All questions of Problem Solving for SSC CGL Exam

Eddie is 7 years older than Brian. If Brian is x years old, then how old was Eddie 11 years ago?
  • a)
    x - 18
  • b)
    x - 4
  • c)
    x - 7
  • d)
    7x - 11
  • e)
    x + 18
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

We can model this by getting Eddie’s age now and then figuring out how old he was 11 years ago. Right now, he is x+7 . Eleven years ago, Eddie was x + 7 -11 = x - 4 years old. This is answer B.
a. The correct calculation should be x+ 7 (to get Eddie’s age now) - 11 , which is x - 4 .
b. Correct
c. This is an incorrect calculation of Eddie’s present age.
d. This response does not relate their ages properly.
e. This also does not express their age relationship properly.

Working alone at their respective constant rates, A can complete a task in ‘a’ days and B in ‘b’ days. They take turns in doing the task with each working 2 days at a time. If A starts they finish the task in exactly 10 days. If B starts, they take half a day more. How long does it take to complete the task if they both work together?
  • a)
    46/9
  • b)
    50/9
  • c)
    50/11
  • d)
    36/7
  • e)
    210/41
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Lakshya Menon answered
Given:
A can complete the task in 'a' days
B can complete the task in 'b' days

Approach:
1. Let's first calculate the fraction of work done by A and B in a day.
2. Then, we will calculate the fraction of work done by A and B in 2 days.
3. Using this information, we will calculate the number of days taken when they work together.

Calculations:

Fraction of work done by A in a day:
A completes 1/a of the work in a day

Fraction of work done by B in a day:
B completes 1/b of the work in a day

Fraction of work done by A and B in 2 days:
In 2 days, A completes 2/a of the work
In 2 days, B completes 2/b of the work

Given conditions:
When A starts, they finish the task in exactly 10 days.
A works 2 days at a time, so in 10 days, A works 5 sets of 2 days.
Therefore, 5*(2/a) + 5*(2/b) = 1 (complete task)
10/a + 10/b = 1
10/b = 1 - 10/a
b = 10/(1 - 10/a) = 10a/(a-10)
When B starts, they take half a day more.
Similarly, 5*(2/b) + 5*(2/a) = 1
10/b + 10/a = 1
10/a = 1 - 10/b
a = 10/(1 - 10/b) = 10b/(b-10)

Calculating time taken when they work together:
Let x be the number of days taken when A and B work together
A completes x/2 sets of work
B completes x/2 sets of work
x/2 * (2/a + 2/b) = 1
x/2 * (a+b)/ab = 1
x = 2ab/(a+b)

Substitute the values of a and b:
x = 2(10a/(a-10))(10b/(b-10)) / (10a/(a-10) + 10b/(b-10))
x = 36/7 days
Therefore, when A and B work together, they complete the task in 36/7 days. Option D is the correct answer.

If M is the set of positive multiples of 2 less than 150 and N is the set of positive multiples of 9 less than 150, how many members are there in M n N?
  • a)
    0
  • b)
    8
  • c)
    9
  • d)
    18
  • e)
    74
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Arya Yadav answered
The only elements in both sets are multiples of 2 x 9 or 18. The multiples of 18 less than 150 are 18, 36, 54, 72, 90, 108, 126 and 144. These are the 8 elements that are in the intersection of both sets. Thus, B is the correct response.
a. (0) There are elements that are in both sets.
b. (8) Correct
c. (9) There are 8 elements in both sets, not 9.
d. (18) This is the number that the elements are multiples of.
e. (74) This is the number of multiples of 2 less than 150

Alan has two more than twice as many chocolates as does Alice, and half as many chocolates as does Nadia. If Alice has ‘a’ number of chocolates, then in terms of ‘a’, how many chocolates do Alan, Alice and Nadia have?
  • a)
    2a+ 4
  • b)
    5a+5
  • c)
    6a+7
  • d)
    7a+6
  • e)
    9a+4
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

We know that Alice has 'a' chocolates. Alan has 2a+2 chocolates from the given statement in the question. Nadia has double the chocolates as Alan has, so she has 4a+4 chocolates.
Adding these, we get 4a+4+2a+2+a = 7a +6 . So ,Option (d) is correct.

