BCS Written Mathematics study materials
BCS Written Mathematics study resources

BCS Written Mathematics practice questions

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Question 1Arithmetic

What is the value of 7 + 8 × 3 − 4?

  1. 45
  2. 41
  3. 17
  4. 27 Correct answer.

Explanation

Order of operations requires multiplication before addition and subtraction, so 8 × 3 = 24 is computed first. Then 7 + 24 − 4 = 27. Working strictly left to right would give a different, incorrect result.

Question 2Arithmetic

Which of the following numbers is divisible by 9?

  1. 5,120
  2. 4,563 Correct answer.
  3. 3,214
  4. 7,825

Explanation

A number is divisible by 9 exactly when the sum of its digits is a multiple of 9. For 4,563 the digits sum to 4 + 5 + 6 + 3 = 18, which is divisible by 9. Hence 4,563 is divisible by 9.

Question 3Arithmetic

A shirt priced at 800 taka is reduced by 15%. What is the sale price?

  1. 785 taka
  2. 720 taka
  3. 680 taka Correct answer.
  4. 120 taka

Explanation

A 15% reduction removes 0.15 × 800 = 120 taka from the original price. Subtracting this discount from 800 gives 680 taka. Equivalently, the sale price is 85% of 800, which is 680.

Question 4Arithmetic

What is the highest common factor (HCF) of 36 and 48?

  1. 144
  2. 6
  3. 24
  4. 12 Correct answer.

Explanation

Writing 36 = 2² × 3² and 48 = 2⁴ × 3, the HCF takes the lowest power of each shared prime. This gives 2² × 3 = 12. So 12 is the largest number dividing both.

Question 5Arithmetic

Simplify the fraction 84/126 to its lowest terms.

  1. 7/12
  2. 4/6
  3. 2/3 Correct answer.
  4. 14/21

Explanation

Dividing numerator and denominator by their HCF, 42, gives 84 ÷ 42 = 2 and 126 ÷ 42 = 3. The fraction in lowest terms is therefore 2/3. No common factor greater than 1 remains.

Question 6Arithmetic

Convert the decimal 0.375 into a fraction in its simplest form.

  1. 37/100
  2. 3/8 Correct answer.
  3. 3/4
  4. 5/8

Explanation

Since 0.375 has three decimal places, it equals 375/1000. Dividing numerator and denominator by 125 gives 3/8. Thus 0.375 = 3/8 in lowest terms.

Question 7Arithmetic

Simplify: 2³ × 2⁴ ÷ 2².

  1. 2⁹
  2. 2²
  3. 2⁵ Correct answer.
  4. 2⁶

Explanation

When multiplying powers of the same base you add the exponents, giving 2⁷. Dividing by 2² then means subtracting exponents: 2⁷ ÷ 2² = 2⁵. So the expression simplifies to 2⁵ = 32.

Question 8Arithmetic

What is the average (arithmetic mean) of the numbers 4, 9, 11, and 16?

  1. 40
  2. 11
  3. 10 Correct answer.
  4. 9

Explanation

The mean is the total of the values divided by how many there are. The sum is 4 + 9 + 11 + 16 = 40, and dividing by 4 gives 10. Hence the average is 10.

Question 9Arithmetic

A sum of 5,000 taka is invested at 8% simple interest per year. What total interest is earned after 3 years?

  1. 1,200 taka Correct answer.
  2. 400 taka
  3. 1,296 taka
  4. 1,600 taka

Explanation

Simple interest is calculated as principal × rate × time, giving 5000 × 0.08 × 3. This equals 5,000 × 0.24 = 1,200 taka. The interest does not compound because it is simple interest.

Question 10Arithmetic

Two numbers are in the ratio 3 : 5. If their sum is 96, what is the larger number?

  1. 64
  2. 48
  3. 36
  4. 60 Correct answer.

Explanation

The ratio 3 : 5 means the total is split into 3 + 5 = 8 equal parts. Each part is 96 ÷ 8 = 12, so the larger share is 5 × 12 = 60. The smaller number is 36, and 60 + 36 = 96 confirms the result.

Question 11Arithmetic

A worker can complete a job in 12 days and another in 18 days. Working together, how many days will they take to finish the job?

