TANCET MBA cheat sheet

Main idea: look for the thesis in the first or last paragraph; the correct option restates the author's central claim without adding new information.

Inference questions: the answer must be logically forced by the passage; if it requires an assumption not stated, eliminate it.

Tone words: objective, critical, skeptical, approving, neutral; match the author's attitude, not the topic's tone.

Vocabulary in context: substitute each option into the sentence; the correct meaning fits the passage's usage, not the most common dictionary sense.

Para jumbles: identify the opening sentence (often a general statement with no pronouns referring backward), then use pronoun and connector chains to order the rest.

Odd sentence out: the irrelevant sentence introduces a new topic or contradicts the paragraph's scope; the other sentences share a logical thread.

Error spotting: check subject-verb agreement, parallel structure, pronoun reference, tense consistency, and misplaced modifiers in that order.

Analogies: state the relationship in a precise phrase (e.g., 'A is a tool used by B'); apply the same phrase to each option to eliminate mismatches.

Percentage change: new value = original × (1 ± r/100); successive changes multiply: (1 ± a/100)(1 ± b/100).

Profit and loss: profit% = (SP − CP)/CP × 100; discount% = (MP − SP)/MP × 100; SP = MP(1 − d/100).

Simple interest: SI = P × R × T / 100; compound interest: A = P(1 + R/100)^T; CI = A − P.

Time-speed-distance: distance = speed × time; average speed for equal distances = 2xy/(x+y).

Work: if A finishes in a days and B in b days, together they finish in ab/(a+b) days; work rate adds.

Ratio and proportion: if a:b = c:d then ad = bc; partnership profit shares are proportional to capital × time.

Permutations and combinations: nPr = n!/(n−r)!; nCr = n!/[r!(n−r)!]; nC0 = nCn = 1.

Mensuration: area of circle = πr²; volume of cylinder = πr²h; surface area of sphere = 4πr²; volume of cone = (1/3)πr²h.

Number properties: divisibility by 3 if digit sum divisible by 3; by 9 if digit sum divisible by 9; by 11 if alternating digit sum divisible by 11.

Read the title, axes, units, and footnotes before calculating; a unit mismatch (thousands vs lakhs) is a common trap.

Percentage of total = (part / total) × 100; percentage change = (new − old)/old × 100.

Average = sum of values / number of values; weighted average = Σ(w_i x_i)/Σw_i.

Ratio comparison: cross-multiply to compare fractions quickly; a/b > c/d iff ad > bc (for positive b, d).

Pie chart: central angle = (value / total) × 360°; percentage share = angle/360 × 100.

Bar graph: compare heights directly; for grouped bars, subtract base values before computing ratios.

Line graph trends: slope indicates rate of change; a steeper line means faster growth, not necessarily a higher absolute value.

Table DI: scan for the row/column that answers the question; avoid computing every cell.

Approximation: round numbers to the nearest convenient value when options are far apart; verify only if options are close.

Syllogism: draw Venn diagrams for each premise; a conclusion is valid only if it holds in every possible diagram.

Blood relations: use a family tree with symbols (+, −, ×, ÷) and never assume gender from a name alone.

Direction sense: plot movements on a coordinate grid; final displacement = straight-line distance from start.

Seating arrangement: fix one person, place others relative to that anchor; for circular arrangements, clockwise and anticlockwise are distinct unless stated.

Coding-decoding: check letter shifts (+1, +2), reversal, or position-based patterns; apply the same rule to the target word.

Series completion: test differences, ratios, squares/cubes, and alternating patterns; a single rule must explain all terms.

Statement-assumption: an assumption is unstated but necessary for the statement to make sense; reject options that are merely possible.

Cause and effect: the cause must precede the effect and be sufficient; correlation alone does not establish causation.

Logical deduction: if A implies B and B implies C, then A implies C; contrapositive: not C implies not A.

GDP = C + I + G + (X − M), where C is consumption, I investment, G government spending, X exports, M imports.

Inflation reduces purchasing power; deflation is a sustained fall in the general price level.

Repo rate is the rate at which the central bank lends to commercial banks; reverse repo is the opposite.

CRR (cash reserve ratio) is the share of deposits banks must keep with the central bank; SLR is held in approved securities.

Fiscal policy uses government spending and taxation; monetary policy uses interest rates and money supply.

Balance of trade = exports − imports; a trade deficit occurs when imports exceed exports.

Company forms: sole proprietorship (unlimited liability), partnership (shared liability), LLP (limited liability), private limited (separate legal entity).

Marketing mix: the 4 Ps are Product, Price, Place, Promotion; the 7 Ps add People, Process, Physical evidence for services.

Break-even point: fixed costs / (selling price per unit − variable cost per unit).