 1 to 10000
2. Find the number of times 7 will be written when writing the
counting from 1 to 1000000
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Calculation Trick: 41
Estimating Square Root of any number:
Theory to know before
What are perfect squares?
Numbers which are squares of a natural number are called perfect
squares. Eg. 25 is a perfect square as it is the square of natural number 5
whereas 7 is not a perfect square as it is not a square of any natural
number.
Ex: Estimating √55
Step 1: Finding the largest perfect square smaller than 55, the number
whose square root we have to estimate: here it is 49 ( = 72)
Step 2: Calculate the gap between the number and perfect square we
found in step 1: 55 - 49 = 6
Step 3: Divide this gap by the square root of perfect square obtained
in step 1: here it will be 6/7 = 0.857
Step 4: Divide the number obtained in step 3 by 2: 0.857 / 2 = 0.429
Step 5: To obtain the answer, add the number obtained in step 4 to the
square root of perfect square obtained in step 1: 7 + 0.429 =
7.429
Hence, 7.429 is the answer

Questions to practice:
1. Estimate the square root of the following numbers:
(a) 69 (b) 241
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Calculation Trick: 42

Estimating any fractional power of numbers

between 1 and 2

Ex: (1.54)⅛

Step1: Subtract 1 from the number: 1.54 - 1 = 0.54

Step 2: Multiply the fractional power with the number obtained
: 0.54 x ⅛ = 0.0675
Step 3: Add 1 to the number obtained in step 2: 1 + 0.0675 =
1.0675

Hence, 1.0675 is the estimated answer

Questions to practice:
1. Estimate the square root of the following numbers:
(a) (1.92)1/7 (b) (1.66)3/8
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Calculation Trick: 43

Estimating any fractional power of numbers

between 0 and 1

Ex: (0.72)1/6

Step 1: Subtract the given number from 1: 1 - 0.72 = 0.28

Step 2: Multiply the fractional power with the number obtained
: 0.28 x (1/6) = 0.047
Step 3: Subtract the number obtained in step 2 from 1: 1 - 0.047
= 0.953

Hence, 0.953 is the estimated answer

Questions to practice:
1. Estimate the square root of the following numbers:
(a) (0.92)1/7 (b) (0.66)3/8
48

Logic and IQ Booster

Puzzles
49

Magic Triangle
Fill up the circles in triangle with single digit numbers from 1 to 6 such that sum of
each edge is 9

Working Idea:
Observation - Numbers written in circles at vertices of triangle will used two times to
create the given sum. Hence, we have to fill it with numbers in such a way that
vertices numbers can be used in two different ways to create the sum.

To start the question : Try to start with the largest number given to be involved in the
sum. Here, it is 6. Notice, to create sum of 9 using 6, there is only one way: 6 + 2+ 1 =
9. Since, there’s only one way to which involves 6, it cannot appear on the vertex,
implying 1 and 2 will appear on vertex and 6 will appear in the middle of edge.
50

Major part is done, now just give a trial and it will be easily solved: for edge
containing 1, you need to make a sum of 8, which can be made via 4+4 (which is not
allowed as 4 can be used only once), therefore, the edge containing 1 will have 5 and
3. Now 5 will not come on vertex, because if it comes on vertex, then 2 will have to be
used twice in the remaining edge which is not allowed. Hence, 3 on vertex and magic
triangle is completed.

Questions to Practice:

1. Form the magic triangle using 1 to 6 uniquely for the following sum:
(a) 10 (b) 11 (c) 12
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Magic Square:
You have to fill the 9 boxes with numbers 1 to 9 such that each number appears
exactly once and sum of entries in each row, each column and each diagonal, all are
equal.

Step 1: Let the sum of numbers in each row be k. Now when sum will be taken over
3 rows. Notice all the three rows together will contain all the 9 numbers.
Therefore the addition will be equal to 1+2+...+9 = 45. Also, since each row
adds up to k. Hence, sum of three rows is 3k. Therefore 3k = 45, implying k
= 15. Each row, column and diagonal add up to 15.
Step 2: Consider the middle most square. Notice it appears in four different sums.
The sum of second column, second row and both diagonals. Hence, with the
help of number filled in the middle, the sum 15 should be able to be written
in 4 different ways. After trying, you’ll get 5 is only such number and rest
four pairs will be (9,1), (8,2), (7,3), (6,4). Hence, 5 will appear in the middle
with rest of the entries of 2nd row, column and diagonals to be filled with
the four pairs written above.
52

Step 3: The colored square will appear in 3 sums - 1st row, 1st column, 1st diagonal.
Therefore, with the help of this number, sum should be able to be written in 3
ways. One possibility is 6 or 4 or 8 or 2. Hence, these four numbers should
appear in the diagonal corners arranged properly.