If Dave drove one-third of the distance of his trip on the first day, and 60 miles on the second day, he figured out that he still had 1/2 of the trip to drive. What was the total length, in miles, of his trip?
  • a)
    360
  • b)
    180
  • c)
    120
  • d)
    60
  • e)
    90
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

We can model this situation by the equation 1/3x + 60 = 1/2x . Solving for x, we get x=360 , which is answer A.
a. Correct
b. This is the number of miles he drove before he figured out how much of his trip was left.
c. This amount is how much he drove the first day.
d. This is how much he drove the second day.
e. This amount is half of the distance he covered by the end of the second day.

The use of trade barriers to protect a nation’s industries from foreign competition is called
  • a)
    Free Trade
  • b)
    Protectionism
  • c)
    Balance of trade
  • d)
    Quotas
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Pranav Sinha answered
Protectionism
Protectionism refers to the use of trade barriers by a country to protect its domestic industries from foreign competition. This is done with the intention of safeguarding jobs, industries, and national security.

Types of Trade Barriers
There are various types of trade barriers that can be implemented to achieve protectionism, such as tariffs, quotas, subsidies, and regulations. These barriers make imported goods more expensive or difficult to access, thereby giving domestic industries a competitive advantage.

Reasons for Protectionism
1. Job Protection: One of the main reasons for protectionism is to protect jobs in domestic industries that may be at risk due to foreign competition.
2. National Security: Some countries may use trade barriers to protect industries that are deemed critical for national security.
3. Infant Industries: Protectionism can also be used to support and nurture new or emerging industries until they become competitive on a global scale.
4. Retaliation: Countries may use protectionist measures in response to unfair trade practices or to retaliate against other countries.

Criticism of Protectionism
While protectionism may provide short-term benefits to domestic industries, it is often criticized for its negative long-term effects. These include higher prices for consumers, reduced competition and innovation, and potential trade wars with other countries.

Conclusion
In conclusion, protectionism is the use of trade barriers to shield domestic industries from foreign competition. While it may have its advantages in certain situations, it is important to weigh the costs and benefits before resorting to protectionist measures.

A racecar driver has completed 12 1/2 laps of a 50 lap race. What fractional part of the race remains?
  • a)
    1/4
  • b)
    1/5
  • c)
    3/4
  • d)
    4/5
  • e)
    75/2
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

The driver has 50 - 12 1/2 or 37 1/2 laps to go out of the . Therefore, (37 1/2)/50 is the fractional part of the race remaining. This is equivalent to 3/4, which is answer C.
a. (1/4) This is the fraction of the race that the driver has completed.
b. (1/5) This comes from mistakenly dividing by , the latter number coming from adding both lap amounts. The race is only .
c. Correct
d. (4/5) This comes from taking the fraction in response B and subtracting it from 1.
e. (75/2) This comes from , but that’s how many laps are left - the driver is only in one race, not !

If x2 - y2 = 48, the 2/3(x+y)(x-y) = 
  • a)
    16
  • b)
    72
  • c)
    96
  • d)
    32
  • e)
    64
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Arya Yadav answered
The difference of two squares (x2-y2) equals 48, and the factors are (x+y)(x-y), so we can just replace both factors in the second expression by 48 and multiply by 2/3 to get 32 . This is choice D.
a. This involves canceling the 3 into the 48 , but forgetting to multiply by 2 .
b. This comes from multiplying 3/2 by 48.
c. This is 48 x 2 , but it was not divided by 3.
d. Correct
e. This is 4/3 times 48.

