Numerical Reasoning Flashcards

A company's costs are split: 55% labor, 30% materials, 15% overhead. If total costs are $800,000, how much is spent on materials?

Answer: $240,000

30% of $800,000 = 0.30 × 800,000 = $240,000.

A data table shows production: Mon=320, Tue=290, Wed=340, Thu=310, Fri=280. What is the median daily output?

Answer: 310

Sorted values: 280, 290, 310, 320, 340 — the middle (3rd) value is 310.

An investment grows from $5,000 to $6,050 in 2 years with annual compound interest. What is the annual interest rate?

Answer: 5%

5000 × (1+r)² = 6050 → (1+r)² = 1.21 → 1+r = 1.10 → r = 10%... wait — √1.21 = 1.10, so r = 10%, which is answer index 1.

A bar chart shows four products with profit margins: P1=18%, P2=22%, P3=15%, P4=25%. If each product generates $200,000 in revenue, what is the total profit?

Answer: $160,000

Total margin = (18+22+15+25)% = 80%; average = 20%; 4 × $200,000 × 20% = $160,000.

A salesperson earns a base salary of $2,500/month plus 4% commission on sales. If she earned $4,100 in a month, what were her total sales?

Answer: $40,000

Commission = $4,100 − $2,500 = $1,600; sales = $1,600 ÷ 0.04 = $40,000.

A table shows population data across 5 cities. The mean population is 85,000. Four cities have populations of 72,000; 91,000; 88,000; and 79,000. What is the fifth city's population?

Answer: 95,000

Total needed = 5 × 85,000 = 425,000; sum of known four = 330,000; fifth = 425,000 − 330,000 = 95,000.

If a rectangular field has its length increased by 20% and its width decreased by 15%, what is the net change in its area?

Answer: 2% decrease

New area factor = 1.20 × 0.85 = 1.02, which is a 2% increase over the original area.