Step 4: Now fill rest of the squares satisfying the sum criteria
53

Bridge Crossing Problem

Four people need to cross a rickety bridge at night. Unfortunately, they have only one
torch and the bridge is too dangerous to cross without one. The bridge is only strong
enough to support two people at a time. Not all people take the same time to cross the
bridge. Times for four people: 1 min, 2 mins, 5 mins and 10 mins. What is the
minimum amount of time required to cross the bridge provided if two people are
crossing the bridge, then the person taking the longer time will be the time taken by
both of them together to cross the bridge.

Working Idea:
Observe, that when sending people, if persons, taking maximum times : 5 min. and 10
min. are sent separately, then just making these two people cross will take up 15 min.
Therefore, to reduce the time, they can be sent together.
But that pair will not be the first one to be sent because someone has to bring the torch
back, so that will take a lot of time.
Hence, we can follow the following strategy:
First people taking 1 min. and 2 min. can be sent together. Time taken: 2 min
Next person taking 1 min. will bring back the torch. Time taken 1 min.
He hand overs the torch to the group of 5 min. and 10 min. People and then these two
come together. Time taken: 10 min.
After reaching the other end, 5 min. and 10 min. people group hand over the torch to 2
min. person and 2 min. person crosses the bridge. Time taken: 2 min,
54

Finally 1 min. and 2 min. Person cross the bridge again: Time taken: 2 min.
Hence, total time taken: 2 + 1 + 10 + 2 + 2 = 17 min.
Hence, minimum time taken is 17 min.

Questions to practice:
1. Repeat the problem for the following groups
(a) 4 people taking time 1 min., 2 min., 7 min., 10 min.
(b) 4 people taking time 2 min., 3 min., 7 min., 10 min.
(c) 4 people taking time 1 min., 2 min., 7 min., 12 min.
55

Rope Burning Problem

You are given two identical ropes (identical in length, material etc.) and a lighter. You
have to measure 45 min. if it takes 1 hr. for one rope to burn fully.

Note: You don’t have any markings on rope or scale to indicate the length measure
of rope.

Trying to measure 45 min. Directly is going to be tough. Let us try to calculate some
easier durations.
If you notice, calculating 30 min. is going to be easy. Take a rope. Light up both of its
ends simultaneously. The fire struck at both ends of the rope will meet exactly in the
middle completely burning the rope. For burning half of rope, from one end it would
take 30 min. Hence, this way we can calculate 30 min.
Now to calculate 45 min., light up 1st rope from both ends simultaneously and light up
2nd rope from one end at that very same time. When 1st rope is completely burnt, 30
min. would have passed and 2nd rope would have burnt exactly half. At this very
moment, light up the 2nd rope from the other end also.
56

Now, half rope when burning from one end only would have taken 30 min. more.
Therefore, when burnt from both ends, it will take 15 min. more.
30 min. Calculated earlier, 15 min. after that.
Hence, 30 min. + 15 min. = 45 min.
57

Creating all the possible numbers using given

two numbers:

Given two numbers 456 and 294, what all numbers can be created using
the linear combination of these two? Can we create all the natural
numbers? If no, then give the required conditions on the two numbers to
be chosen to do so?

Any number that will be made using the linear combination of 456 and
294 will be of the form : 456x + 294y. Notice, 6 is a common factor to
both 456 and 294.

Therefore, 456x + 294y = 6(76x + 49y). Hence, any linear combination

of 456 and 294 will be of the form 6k. Therefore, only multiples of 6
can be formed using 456 and 294.
To create 6, upon trying, we get x = 20, y = 31.

If you take two general numbers a and b, and see their linear
combination ax+by, notice, if a and b have any common factor, d, then
it can be factored and we can conclude that linear combination will
always be a multiple of d. Therefore, we need that highest common
factor of chosen numbers should be 1 i.e. HCF(a,b) = 1 is a necessary
condition.
58

This is also a sufficient condition. Proof is below:

We will give a way to construct any number using linear combination of
a and b we wish to if HCF(a,b) = 1

By Bezout's Theorem, For two numbers, a and b, there exist integers x

and y such that ax + by = HCF(a,b)

If HCF(a,b) = 1, then by the above theorem, there exists x1 and y1, such
that ax1 + by1 = 1.

