With CAT 2011 commencing on October 22, 2011, here's a list of 50 most important formulae that

will help you crack problems in the Quantitative Ability section. Read on.

Ravi Handa, an alumnus of IIT Kharagpur and a faculty at IMS Learning helps you decode
strategies to solve Data Interpretation problems in CAT. Read on.
Data Interpretation questions typically have large amounts of data given in the form of tables, pie-charts,
line graphs or some non-conventional data representation format.
The questions are calculation heavy and typically test your approximation abilities. A very large number of
these questions check your ability to compare or calculate fractions and percentages. If you sit down to
actually calculate the answer, you would end up spending more time than required. Here are few ideas
that you can use for approximation.
Funda 1: Calculating (Approximating) Fractions
When trying to calculate (approximate) a fraction 'p/q', add a value to the denominator and a
corresponding value to the numerator before calculating (approximating).
Example,

What is the value of 1789/762 ?

First the denominator. We can either take it close to 750 or to 800. Let's see how it works in both cases.
We know that the answer is between 2 and 3, so for adding values / subtracting values from the
denominator or the numerator, I will consider a factor of 2.5.
Case 1
762 is 12 above 750, so I will subtract 12 from the denominator. Keeping the factor of 2.5 in mind, I will
subtract 25 from the numerator.
My new fraction is,
(1789 25) / (762 12) = 1763 / 750 = 1763 x (4 / 3000 ) = 7.052 / 3 = 2.350666
Actual answer is 2.34776.
As you can see, with very little effort involved in approximation, we arrived really close to the actual
answer.
Case 2
762 is 38 below 800, so I will add 38 to the denominator. Keeping the factor of 2.5 in mind, I will add 95 to
the numerator.
My new fraction is,
(1789 + 95) / (762 + 38) = 1884 / 800 = 2.355
As you can see, even this is close to the actual answer. The previous one was closer because the
magnitude of approximation done in the previous case was lesser.

Funda 2: Comparing Fractions

If you add the same number to the numerator and denominator of a proper fraction, the value of the
proper fraction increases.
If you add the same number to the numerator and denominator of an improper fraction, the value of the
improper fraction decreases.
Note: You can remember this by keeping in mind that,
1/2 < 2/3 < 3/4 < 4/5 ...and 3/2 > 4/3 > 5/4 > 6/5 ...
Example,
Arrange the following in increasing order: 117/229, 128/239, 223/449.
Let's first compare 117/229 & 128/239.
If we added 11 to the numerator and the denominator of the first proper fraction, the resulting proper
fraction would be 128/240, which will be bigger in value than the original (as per Funda 2).

We know that 128/240 is smaller than 128/239, as the latter has a lower base.
So, 117/229 < 128/240 < 128/239
117/229 < 128/239
Now let's compare 117/229 and 223/449.
If we added 11 to the numerator and the denominator of the second proper fraction, the resulting proper
fraction would be 234/460, which will be bigger in value than the original.
If we doubled the numerator and denominator of the first proper fraction, the resulting proper fraction
would be 234/458.
We know that 234/460 is smaller than 234/458, as the latter has a lower base.
So, 223/449 < 234/460< 234/458
223/449 < 117/229
Using the above two results, we can say that 223/449 < 117/229 < 128/239
Note: This question can be solved much simply by just looking at the numbers and approximately
comparing them with . I used this long explanation to illustrate the funda given above.
Following are a few other shortcuts that might come in handy during DI-related calculations.

Funda 3: Percentage Growth

If the percentage growth rate is 'r' for a period of 't' years, the overall growth rate is approximately: rt + t (t1) r2 / 2
Note: Derived from the Binomial theorem, this approximation technique works best when the value of 'r' is
small. If the rate is above 10%, then this approximation technique yields bad results. Also, if the rate is
5% then r = 0.05; if the rate is 7.2% then r = 0.072.

