Simplification (BODMAS) Questions with Solutions

Simplification questions are a speed test more than a difficulty test — the only real skill is applying the BODMAS order correctly instead of solving strictly left to right. Here’s the concept, four fully worked examples, and a few to try yourself.

The concept, quickly

• BODMAS gives the order of operations: Brackets, Of, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction — solve innermost brackets first, not left to right across the whole expression.
• "Of" means multiply, but is evaluated before a separate division or multiplication that appears later in the expression — this is the "V" or "O" that trips people up when they skip straight to left-to-right.
• Division and multiplication rank EQUALLY with each other and are done left to right in the order they appear — it’s not "always divide before multiplying". The same is true for addition and subtraction.
• Work brackets from the innermost outward: solve ( ) first, then { }, then [ ], substituting each result back in before moving to the next layer out.

Worked examples

Try these yourself

Apply BODMAS the same way, then check against the answer.

Where this comes up

Simplification is tested directly in the Quantitative/Numerical Aptitude section of every exam Pariksha Saathi covers — SSC CGL, SSC MTS, SSC CHSL, IBPS PO, IBPS Clerk, SBI PO and SBI Clerk — usually as a quick, high-volume set of questions meant to be solved fast.

Practice more Simplification questions

This page covers the concept and a handful of worked examples. Pariksha Saathi has full topic-wise practice sets for Simplification (and every other Quant/Reasoning/English topic) with instant scoring and explanations — free, no account required.