Now to create any number k, multiply the linear combination ax1 + by1
with k, to get k(ax1 + by1) = k(1). Hence, to create k, the linear
combination will be k(ax1 + by1) = a(kx1)+ b(ky1).
Hence, answer.

Question to practice:
1. Can all natural numbers be created using 5 and 6?
2. Find all the natural numbers that can be created using 25
and 35.
3. Find all the natural numbers that can be created using the
numbers 64 and 51.
59

Lets Bet on a Card Game

A casino offers a card game using a normal deck of 52 cards. The rule is
that you tum over two cards each time. For each pair, if both are black,
they go to the dealer's pile; if both are red, they go to your pile; if one
black and one red, they are discarded. The process is repeated until you
two go through all 52 cards. If you have more cards in your pile, you
win $100; otherwise (including ties) you get nothing. The casino allows
you to negotiate the price you want to pay for the game. How much
would you be willing to pay to play this game?

Sol: This surely is an insidious casino. No matter how the cards are
arranged, you and the dealer will always have the same number of cards
in your piles.

Why?
Because each pair of discarded cards have one black card and one red
card, so equal number of red and black cards are discarded. As a result,
the number of red cards left for you and the number of black cards left
for the dealer are always the same. The dealer always wins! So we
should not pay anything to play the game
60

Door To Offer:

You are facing two doors. One leads to your job offer and the other
leads to exit. In front of either door is a guard. One guard always tells
lies and the other always tells the truth. You can only ask one guard one
yes/no question. Assuming you do want to get the job offer, what
question will you ask?

Sol: This is another classic brain teaser (maybe a little out-of-date in my

opinion). One popular answer is to ask one guard: "Would the other
guard say that you are guarding the door to the offer?" If he answers
yes, choose the other door; if he answers no, choose the door this guard
is standing in front of.

There are two possible scenarios:

1. Truth teller guards the door to offer; Liar guards the door to exit.
2. Truth teller guards the door to exit; Liar guards the door to offer.

If we ask a guard a direct question such as "Are you guarding the door
to the offer?"

For scenario 1, both guards will answer yes; for scenario 2, both guards
will answer no.

So a direct question does not help us solve the problem. The key is to
involve both guards in the questions as the popular answer does.
61

For scenario 1, if we happen to choose the truth teller, he will answer no

since the liar will say no; if we happen to choose the liar guard, he will
answer yes since the truth teller will say no.

For scenario 2, if we happen to choose the truth teller, he will answer

yes since the liar will say yes; if we happen to choose the liar guard, he
will answer no since the truth teller with say yes. So for both scenarios,
if the answer is no, we choose that door; if the answer is yes, we choose
the other door.
62

Message delivery

You need to communicate with your colleague in Greenwich via a

messenger service. Your documents are sent in a padlock box.
Unfortunately the messenger service is not secure, so anything inside an
unlocked box will be lost (including any locks you place inside the box)
during the delivery. The high-security padlocks you and your colleague
each use have only one key which the person placing the lock owns.
How can you securely send a document to your colleague?

Hint: You can have more than one lock on the box

Sol: If you have a document to deliver, clearly you cannot deliver it in

an unlocked box. So the first step is to deliver it to Greenwich in a
locked box. Since you are the person who has the key to that lock, your
colleague cannot open the box to get the document. Somehow you need
to remove the lock before he can get the document, which means the
box should be sent back to you before your colleague can get the
document. So what can he do before he sends back the box? He can
place a second lock on the box, which he has the key to! Once the box is
back to you, you remove your own lock and send the box back to your
colleague. He opens his own lock and gets the document.

So what can he do before he sends back the box? He can place a second
lock on the box, which he has the key to! Once the box is back to you,
you remove your own lock and send the box back to your colleague. He
opens his own lock and gets the document.
63

Have we met before?

You have to prove that in a group of 6 people, there is a group of 3 mutual friends or a
group of 3 people who are strangers to each other. Assume any two among two

Consider 6 vertices representing six people of the group. Consider edges drawn
between every two vertices.

We colour an edge blue between two vertices (or two people) if they are friends, and
red if they are strangers.

