Arithmetic — Complete Formula Sheet for Banking Exams

Banking

📐 Arithmetic — Complete Formula Sheet for Banking Exams

IBPS PO • IBPS Clerk • SBI PO • SBI Clerk • RRB PO • All Banking & SSC Exams

📌 Arithmetic in Banking Exams: 15–20 marks in Prelims + Mains | Covers 19 core topics
Strategy: Memorise all formulas → practice shortcuts → attempt DI-linked arithmetic last

1. PERCENTAGE

FormulaExpressionUse Case
Percentage(Value / Total) × 100Find % of a number
% Change[(New − Old) / Old] × 100Increase / Decrease
A is x% of BA = (x/100) × BFind value
x% of A = y% of BA/B = y/xRatio comparison
Successive % changea + b + (ab/100) %Two consecutive changes
Key Fraction ↔ % conversions: 1/5=20%, 1/4=25%, 1/3=33.33%, 2/3=66.67%, 3/4=75%, 1/8=12.5%, 3/8=37.5%, 5/8=62.5%

2. RATIO & PROPORTION

Basic: a:b = a/b  |  Compound Ratio: (a:b) × (c:d) = ac:bd  |  Duplicate Ratio: a²:b²  |  Triplicate: a³:b³

Proportion: a:b = c:d → ad = bc (Product of extremes = Product of means)

Mean Proportion between a and b = √(ab)

Third Proportion of a, b → b²/a  |  Fourth Proportion of a,b,c → bc/a

Dividing X in ratio a:b:c: First part = X × a/(a+b+c), and so on

3. AVERAGE

Average = Sum of observations / Number of observations

Weighted Average = (w₁x₁ + w₂x₂ + … ) / (w₁ + w₂ + …)

SituationFormula
New avg when one value addedNew Avg = (Old Sum + New Value) / (n+1)
If avg increases by d after adding xx = Old Avg + (n+1)×d
Average of first n natural numbers(n+1)/2
Average of n odd numbersn (the nth odd number)
Average speed (equal distances)2s₁s₂/(s₁+s₂)

4. PROFIT & LOSS

TermFormula
Profit %[(SP − CP) / CP] × 100
Loss %[(CP − SP) / CP] × 100
SP from CP + Profit%SP = CP × (100 + P%) / 100
CP from SP + Profit%CP = SP × 100 / (100 + P%)
Dishonest shopkeeper profit%[(True wt − False wt) / False wt] × 100
Marked Price & DiscountSP = MP × (100 − D%) / 100
Two articles sold — one at x% profit, one at x% lossOverall Loss% = x²/100

5. DISCOUNT

Discount = MP − SP  |  Discount % = (Discount / MP) × 100

Two successive discounts d₁% and d₂%: Net Discount = d₁ + d₂ − (d₁×d₂)/100

Equivalent single discount for d₁, d₂, d₃: apply successively

SP after n discounts d%: SP = MP × [(100−d)/100]ⁿ

6. SIMPLE INTEREST

SI = (P × R × T) / 100   |   A = P + SI
FindFormula
Principal PP = (SI × 100) / (R × T)
Rate RR = (SI × 100) / (P × T)
Time TT = (SI × 100) / (P × R)
When SI = P (doubles)T = 100/R years
Sum doubles at R%Time = 100/R years

7. COMPOUND INTEREST

A = P × (1 + R/100)ⁿ   |   CI = A − P
CompoundingFormula
Half-yearlyA = P × (1 + R/200)^(2n)
QuarterlyA = P × (1 + R/400)^(4n)
CI − SI for 2 yearsCI − SI = P(R/100)²
CI − SI for 3 yearsCI − SI = P(R/100)² × (3 + R/100)
Effective rate for 2 yrs2R + R²/100