  1. 9 days
  2. 7.2 days Correct answer.
  3. 6 days
  4. 15 days

Explanation

Their combined rate is 1/12 + 1/18 = 3/36 + 2/36 = 5/36 of the job per day. The time needed is the reciprocal, 36/5 = 7.2 days. So together they finish in 7.2 days.

Question 12Arithmetic

A train travels 240 km in 3 hours. At the same average speed, how far will it travel in 5 hours?

  1. 480 km
  2. 400 km Correct answer.
  3. 360 km
  4. 320 km

Explanation

The average speed is distance divided by time, 240 ÷ 3 = 80 km/h. At this constant speed, the distance in 5 hours is 80 × 5 = 400 km. Speed remains constant, so distance is proportional to time.

Question 13Arithmetic

A shopkeeper marks an item at 500 taka and allows a 20% discount, yet still makes a 25% profit on cost. What is the cost price?

  1. 400 taka
  2. 320 taka Correct answer.
  3. 300 taka
  4. 375 taka

Explanation

The selling price after a 20% discount is 0.80 × 500 = 400 taka. A 25% profit means the selling price is 1.25 times the cost, so cost = 400 ÷ 1.25 = 320 taka. Checking, 320 × 1.25 = 400 confirms the answer.

Question 14Arithmetic

The population of a town increases by 10% in the first year and by 20% in the second year. What is the overall percentage increase over the two years?

  1. 30%
  2. 40%
  3. 22%
  4. 32% Correct answer.

Explanation

Successive percentage changes multiply rather than add. After the two increases the population is 1.10 × 1.20 = 1.32 times the original, an increase of 32%. Simply adding 10% and 20% would overcount the compounding.

Question 15Arithmetic

What is the least number that must be added to 2,498 to make it exactly divisible by 9?

  1. 6
  2. 3
  3. 5
  4. 4 Correct answer.

Explanation

The digits of 2,498 sum to 2 + 4 + 9 + 8 = 23. The next multiple of 9 above 23 is 27, so 4 must be added to reach divisibility. Indeed 2,498 + 4 = 2,502, whose digits sum to 9.

Question 16Arithmetic

Find the least common multiple (LCM) of 12, 15, and 20.

  1. 120
  2. 30
  3. 60 Correct answer.
  4. 300

Explanation

Prime factorising gives 12 = 2² × 3, 15 = 3 × 5, and 20 = 2² × 5. The LCM takes the highest power of each prime: 2² × 3 × 5 = 60. So 60 is the smallest number divisible by all three.

Question 17Arithmetic

A mixture contains milk and water in the ratio 5 : 3. If 4 litres of water are added, the ratio becomes 5 : 4. How many litres of milk are in the mixture?

  1. 24 litres
  2. 20 litres Correct answer.
  3. 16 litres
  4. 12 litres

Explanation

Let milk be 5x and water be 3x litres. After adding 4 litres of water, 5x : (3x + 4) = 5 : 4, so 20x = 15x + 20, giving x = 4. Therefore milk is 5 × 4 = 20 litres, and water is 12 litres.

Question 18Arithmetic

Evaluate: (3/4) ÷ (9/8).

  1. 2/3 Correct answer.
  2. 3/2
  3. 27/32
  4. 8/9

Explanation

Dividing by a fraction is the same as multiplying by its reciprocal. So (3/4) ÷ (9/8) = (3/4) × (8/9) = 24/36, which simplifies to 2/3. Cancelling common factors confirms the result.

Question 19Arithmetic

What is the value of 0.4 × 0.25 expressed as a decimal?

  1. 0.01
  2. 0.1 Correct answer.
  3. 0.65
  4. 1.0

Explanation

Multiplying 0.4 by 0.25 gives 0.4 × 0.25 = 0.100, which equals 0.1. The two factors together have three decimal places, so the product has three decimal places before trailing zeros are dropped.

Question 20Arithmetic

Simplify: (2⁵ × 2³) ÷ 2⁶.

  1. 2⁸
  2. 2¹⁴
  3. 2² Correct answer.
  4. 2⁻²

Explanation

Multiplying powers of the same base adds exponents: 2⁵ × 2³ = 2⁸. Then dividing by 2⁶ subtracts exponents: 2⁸ ÷ 2⁶ = 2². The expression therefore equals 4.

Question 21Arithmetic

The average of five numbers is 18. When one number is removed, the average of the remaining four becomes 16. What number was removed?

