JIPMAT key terms

A fraction expressed out of one hundred, used to compare quantities on a common scale. Converting between fractions, decimals and percentages quickly is essential for profit, discount and data questions.

A ratio compares two quantities of the same kind; a proportion states that two ratios are equal. Used to divide amounts, scale recipes and solve mixture and partnership problems.

The sum of a set of values divided by how many values there are. Frequently tested with weighted averages, replacement of items, and changes in average when a value is added or removed.

An average in which each value contributes in proportion to an assigned weight rather than equally. Appears in questions on combined class averages, mixtures, and speed over unequal distances.

Interest calculated only on the original principal for the whole period, using principal times rate times time divided by one hundred. Contrasts with compound interest, which charges interest on interest.

Interest computed on the principal plus previously accumulated interest, so the amount grows geometrically. Compounding may be annual, half-yearly or quarterly, and questions often ask for the difference from simple interest.

Profit is selling price minus cost price; loss is the reverse. Most problems hinge on expressing profit or loss as a percentage of cost price and handling successive mark-ups and discounts.

The marked price is the label price before reduction; discount is the amount subtracted from it, usually stated as a percentage of the marked price. Successive discounts do not simply add.

Distance equals speed multiplied by time, provided units match. Problems involve relative speed, trains crossing poles and platforms, and average speed over journeys with different legs.

The rate at which the gap between two moving objects changes. When moving in opposite directions speeds add; when moving in the same direction the difference of speeds is used.

Downstream speed is the boat's still-water speed plus the current; upstream speed is the difference. Questions ask for crossing times, still-water speed, or the speed of the stream.

Problems about how long individuals or groups take to finish a task, using the idea that rates of work add when people work together. Often solved by taking total work as the LCM of the given days.

A variant of time and work in which inlet pipes fill a tank and outlet pipes empty it. Filling rates are positive and emptying rates negative, and they combine additively.

Alligation is a shortcut for finding the ratio in which two ingredients of known values must be mixed to obtain a desired mean value. Also applied to blending prices and concentrations.

Permutations count arrangements where order matters; combinations count selections where it does not. The distinction decides whether to divide by factorials of repeated or unordered items.

The chance of an event, computed as favourable outcomes divided by total equally likely outcomes. Questions cover dice, cards, balls drawn from bags, and complementary events.

The product of all positive integers up to a given number, written with an exclamation mark; zero factorial equals one. Central to counting arrangements and simplifying ratio expressions.

The highest common factor is the largest number dividing two or more numbers exactly; the lowest common multiple is the smallest number each divides. Their product equals the product of the two numbers.

Short tests for whether a number is divisible by small integers, such as checking the digit sum for three and nine, or the last two digits for four. Speeds up simplification and remainder work.

A rule for finding what is left after division, including the pattern that remainders of powers repeat in cycles. Useful for large-exponent and unit-digit questions.

The classification of numbers into natural, whole, integer, rational, irrational, prime and composite, plus rules about factors, multiples and place value. Underpins most arithmetic shortcuts.

Measurement of lengths, areas, surface areas and volumes of plane and solid figures such as triangles, circles, cylinders, cones and spheres. Formula recall and unit conversion are both tested.

In a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse equals the sum of the squares of the other two sides. Used for diagonals, distances on grids, and identifying right triangles.

Describing points by ordered pairs on axes, and lines by equations. Key skills include distance between points, midpoint, slope, and finding where a line meets an axis.

Reading values from tables, bar charts, line graphs and pie charts, then computing totals, differences, ratios and percentage changes. Accuracy in approximation matters because options are often close.

A circle divided into sectors whose angles or areas represent shares of a whole. Each one percent of the total corresponds to 3.6 degrees, which is the key conversion in such questions.

The increase or decrease in a value expressed as a percentage of its original value, computed as change divided by original times one hundred. Distinguish it from percentage points of change.

Rounding numbers to convenient values to estimate an answer quickly, then choosing the closest option. In data sets, rounding must be applied consistently to avoid a distorted result.

A form of reasoning with two premises and a conclusion, tested using statements about all, some and no members of categories. Venn diagrams are the standard way to check validity.

Overlapping circles representing sets, used to show membership and shared elements. Helpful for testing syllogisms and for counting people belonging to two or three overlapping groups.

Rules for combining groups, including union, intersection and complement, and the inclusion-exclusion formula for counting members in overlapping sets. Applied to survey-type word problems.

Drawing a conclusion that must follow from given statements, without adding outside knowledge. Assumption, inference and conclusion questions all depend on this discipline.

An unstated idea the author must accept for the argument to hold. A valid assumption is necessary to the reasoning, not merely plausible or generally true in the world.

A conclusion that follows from the given information, though not stated explicitly. In reasoning questions, the correct inference must be supported by the passage alone.

Puzzles that describe family links through statements or coded symbols, requiring you to work out how two people are related. Drawing a small family tree prevents confusion.

Placing people around a line or circle using clues about who sits next to, opposite or between whom. Facing direction changes left and right, so note it before solving.

Identifying the rule behind a sequence of numbers, letters or figures and predicting the next term. Rules may involve differences, products, squares, or alternating patterns.

Reading a passage and answering questions on its main idea, details, tone and implied meaning. Answers must be grounded in the text rather than in general knowledge.

The central point the author develops throughout a passage, broader than any single detail. Questions often ask for the best title or the primary purpose of the text.

The author's attitude towards the subject, such as critical, neutral, optimistic or ironic. Tone is inferred from word choice, not from the topic alone.

A synonym is a word close in meaning to another; an antonym is a word with the opposite meaning. Context often decides which option fits best.

Choosing the word that fits the meaning and grammar of a sentence, rather than the word with the closest dictionary sense. Collocations and tone guide the choice.

The stock of words a reader recognises and can use, built from roots, prefixes and suffixes. One-word substitution and idiom questions test this directly.

A fixed expression whose meaning cannot be worked out from its individual words, such as a phrase meaning to postpone. These must be learnt as whole units.

Finding the part of a sentence that breaks a rule of agreement, tense, article use, preposition or parallelism. Subject-verb agreement and modifier placement are common traps.

Filling blanks with words or phrases that satisfy both meaning and grammar. Two blanks require checking that each option's pair fits the logic of the whole sentence.

Reordering a set of sentences into a coherent paragraph. Look for opening sentences, pronoun links, connectors and the logical flow of ideas to fix the order.