If you're preparing for the IBA BBA/MBA admission tests, the math section, particularly the word problems, can feel overwhelming at first. These problems aren't just about crunching numbers—they're about understanding the situation described in the question and translating it into mathematical terms. Interestingly, 70% of the work is about understanding the problem, while only 30% involves solving it efficiently and quickly.
Let’s explore how you can tackle word problems effectively, with examples from past IBA admission tests to show you exactly how it’s done.
Step 1: Read Carefully and Visualize the Problem
The first step to solving a word problem is understanding the story behind it. Don’t rush to the math immediately. Read the question carefully to understand what is being described. Ask yourself: What is happening here? Who or what are the key players? What are you being asked to find?
Take this example from the IBA MBA admission test (2018-19):
"Three painters, working at different speeds, are hired to paint a fence. The first painter can paint the fence in 5 hours, the second painter in 6 hours, and the third painter in 10 hours. If they all start painting together but the third painter leaves after 2 hours, how much longer will it take for the remaining two painters to finish the work?"
When you read this, visualize the painters working together, each contributing a portion of the work. The third painter leaves early, so you’ll need to calculate how much work remains and how long it will take for the first two painters to finish.
Step 2: Break It Down Into Smaller Steps
Once you understand the problem, focus on breaking it down into manageable parts. Start by identifying what is being asked and what information you already have. Then, write down the relationships between different parts of the question.
For example, in the problem above, you know the individual speeds of the painters. You also know the third painter leaves after 2 hours. From this, you can calculate how much work the third painter completes before leaving and how much is left for the other two painters.
Step 3: Translate the Words into Math
This is where you convert the scenario into equations or relationships. Use simple variables to represent unknowns. For instance, in the painters' problem, you can represent work as fractions of the total. The first painter completes 1/5 of the work in one hour, the second painter completes 1/6, and the third painter completes 1/10. When all three work together, they finish 1/5 + 1/6 + 1/10 of the work per hour. After 2 hours, you subtract the work completed to find what remains.
This method applies to any problem. Take another example from IBA MBA 2019-20:
"In a locality of 40 houses, each house is subscribed to at least one newspaper from The Sun, Daily Mail, and Daily Mirror. 24 houses subscribe to Daily Mirror, 13 to both The Sun and Daily Mirror, 26 to Daily Mail, and 16 to both Daily Mail and The Sun. Seven houses subscribe to all three newspapers. How many houses subscribe to only two newspapers?"
The key here is to organize the information systematically. Use a simple table or draw a quick Venn diagram in your mind to represent the overlapping subscriptions. Once you break it down into manageable sections, finding the answer becomes much easier.
Step 4: Simplify and Solve
After setting up the equations, solve them step by step. Be careful with your calculations, and double-check your results to ensure they make sense in the context of the question. For instance, if you calculated that the painters will take 10 hours to finish a job they’ve almost completed, it’s a sign something went wrong.
Here’s another IBA problem from BBA 2019-20 to show how solving works:
"In a flight of 600 km, an aircraft was slowed down due to bad weather. Its average speed for the trip was reduced by 200 km/hr, and the time of flight increased by 30 minutes. The duration of the flight was:
(A) 1 hour (B) 1.5 hours (C) 2 hours (D) 2.5 hours (E) 3 hours."
To solve this, think about the relationship between speed, distance, and time. Use the formula distance = speed * time. Let the original speed be x km/hr. The reduced speed is then (x - 200). Write the equation for time taken at each speed, knowing the difference is 0.5 hours (30 minutes), and solve for x.
Step 5: Practice, Practice, Practice
Understanding the process is just the beginning. To truly excel, you need consistent practice. Work on a variety of problems, from simple to complex. Over time, you'll notice patterns and learn shortcuts that help you solve problems faster.
Remember
- Always read the question carefully and make note of what’s being asked.
- Translate the problem into math step by step. Break it into smaller pieces if it feels overwhelming.
- Use variables to represent unknowns, and don’t hesitate to simplify the problem with assumptions or diagrams.
- Cross-check your answer to ensure it matches what was asked. Many IBA questions are designed to trick careless students.
- Time yourself during practice. Speed is crucial in the real test.
Why You Can Succeed
Word problems are challenging, but they are also a great opportunity to demonstrate your logical thinking and problem-solving skills. Remember, the key to mastering them lies in consistent practice and developing the habit of breaking problems down into smaller steps. With enough preparation, you’ll not only understand the math but also enjoy solving these puzzles.
So, Magnus Minds, keep practicing, and don’t give up. You’ve got this!
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IBA Admission, MBA Admission Test, BBA Admission Test, Word Problems, Math Strategy, Quantitative Reasoning, Problem Solving, Competitive Exam Prep, IBA Math, Magnus Minds