  1. 34
  2. 20
  3. 18
  4. 26 Correct answer.

Explanation

The total of the five numbers is 5 × 18 = 90, and the total of the remaining four is 4 × 16 = 64. The removed number is the difference, 90 − 64 = 26. Checking, the four remaining numbers average 16 as required.

Question 22Arithmetic

A pipe fills a tank in 6 hours, while a drain empties it in 9 hours. If both are open, how long will it take to fill the empty tank?

  1. 7.5 hours
  2. 15 hours
  3. 18 hours Correct answer.
  4. 3 hours

Explanation

The net filling rate is 1/6 − 1/9 = 3/18 − 2/18 = 1/18 of the tank per hour. The time to fill is the reciprocal, 18 hours. So with both open, the tank fills in 18 hours.

Question 23Arithmetic

A car covers a distance at 60 km/h and returns along the same route at 40 km/h. What is its average speed for the whole journey?

  1. 52 km/h
  2. 48 km/h Correct answer.
  3. 45 km/h
  4. 50 km/h

Explanation

For equal distances at speeds a and b, the average speed is the harmonic mean 2ab/(a + b). Here it is 2 × 60 × 40 ÷ 100 = 4,800 ÷ 100 = 48 km/h. The arithmetic mean of 50 would be wrong because more time is spent at the slower speed.

Question 24Arithmetic

A sum of money doubles itself in 8 years at simple interest. In how many years will it become four times the original sum?

  1. 12 years
  2. 16 years Correct answer.
  3. 32 years
  4. 24 years

Explanation

Doubling means the interest equals the principal, so 8 years of interest equals one principal. To become four times the original, the interest must equal three principals, requiring 3 × 8 = 24 years, not 16. Careful reading shows the total is four times, so 24 years is correct.

Question 25Arithmetic

A trader mixes two varieties of rice costing 40 taka and 60 taka per kg in some ratio and sells the mixture at 54 taka per kg, making a 20% profit. In what ratio were the varieties mixed?

  1. 1 : 3
  2. 1 : 2
  3. 2 : 1
  4. 3 : 1 Correct answer.

Explanation

A 20% profit on cost means the cost price of the mixture is 54 ÷ 1.20 = 45 taka per kg. By the rule of alligation, the ratio of the 40 taka to the 60 taka variety is (60 − 45) : (45 − 40) = 15 : 5 = 3 : 1. So the cheaper variety is used three times as much.

Question 26Arithmetic

What is the value of the digit 7 in the number 4,703,215?

  1. 70,000
  2. 7,000,000
  3. 700,000 Correct answer.
  4. 7,000

Explanation

Place value depends on the position of a digit within the number. Reading from the right, the digits occupy units, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten-thousands, hundred-thousands, and millions. The 7 sits in the hundred-thousands place, so its value is 7 multiplied by 100,000, which equals 700,000.

Question 27Arithmetic

Which of the following numbers is divisible by 6?

  1. 5,125
  2. 4,326 Correct answer.
  3. 3,214
  4. 8,132

Explanation

A number is divisible by 6 exactly when it is divisible by both 2 and 3. Divisibility by 2 requires an even final digit, and divisibility by 3 requires the digit sum to be a multiple of 3. For 4,326 the last digit is even and the digit sum 4+3+2+6 = 15 is a multiple of 3, so the number is divisible by 6.

Question 28Arithmetic

A number is increased by 25% and the result is then decreased by 20%. What is the net change from the original number?

  1. A decrease of 5%
  2. An increase of 5%
  3. No change Correct answer.
  4. An increase of 45%

Explanation

Successive percentage changes multiply rather than add. Increasing by 25% multiplies the number by 1.25, and decreasing by 20% multiplies by 0.8. Since 1.25 × 0.8 = 1.00, the final value equals the original, so there is no net change.

Question 29Arithmetic

The highest common factor of two numbers is 12 and their lowest common multiple is 180. If one of the numbers is 36, what is the other number?

  1. 60 Correct answer.
  2. 72
  3. 90
  4. 48

Explanation

For any two positive integers, the product of the numbers equals the product of their HCF and LCM. Here HCF × LCM = 12 × 180 = 2,160, and dividing by the known number gives 2,160 ÷ 36 = 60. Checking, the HCF of 36 and 60 is 12 and their LCM is 180, which agrees with the given data.

