question: Four of the five parts numbered (a),(b),(c),(d) and (e) in the following equation are exactly equal. Which of the parts is not equal to the other four? The number of that part is the answer.
Options:
(A) (a b) 2 + 4ab
(B) a(a + b) + b(a + b)
(C) (a2 b2) + 2b(b + a)
(D) (a b) b + (a + b) 2b
(E) (a + b) 2 2a(a b) + a(2a 2b)
answer: Stream of consciousness: The other parts are equal to (a + b)2. The answer is (D).

q: A and B can do a work in 12 days, B and C in 30 days and C and A in 36 days. In how many days will the work be completed, if all three of them work together?
Options:
(A) 180/18
(B) 180/15
(C) 180/13
(D) 180/12
(E) 180/11
a: Stream of consciousness: One day work of A and B = 1/12
One day work of B and C = 1/30
One day work of C and A = 1/36
2(A + B + C) = 1/12 + 1/30 + 1/36
2(A + B + C) = 13/90
(A + B + C) = 13/180
Number of days required = 180/13 days. The answer is (C).

question: A technician makes a round-trip to and from a certain service center by the same route. If the technician completes the drive to the center and then completes 10 percent of the drive from the center, what percent of the round-trip has the technician completed?
Options:
(A) 5%
(B) 10%
(C) 25%
(D) 40%
(E) 55%
answer: Stream of consciousness: Assuming that the technician makes a round-trip of 40 miles (each way is 20 miles), then the technician would have completed 20 miles + 2 miles (10% of the remaining 20 miles). Therefore, the total is 22 miles. 22miles/40 miles is 55% of the entire trip. The answer is (E).

q: A man rows his boat 84 km downstream and 48 km upstream, taking 2 hours each time. Find the speed of the stream?
Options:
(A) 6 kmph
(B) 5 kmph
(C) 9 kmph
(D) 8 kmph
(E) 1 kmph
a: Stream of consciousness: Speed downstream = d/t = 84/(2) = 42 kmph
Speed upstream = d/t = 48/(2) = 24 kmph
The speed of the stream = (42 - 24)/2 = 9 kmph The answer is (C).

question: A 70 cm long wire is to be cut into two pieces so that one piece will be 2/5th of the other, how many centimeters will the shorter piece be?
Options:
(A) 12
(B) 20
(C) 88
(D) 77
(E) 14
answer: Stream of consciousness: 1: 2/5 = 5: 2
2/7 * 70 = 20 The answer is (B).

question: The average of 11 results is 49, if the average of first six results is 49 and that of the last six is 52. Find the sixth result?
Options:
(A) 21
(B) 67
(C) 18
(D) 25
(E) 23
answer:
Stream of consciousness: 1 to 11 = 11 * 49 = 539
1 to 6 = 6 * 49 = 294
6 to 11 = 6 * 52 = 312
6th = 294 + 312 539 = 67 The answer is (B).