question: Fill in the blank with the correct number in this number series: 5, 15, 7, 12, __, 9, 11,... ?
Options:
(A) 6
(B) 9
(C) 8
(D) 7
(E) 5
answer: Stream of consciousness: In this simple alternating subtraction and addition series; The first series begins with 5 and adds 2; the second begins with 15 and subtracts 3, and so on. The answer is (B).

q: If x<0, y>0, and |x| < |y|, which of the following must be true?
Options:
(A) x > y
(B) y^2 > x^2
(C) x^3 > y^2
(D) x > y
(E) x < y
a: Stream of consciousness: Correct Answer: (E)
Let's go through each answer choice: (A) can never be true, since no negative is greater than a positive. (B) doesn't have to be true consider what would happen if x = -2 and y = 1. (C) can never be true, as x^3 must be negative, and y^2 must be positive. (D) can never be true, since if x < 0, -x is the same thing as |x|, and |x| > y. (E) can be manipulated by multiplying both sides by -1, which gives us x > y. Remember that x < 0, so x = |x|, and y is positive, so |y| = y. Thus x > y is the same statement as |x| > |y|, and (D) must be true. The answer is (D).

question: Ravi can do a piece of work in 30 days while Prakash can do it in 40 days. In how many days will they finish it together?
Options:
(A) 17 1/7 days
(B) 27 1/7 days
(C) 23 2/7 days
(D) 16 4/11 days
(E) none of these
answer: Stream of consciousness: 1/30 + 1/40 = 7/120
120/7 = 17 1/7 days The answer is (A).

q: An analyst will recommend a combination of 1 industrial stocks, 1 transportation stocks, and 1 utility stocks. If the analyst can choose from 5 industrial stocks, 4 transportation stocks, and 3 utility stocks, how many different combinations of 3 stocks are possible?
Options:
(A) 12
(B) 19
(C) 60
(D) 180
(E) 720
a: Stream of consciousness: 5C1 * 4C1 * 3C1 = 5*4*3 = 60. The answer is (C).

question: 3 candidates in an election and received 1136, 7636 and 11628 votes respectively. What % of the total votes did the winningcandidate got in that election?
Options:
(A) 34%
(B) 54%
(C) 57%
(D) 78%
(E) 87%
answer: Stream of consciousness: Total number of votes polled = (1136 + 7636 + 11628) = 20400
So, Required percentage = 11628/20400 * 100 = 57% The answer is (C).

question: Find the value of y from (12)^3 x 6^4 432 = y?
Options:
(A) 2134
(B) 2234
(C) 2540
(D) 2560
(E) 5184
answer:
Stream of consciousness: Given Exp. = (12)3 x 64 = (12)3 x 64 = (12)2 x 62 = (72)2 = 5184
432 12 x 62 The answer is (E).