Question 30Arithmetic

A sum of money is invested at a certain rate of simple interest. After 5 years the amount becomes 1,500 taka, and after 8 years it becomes 1,800 taka. What was the original sum invested?

  1. 1,200 taka
  2. 1,000 taka Correct answer.
  3. 1,100 taka
  4. 900 taka

Explanation

Under simple interest the amount grows by a fixed sum each year, so the extra 3 years add 1,800 − 1,500 = 300 taka, giving 100 taka of interest per year. Over 5 years the interest is 500 taka, so the principal is 1,500 − 500 = 1,000 taka. Checking, 8 years of interest gives 800 taka and an amount of 1,800 taka, as stated.

Question 31Algebra

Solve for x: 3x - 7 = 14.

  1. x = 7/3
  2. x = 7 Correct answer.
  3. x = 3
  4. x = 21

Explanation

Add 7 to both sides to obtain 3x = 21, then divide both sides by 3 to isolate x, giving x = 7. The operation is valid because adding the same number to both sides preserves equality.

Question 32Algebra

Expand and simplify (x + 5)(x - 3).

  1. x^2 - 15
  2. x^2 + 2x - 15 Correct answer.
  3. x^2 + 8x - 15
  4. x^2 - 2x - 15

Explanation

Multiply each term of the first bracket by each term of the second: x^2 - 3x + 5x - 15. Combining the like terms -3x and 5x gives 2x, so the result is x^2 + 2x - 15.

Question 33Algebra

Factorise x^2 - 9 completely.

  1. (x - 3)^2
  2. (x - 9)(x + 1)
  3. (x - 3)(x + 3) Correct answer.
  4. (x + 3)^2

Explanation

The expression is a difference of two squares, since x^2 - 9 = x^2 - 3^2. Such an expression factorises as (x - 3)(x + 3), and neither factor can be broken down further over the integers.

Question 34Algebra

What is the gradient of the line passing through the points (2, 3) and (6, 11)?

  1. 2 Correct answer.
  2. 4
  3. 1/2
  4. 8

Explanation

The gradient equals the change in y divided by the change in x, that is (11 - 3)/(6 - 2). This gives 8/4 = 2, so the line rises two units for every one unit to the right.

Question 35Algebra

Simplify (2a^3)(4a^5).

  1. 6a^15
  2. 8a^8 Correct answer.
  3. 6a^8
  4. 8a^15

Explanation

Multiply the numerical coefficients, 2 times 4, to get 8. For the powers of a, add the indices because the bases are the same: a^3 times a^5 equals a^8.

Question 36Algebra

Given f(x) = 2x^2 - 3x + 1, find f(-2).

  1. -1
  2. 3
  3. 15 Correct answer.
  4. 11

Explanation

Substitute x = -2 into each term: 2(-2)^2 - 3(-2) + 1. Since (-2)^2 = 4, this becomes 8 + 6 + 1, which sums to 15.

Question 37Algebra

Solve the inequality 4x - 5 < 11.

  1. x > 4
  2. x > 16
  3. x < 16
  4. x < 4 Correct answer.

Explanation

Add 5 to both sides to get 4x < 16, then divide by the positive number 4, which keeps the inequality direction unchanged. This gives x < 4.

Question 38Algebra

Evaluate log base 2 of 32.

  1. 5 Correct answer.
  2. 4
  3. 6
  4. 16

Explanation

The logarithm asks for the exponent to which the base must be raised to give the argument. Since 2^5 = 32, the value of log base 2 of 32 is 5.

Question 39Algebra

Find the sum of the first 20 terms of the arithmetic sequence 3, 7, 11, 15, ...

  1. 410
  2. 800
  3. 840
  4. 820 Correct answer.

Explanation

Here the first term a = 3 and the common difference d = 4, so the 20th term is 3 + 19(4) = 79. The sum is n/2 times the first plus last term, that is 10(3 + 79) = 820.

Question 40Algebra

The roots of a quadratic equation are 4 and -3. Which equation has exactly these roots?

  1. x^2 + x - 12 = 0
  2. x^2 - 7x + 12 = 0
  3. x^2 - x - 12 = 0 Correct answer.
  4. x^2 + 7x + 12 = 0

Explanation

A quadratic with roots p and q can be written as x^2 - (p + q)x + pq = 0. Here the sum of the roots is 1 and the product is -12, giving x^2 - x - 12 = 0.