Milk needs to be thinned to a ratio of 3 parts milk to 2 parts water. The milk-man has by mistake added water so that he has 8 liters of milk which is half water and half milk. What must he add to make the proportions of the mixture correct?
  • a)
    1 liter milk
  • b)
    1 liter water
  • c)
    2 liters milk
  • d)
    1.5 liter milk
  • e)
    3 Liter milk
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

We note that the final ratio must be 3:2 for milk and water respectively. Now, according to given scenario in the question, we have eight liters of solution with 4 liters milk and 4 liters water, which makes it 2:2. In order to make it 3:2, we add 2 liters milk. This would make a total of 6 liters milk and 4 liters water i.e. 6:4 which can be simplified to 3:2.

At Bruno’s Video World, the regular price for a DVD is d dollars. How many DVDs can be purchased for x dollars when the DVDs are on sale at 20% off the regular price?
  • a)
    4/5x
  • b)
    5/4x
  • c)
    4/5d
  • d)
    4x/5d
  • e)
    5x/4d
Correct answer is option 'E'. Can you explain this answer?

Since you have x dollars to spend, you must divide x by the sale price of a CD, which is (100%-20%)d or 80%d . 80%d can be written as a fraction in lowest terms as 4/5d . Therefore, you are dividing x/(4/5d) = 5x/4d. This is answer E.
a. This is the percent of the original price times x.
b. This is the reciprocal of the sale fraction times x.
c. This is the fraction of the original price, which represents the sale price.
d. This comes from incorrectly handling the fraction in the denominator.
e. Correct

Which of the following is not the objective of TRIPS?
  • a)
    Establishing barriers on international trade
  • b)
    Protection of IPR
  • c)
    Setting disputes on IPR between member countries
  • d)
    Enforcing IPR on member countries
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

TRIPS objectives:

Reducing trade distortions and bottlenecks.
Promoting effective and adequate intellectual property rights (IPR) protection.
Ensuring that measures and procedures for enforcing intellectual property rights (IPR) do not become hurdles to legitimate commerce.
Provision on dispute settlement.
Thus, establishing barriers to international trade is not the objective of TRIPS.

Which of the following is not the objective of TRIPS?
  • a)
    Establishing barriers on international trade
  • b)
    Protection of IPR
  • c)
    Setting disputes on IPR between member countries
  • d)
    Enforcing IPR on member countries
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

TRIPS objectives:

Reducing trade distortions and bottlenecks.
Promoting effective and adequate intellectual property rights (IPR) protection.
Ensuring that measures and procedures for enforcing intellectual property rights (IPR) do not become hurdles to legitimate commerce.
Provision on dispute settlement.
Thus, establishing barriers to international trade is not the objective of TRIPS.

If x ≠ 2y, then 
  • a)
    2(x-2y)
  • b)
    2y-x
  • c)
    1
  • d)
    0
  • e)
    -2
Correct answer is option 'E'. Can you explain this answer?

Both fractions each = -1, so adding -1 twice gives an answer of -2. This is choice E.
a. Both fractions are not equal to (x-2y) , so we do not have like terms.
b. The other parts of the fractions are not eliminated, so this is not possible.
c. Each fraction equals -1, so this result is not possible.
d. Each fraction equals -1, so adding twice gives .
e. Correct

Name the country which is NOT a member of The South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA).
  • a)
    Maldives
  • b)
    Pakistan
  • c)
    Singapore
  • d)
    Afghanistan
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

The South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA):

Member nations: Bangladesh, Maldives, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
Aims at lowering trade tariffs on interregional trade.
Thus, Singapore is NOT a member of SAFTA.

Name the country which is NOT a member of The South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA).
  • a)
    Maldives
  • b)
    Pakistan
  • c)
    Singapore
  • d)
    Afghanistan
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

The South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA):

Member nations: Bangladesh, Maldives, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
Aims at lowering trade tariffs on interregional trade.
Thus, Singapore is NOT a member of SAFTA.

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