8. TIME & WORK

If A can do work in x days, A's 1-day work = 1/x

SituationFormula
A and B togetherTime = xy/(x+y) days
A, B, C togetherTime = 1/(1/x + 1/y + 1/z)
A twice as fast as BA takes half B's time
Wages ∝ Work doneWage of A/B = Work ratio of A/B
Men × Days = WorkM₁D₁H₁ = M₂D₂H₂ (same work)

9. PIPES & CISTERNS

Inlet fills in x hrs, Outlet empties in y hrs. Net rate = 1/x − 1/y per hour

SituationFormula
Pipe A fills in x hrs, B fills in y hrsTogether: xy/(x+y) hrs
A fills, B empties; A fasterTogether: xy/(y−x) hrs
Tank full, both openEmpties in: xy/(x−y) hrs (if x>y)
Partial fill + leakNet = (fill rate) − (leak rate)

Note: Treat inlet as positive work and outlet as negative work — exactly like Time & Work.

10. TIME, SPEED & DISTANCE

Speed = Distance / Time   |   D = S × T   |   T = D / S
ConceptFormula
km/h → m/s conversion× (5/18)
m/s → km/h conversion× (18/5)
Average speed (same distance)2s₁s₂/(s₁+s₂)
Trains passing each other (opposite)Time = (L₁+L₂)/(S₁+S₂)
Trains passing (same direction)Time = (L₁+L₂)/(S₁−S₂)
Train crossing a pole/personTime = Train Length / Speed
Meeting time (towards each other)T = D / (S₁+S₂)
Catch-up time (same direction)T = Gap / (S₁−S₂)

11. BOATS & STREAMS

Downstream = u + v   |   Upstream = u − v
u = boat speed in still water  |  v = stream speed
FindFormula
Boat speed (u)(Downstream + Upstream) / 2
Stream speed (v)(Downstream − Upstream) / 2
Time ratio (DS:US)US time / DS time = (u+v)/(u−v) inverted
Same distance: round trip timeT = D/(u+v) + D/(u−v)

12. MIXTURE & ALLIGATION

Alligation Rule: Ratio of mixing = (C − Mean) : (Mean − C') where C = dearer price, C' = cheaper price, Mean = desired price

Cheaper (C')       Dearer (C)
                /
     Mean (m)
    /            
(C − m)        (m − C')

Removal & replacement: If from V litres of mixture, x litres removed and replaced with water n times:
Final pure liquid = V × (1 − x/V)ⁿ

13. PARTNERSHIP

Profit sharing ∝ Capital × Time

TypeFormula
Same timeProfit ∝ Capital → P₁:P₂ = C₁:C₂
Different timeP₁:P₂ = C₁T₁ : C₂T₂
Working + Sleeping partnersDeduct working partner's salary first, then split remaining profit
A:B:C ratio and total profitA's share = Total × A/(A+B+C)

14. PROBLEMS ON AGES

Let present age = x. Set up linear equation from the given condition.

TranslationAlgebra
Age n years agox − n
Age n years hencex + n
A is twice BA = 2B
Ratio of ages a:b now; ratio c:d after n yrsSet up two equations; solve simultaneously
Sum of agesSum = sum of individual ages

Tip: Always define variables clearly. For ratio problems, let ages be ax and bx, then form equations from conditions.

15. PROBABILITY

P(E) = Favourable outcomes / Total outcomes   |   0 ≤ P(E) ≤ 1
RuleFormula
ComplementaryP(E') = 1 − P(E)
Addition (mutually exclusive)P(A∪B) = P(A) + P(B)
Addition (general)P(A∪B) = P(A) + P(B) − P(A∩B)
Multiplication (independent)P(A∩B) = P(A) × P(B)
Cards: Total 52 → 4 suits × 13 cardsFace cards = 12, Aces = 4, Red = 26, Black = 26
Dice: 1 die has 6 facesP(sum=7 with 2 dice) = 6/36 = 1/6