Question 41Algebra

Solve the simultaneous equations: 2x + y = 11 and x - y = 1.

  1. x = 3, y = 4
  2. x = 5, y = 1
  3. x = 2, y = 7
  4. x = 4, y = 3 Correct answer.

Explanation

Adding the two equations eliminates y, giving 3x = 12, so x = 4. Substituting back into x - y = 1 gives y = 3, and both equations are then satisfied.

Question 42Algebra

Simplify the algebraic fraction (x^2 - 4)/(x^2 + x - 6) for values where it is defined.

  1. (x - 2)/(x - 3) Correct answer.
  2. (x - 2)/(x + 3)
  3. (x + 2)/(x + 3)
  4. (x + 2)/(x - 3)

Explanation

Factorise the numerator as (x - 2)(x + 2) and the denominator as (x + 3)(x - 2). Cancelling the common factor (x - 2) leaves (x + 2)/(x + 3), valid provided x is not 2 or -3.

Question 43Algebra

A geometric sequence has first term 5 and common ratio 3. What is the 4th term?

  1. 405
  2. 135 Correct answer.
  3. 45
  4. 15

Explanation

The nth term of a geometric sequence is ar^(n-1), where a is the first term and r the common ratio. Here the 4th term is 5 times 3^3, that is 5 times 27, which equals 135.

Question 44Algebra

If 2^(x+1) = 8^(x-1), what is the value of x?

  1. 4
  2. 2 Correct answer.
  3. 3
  4. 1

Explanation

Write 8 as 2^3 so that the right side becomes 2^(3x-3). Equating the exponents gives x + 1 = 3x - 3, which rearranges to 4 = 2x, so x = 2.

Question 45Algebra

Solve the quadratic equation x^2 - 6x + 5 = 0 by factorisation.

  1. x = 1 or x = 5 Correct answer.
  2. x = 2 or x = 3
  3. x = 1 or x = -5
  4. x = -1 or x = -5

Explanation

Two numbers whose product is 5 and whose sum is 6 are 1 and 5, so the expression factorises as (x - 1)(x - 5) = 0. Setting each factor to zero gives x = 1 or x = 5.

Question 46Algebra

Find the inverse function of f(x) = 3x - 6.

  1. f^-1(x) = (x + 6)/3 Correct answer.
  2. f^-1(x) = 3x + 6
  3. f^-1(x) = (x - 6)/3
  4. f^-1(x) = 1/(3x - 6)

Explanation

Write y = 3x - 6 and solve for x: add 6 to both sides to get y + 6 = 3x, then divide by 3. Swapping the variable names gives the inverse f^-1(x) = (x + 6)/3.

Question 47Algebra

Simplify log base 3 of 6 plus log base 3 of 1.5.

  1. 1.5
  2. 4.5
  3. 2 Correct answer.
  4. 3

Explanation

By the product rule, the sum of logarithms with the same base equals the logarithm of the product. Since 6 times 1.5 = 9 and 3^2 = 9, the expression equals log base 3 of 9, which is 2.

Question 48Algebra

The quadratic equation x^2 + kx + 9 = 0 has equal roots. What are the possible values of k?

  1. k = 18
  2. k = 6 or k = -6 Correct answer.
  3. k = 9 or k = -9
  4. k = 3 or k = -3

Explanation

Equal roots occur when the discriminant b^2 - 4ac is zero. Here this gives k^2 - 36 = 0, so k^2 = 36 and k = 6 or k = -6.

Question 49Algebra

Solve the inequality x^2 - 4x - 5 < 0.

  1. x > -1
  2. -1 < x < 5 Correct answer.
  3. x < 5
  4. x < -1 or x > 5

Explanation

Factorise as (x - 5)(x + 1) < 0, whose critical values are x = 5 and x = -1. The parabola opens upward, so it lies below the x-axis strictly between the roots, giving -1 < x < 5.

Question 50Algebra

Use the binomial theorem to find the coefficient of x^3 in the expansion of (2 + x)^5.

  1. 32
  2. 10
  3. 40 Correct answer.
  4. 80

Explanation

The general term is C(5, r) times 2^(5-r) times x^r. For x^3 we take r = 3, giving C(5,3) times 2^2, which is 10 times 4 = 40.