Key Takeaways
- Approximation questions can be solved in under 10 seconds with the right strategy.
- This topic offers high accuracy and speed, making it ideal for maximising your RRB PO score.
- Smart rounding, mental math, and BODMAS rules are essential tools.
- Regular timed practice is the key to mastering both speed and accuracy.
RRB PO is an exam where speed matters a lot, and thus, each second has its own value. If you’re someone who faces difficulty in maintaining both speed as well accuracy. Then practising using a timer is the only solution to overcome this problem. Also, you need to focus on the topics where you can get 90% accuracy through practising, along with speed. Among the various topics in the Quantitative Aptitude section, Approximation stands out as a high-scoring and time-saving area. With the right approach, you can solve these questions in under 10 seconds each, giving you a major edge in the exam hall. In this blog, we will talk about the concept of approximation and will also give tips to solve it in under 10 seconds. You will also get a PDF to practice.
What Is Approximation?
Approximation questions test your ability to estimate the result of a numerical expression quickly and accurately. Instead of calculating exact values, you round off numbers and perform simplified operations to arrive at a close-enough or approximate answer. These questions typically involve:
- Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division
- Percentages
- Square roots and squares
- BODMAS (order of operations)
For example, instead of solving:
(49.8 × 2.9) + (150.2 ÷ 5.1)
You approximate it to:
(50 × 3) + (150 ÷ 5) = 150 + 30 = 180
Approximation PDF for RRB PO
In this section, we are providing you with a PDF for a better understanding of the topic and practice using the steps given in the blog. We also suggest that you use a timer to evaluate speed along with accuracy. At first may be you will solve a single question in 30 seconds, but as you practice. You’ll be able to solve a single problem in under 10 seconds.
Approximation PDF Download for RRB PO
Why Approximation Matters in RRB PO?
In this section, we will discuss about why approximation is important in terms of RRB PO Exam. They can be solved with 90% accuracy in a shorter time period as compared to other topics. They often appear in sets of 5-8 questions, and because of this, you can easily gain marks by solving them. This topic does not require you to learn any complex formulas. You just need to make your calculation skills strong. If you solve 5-8 questions correctly in the first 2 minutes, it will automatically boost your confidence in the exam. This will indirectly enhance your performance in the exam.
The 10-Second Strategy to Solve Approximation Problems
Here’s a step-by-step method to solve approximation questions in 10 seconds:
1. Round off numbers to the nearest 10, 100, or whole number. Example: 98.7 → 100, 149.9 → 150, 2.9 → 3
2. Follow the BODMAS order: Brackets → Orders → Division/Multiplication → Addition/Subtraction. Simplify each step by using rounded values.
3. Don’t aim for perfection, just get close enough to identify the correct option. Use options to guide your estimation. If choices are far apart, rough estimates work well in such situations.
4. Memorise squares and square roots of numbers up to 30. Know percentage shortcuts, such as 10% of 250 = 25, 5% of 200 = 10. This will help you calculate the questions faster.
5. Many questions follow similar formats. Recognise and reuse strategies.
Common Types of Approximation Questions
In the table below, we have given the common types of questions that have been asked in the examination. These are suggested by our experts after the analysis of the previous year question patterns.
| Type | Example | Rounded Version |
| Multiplication | 49.8 × 2.9 | 50 × 3 = 150 |
| Division | 150.2 ÷ 5.1 | 150 ÷ 5 = 30 |
| Mixed Operations | (49.8 × 2.9) + (150.2 ÷ 5.1) | 150 + 30 = 180 |
| Percentages | 12.5% of 240 | 13% of 240 ≈ 31 |
| Square Roots | √49.8 | √50 ≈ 7.1 |
Final Thoughts
Approximation is your golden ticket to scoring fast and high in the RRB PO exam. With just a few seconds per question, you can rack up marks while saving time for tougher sections. The key lies in smart rounding, mental math, and relentless practice. To practice more such topic-wise questions, you can take our test series, where you can get such topic-wise tests that are designed as per the exam pattern by our experts after analysing previous year papers. Also, our test series comes with a Detailed Comparison with the Topper so you can compare your Time, Score, Accuracy, Correct/Wrong Answers, and even the Average Performance side-by-side.
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IBPS RRB PO 2025 Related Link
| IBPS RRB PO Salary | IBPS RRB PO Exam Pattern |
| IBPS RRB PO Cut Off | IBPS RRB PO Previous Year Question Papers |
FAQs
The key is to round off numbers smartly. Approximate values to the nearest tens or hundreds, and use basic mental math techniques instead of detailed calculations to arrive at quick estimates.
Generally, 5–8 questions are asked in the Quantitative Aptitude section, making it a high-scoring and time-saving topic if practised well.
Practice mental calculations daily and focus on number simplification tricks. Avoid over-approximating, stay within logical limits to ensure your answer remains close to the correct value.
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