Consider vertex A
There are 5 edges coming out of it. They can be coloured in one of the following way
:
• All 5 red
• 4 red, 1 blue
• 3 red, 2 blue,
• 2 red, 3 blue
• 1 red, 4 blue
• All 5 blue

Notice, in every possible scenario, there are at least 3 edges of same colour (either red
or blue). Without loss of generality, let us consider the case of at least 3 blue as
follows -
64

If BD is blue, then A,B and B,D and A,D will be friends and hence we will get a group
of 3 friends ABD. Therefore let, edge BD be red.
By the same argument, if CD is blue then ACD will be a group of 3 friends. Hence, let
CD also be red.

Now consider the edge BC - if BC is red, then we get a group of 3 strangers BCD, or if
BC is blue then we get a group of 3 mutual friends ABC.

Hence, in every scenario, you will always find a group of 3 mutual friends or 3 mutual
strangers.
65

No Consecutive Neighbours:

Fill the following 8 boxes with nos. 1 to 8 such that no consecutive nos. are
neighbours. (Two squares and neighbours if they share either a vertex or edge)

There are two boxes with maximum neighbours shown below. Let us consider one of
them.(the ticked one)

Notice: the number filled in the ticked box, no consecutive number can come in the
neighbouring boxes. Hence, putting cross on the neighbouring boxes.
66

And you can see, there is only one box where neighbouring number can come, hence,
the number to be filled in the ticked box should have only one consecutive number.
Same for the other coloured box. Therefore the two numbers will be 1 and 8 in the
coloured boxes and their consecutive numbers 2 and 7 will be in the extreme boxes.
Now will rest of the boxes following the required condition.
67

Answers:

Calculation Trick 1: Q1) 652525 Q2) 485305

Calculation Trick 2: Q1) 256 Q2) 529
Calculation Trick 3: Q1)87655 Q2) 2351431
Calculation Trick 4: Q1)490770 Q2) 2582565
Calculation Trick 5: Q1) 127426.25 Q2) 7820.63
Calculation Trick 6: Q1) 1097.896 Q2) 916.8
Calculation Trick 7: Q1) 24016 Q2) 156024
Calculation Trick 8: Q1) 102091 Q2) 50116
Calculation Trick 9: Q1) 25884144 Q2) 1563435
Calculation Trick 10: Q1) 2964 Q2) 3111
Calculation Trick 11: Q1) 11118 Q2) 12543
Calculation Trick 12: Q1) 8930 Q2) 8736
Calculation Trick 13: Q1) 2736 Q2) 7452
Calculation Trick 14: Q1) 2775 Q2) 10323
Calculation Trick 15: Q1) 109224 Q2) 32079
Calculation Trick 16: Q1) 207025 Q2) 112225
Calculation Trick 17: Q1) 3249 Q2) 3364
Calculation Trick 18: Q1) 1681 Q2) 2025
Calculation Trick 19: Q1) 5041 Q2) 1369
Calculation Trick 20: Q1) 1 Q2) 0
Calculation Trick 21: Q1) 5 Q2) 4
Calculation Trick 22: Q1) 3 Q2) 8
Calculation Trick 23: Q1) 0 Q2) 2
Calculation Trick 24: Q1) No Q2) No
Calculation Trick 25: Q1) No Q2) No
Calculation Trick 26: Q1) No Q2) No
Calculation Trick 27: Q1) No Q2) No
Calculation Trick 28: Q1) 21 Q2) 36
68

Calculation Trick 29: Q1) 84 Q2) 180

Calculation Trick 30: Q1) 48 Q2) 77
Calculation Trick 31: Q1) 12 Q2) 16
Calculation Trick 32: Q1) 27 Q2) 48
Calculation Trick 33: Q1) 30 Q2) 55
Calculation Trick 34: Q1) 154 Q2) 112
Calculation Trick 35: Q1) 945 Q2) 588
Calculation Trick 36: Q1) 20 Q2) 35
Calculation Trick 37: Q1) 100 Q2) 225
Calculation Trick 38: Q1) 15 Q2) 21
Calculation Trick 39: Q1) 6 Q2) 8
Calculation Trick 40: Q1) 4000 Q2) 600000
Calculation Trick 41: Q1) 8.3125 Q2) 15.534
Calculation Trick 42: Q1) 1.131 Q2) 1.2475
Calculation Trick 43: Q1) 0.989 Q2) 0.8725

Logic and IQ Booster Puzzles -

Magic Triangle:
69

Bridge Crossing Problem:

a. 17 min. (b) 21 min. (c) 19
min.
Creating all the possible numbers using given two numbers:
(a) Yes (b) All the multiples of 5 only
(c) Yes