🔥 Tips & Tricks - Fractions

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🔥 SSC CGL Fractions – High-Scoring Tips & Shortcuts

⚡ Always remember- Points to Solve Fraction Questions Faster

• Always reduce before multiplying

• Comparison → use cross multiplication trick

• Fractions near 1 → check difference from 1

• Convert unusual fractions to percent or decimal

• Learn the top fraction ↔ percent conversions

• Practice LCM mental speed (important for addition/subtraction)

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✅ 1. Convert to Like Denominators Only When Needed

Most students waste time finding LCM for EVERYTHING.
But in SSC CGL, you only need to convert when:

• Adding/subtracting

• Comparing fractions

👉 Shortcut for comparison (no LCM needed):
For $\frac{a}{b}$ and $\frac{c}{d}$:

🟩 Cross Multiply Trick

Compare a × d and c × b

Example:
Which is bigger, 7/12 or 5/9?
→ 7×9 = 63
→ 5×12 = 60
👉 63 > 60, so 7/12 is bigger

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✅ 2. Fractions Near 1 (Very Important for SSC)

If a fraction is like:
$\frac{n}{n+1}$, $\frac{n}{n+2}$, $\frac{n+1}{n+2}$

👉 You can compare by checking how much less than 1 it is.

Example: Which is bigger?
17/18 or 23/25

→ 17/18 = 1 – 1/18
→ 23/25 = 1 – 2/25

Compare 1/18 vs 2/25
1/18 < 2/25 → 17/18 is bigger

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✅ 3. Fractions → Percent Conversion Trick

Very helpful when options are in %.

Common equivalents (remember these):

Fraction	%
1/2	50%
1/3	33.33%
1/4	25%
1/5	20%
1/6	16.66%
1/8	12.5%
1/9	11.11%
1/10	10%

👉 If numerator > 1, multiply percentage.

Example:
3/8 = 3 × 12.5 = 37.5%

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✅ 4. Multiplying Fractions in 1 Second (Cancellation First)

Don't multiply straight.
Always cancel before multiplying.

Example:
$\frac{12}{35} × \frac{21}{16}$

Cancel:

12 & 16 → divide by 4 → 3/4
21 & 35 → divide by 7 → 3/5

So:
= (3×3)/(5×4) = 9/20

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✅ 5. Dividing Fractions Shortcut: Flip & Multiply

a/b ÷ c/d = a/b × d/c

Example:
7/9 ÷ 14/27
→ 7/9 × 27/14
Cancel 7 & 14 → 1/2
Cancel 9 & 27 → 1/3

So:
= 1/6

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✅ 6. Mixed Fractions → Convert Quickly

a b/c = (ac + b)/c

Example:
$4 \frac{3}{5}$ = (4×5 + 3)/5 = 23/5

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✅ 7. Shortcut for Finding "Part of Part"

Example:
What is 3/5 of 20% of 150?

20% = 1/5
So → 3/5 × 1/5 × 150
Cancel 150 ÷ 5 = 30
Now 3/5 × 30 = 18

→ Answer 18

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✅ 8. Repeated Fraction Problems (SSC Favourite)

Example:
A/B of B/C of C/D of D/E × E = ?

All cancel → A

General rule:
If chain fractions are linked, everything cancels except first numerator.

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🔥 9. Convert Recurring Decimals to Fraction Fast

Example:
0.7777… = ?

Rule: If digit repeats (1 digit):
x = 0.777…
10x – x = 7
→ x = 7/9

Example 2:
0.272727…
x = 0.272727…
100x – x = 27
→ x = 27/99 = 3/11

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🔥 10. Shortcut for Simplifying Big Fraction Expressions

Example:
$\frac{1}{2} + \frac{1}{3} - \frac{1}{6}$

Observe:
1/2 = 3/6
1/3 = 2/6
1/6 = 1/6
→ (3+2–1)/6 = 4/6 = 2/3