16. PERMUTATION & COMBINATION

nPr = n! / (n−r)!   |   nCr = n! / [r!(n−r)!]
SituationFormula
Arrange n things in n placesn!
Select r from n (order doesn't matter)nCr
Circular arrangement of n(n−1)!
Necklace / bracelet (flips allowed)(n−1)! / 2
Words from letters with repetitionn! / (p! × q! × r! …) for repeated letters p,q,r
nCr + nCr-1 = (n+1)CrPascal's triangle rule

17. MENSURATION

ShapeAreaPerimeter / Volume
Rectanglel × bP = 2(l+b)
SquareP = 4a; Diagonal = a√2
Triangle½ × b × h  |  √[s(s−a)(s−b)(s−c)]P = a+b+c; s = P/2
Circleπr²Circumference = 2πr
Trapezium½ × (a+b) × hSum of all sides
Parallelogramb × h2(a+b)
Equilateral △(√3/4)a²3a; Height = (√3/2)a
CubeSurface = 6a²Volume = a³; Diagonal = a√3
Cuboid2(lb + bh + lh)V = l×b×h; Diagonal = √(l²+b²+h²)
CylinderCSA = 2πrh; TSA = 2πr(h+r)V = πr²h
ConeCSA = πrl; TSA = πr(l+r); l=√(r²+h²)V = (1/3)πr²h
Sphere4πr²V = (4/3)πr³
HemisphereCSA = 2πr²; TSA = 3πr²V = (2/3)πr³

π ≈ 22/7 = 3.14159  |  Use π = 3.14 for approximation unless specified

18. NUMBER SYSTEM

ConceptKey Facts
Divisibility by 2Last digit even (0,2,4,6,8)
Divisibility by 3Sum of digits divisible by 3
Divisibility by 4Last 2 digits divisible by 4
Divisibility by 7Double last digit, subtract from rest; repeat if needed
Divisibility by 8Last 3 digits divisible by 8
Divisibility by 9Sum of digits divisible by 9
Divisibility by 11(Sum of odd-position digits) − (Sum of even-position digits) = 0 or divisible by 11
Sum of first n natural numbersn(n+1)/2
Sum of first n odd numbers
Sum of first n even numbersn(n+1)
Sum of squares 1²+2²+…+n²n(n+1)(2n+1)/6
Sum of cubes 1³+2³+…+n³[n(n+1)/2]²

Unit digit cycles: 2→2,4,8,6; 3→3,9,7,1; 4→4,6; 7→7,9,3,1; 8→8,4,2,6; 9→9,1; 5 always 5; 6 always 6

19. HCF & LCM

HCF × LCM = Product of two numbers (for two numbers only)
ConceptRule
HCF of fractionsHCF of numerators / LCM of denominators
LCM of fractionsLCM of numerators / HCF of denominators
Largest number dividing a,b,c leaving same remainder rHCF of (a−r), (b−r), (c−r)
Smallest number divisible by a,b,cLCM of a, b, c
Bells ringing together after t min; ring again togetherLCM of their intervals
Largest square tile for a floor a × bHCF of a and b

Methods: Prime Factorisation (best for exams) | Division Method (faster for HCF)

📋 Quick-Reference Summary Card

SI: PRT/100

CI: P(1+R/100)ⁿ − P

Profit%: (SP−CP)/CP × 100

Avg Speed: 2s₁s₂/(s₁+s₂)

A+B work: xy/(x+y) days

DS/US: u+v / u−v

Mixture: V(1−x/V)ⁿ

HCF×LCM: = Product (2 nos)

nCr: n!/r!(n−r)!

% Change: (New−Old)/Old × 100

Successive %: a+b+ab/100

Π circle: πr² / 2πr

Cube V: a³; Surface: 6a²

Sphere V: 4πr³/3

1²+2²+…n²: n(n+1)(2n+1)/6

Partnership: Profit ∝ C×T

P(E): Favourable/Total

Alligation: (Dearer−Mean):(Mean−Cheaper)