Funda 4: Comparing Powers

Given two natural numbers a and b such that a > b > 1,
ab will always be less than ba
Note: There are only two exceptions to this funda. I hope someone in the comments will point them out
(anyone?).
Ravi Handa,an alumnus of IIT Kharagpur suggests three simple rules to find out divisibility of
numbers.
The concept of 'divide and conquer', derived from the Latin phrase 'Divide et impera', was put into use
effectively by everyone from Caesar to Napoleon to the British in India.

Even Muammar Gaddafi tried using it but as the latest news events show us, he wasn't very effective at
gaining from it. Dividing, rather divisibility rules to be specific, can come in really handy at times in solving
problems based on Number Systems.
The standard rules which nearly all of us are very comfortable with are the ones for 2n and 5n;-- all that
one needs to do is look at the last 'n' digits of the number. If the last 'n' digits of a number are divisible by
2n or 5n, then the number is divisible by 2n or 5n and vice versa. For rules about a few other types of
numbers, I suggest that you read on.
For checking divisibility by 'p', which is of the format of 10n 1, sum of blocks of size 'n' needs to be
checked (blocks should be considered from the least significant digit, or the right side). If the sum is
divisible by p, then the number is divisible by p.
Example 1
Check if a number (N = abcdefgh) is divisible by 9
9 is 101- 1
Sum of digits is done 1 at a time = a + b + c + d + e + f + g + h = X
If X is divisible by 9, N is divisible by 9
Also, N is divisible by all factors of 9. Hence the same test works for 3.
Example 2
Check if a number (N = abcdefgh) is divisible by 99
99 is 102 - 1
Sum of digits is done 2 at a time = ab + cd + ef + gh = X
If X is divisible by 99, N is divisible by 99
Also, N is divisible by all factors of 99. Hence the same test works for 9, 11 and others.
Example 3
Check if a number (N = abcdefgh) is divisible by 999
999 is 103 - 1
Sum of digits is done 3 at a time = ab + cde + fgh = X
If X is divisible by 999, N is divisible by 999
Also, N is divisible by all factors of 999. Hence the same test works for 27, 37 and others.
For checking divisibility by 'p', which is of the format of 10n + 1, alternating sum* of blocks of size 'n'
needs to be checked (blocks should be considered from the least significant digit, or the right side).
If the alternating sum is divisible by p, then the number is divisible by p.
Example 1
Check if a number (N = abcdefgh) is divisible by 11

 11 is 101 + 1
Alternating sum of digits is done 1 at a time = a - b + c - d + e - f + g - h = X
If X is divisible by 11, N is divisible by 11
Example 2
Check if a number (N = abcdefgh) is divisible by 101
101 is 102 + 1
Alternating sum of digits is done 2 at a time = ab - cd + ef - gh = X
If X is divisible by 101, N is divisible by 101
Example 3
Check if a number (N = abcdefgh) is divisible by 1001
1001 is 103 + 1
Sum of digits is done 3 at a time = ab cde + fgh = X
If X is divisible by 1001, N is divisible by 1001
Also, N is divisible by all factors of 1001. Hence the same test works for 7, 11, 13 and others.
*Alternating sum is the sum of a given set of numbers with alternating + and - signs. Since we are using
it to just check the divisibility, the order in which + and - signs are used is of no importance.
For checking divisibility by 'p',
Step 1: Figure out an equation such thatp x n = 10m 1
If we have this equation, the osculator/seed number for 'p' will be - or +m.(-m in case of 10m+1 and +m in
case of 10m - 1)
Step 2: Remove the last digit and multiply it with the seed number.
Step 3: Add the product with the number that is left after removing the last digit.
Step 4: Repeat Steps 2 and 3 till you get to a number which you can easily check that whether or not it is
divisible by p.
Example
Check whether 131537 is divisible by 19 or not.
19 x 1 = 10 x 2 - 1 (Seed number is +2)
131537 13153 + 7 x 2 = 131671316 + 7 x 2 = 1330133 + 0 x 2 = 133
133 is divisible by 19
131537 is divisible by 19

I hope that these divisibility rules will enable you to 'divide and conquer' few of the Number Systems
problems that you encounter during your preparation.
Professor Parag Chitale, Director of CPLC, an institute that trains and prepares students for
professional courses in the country, explains why cracking the CAT is about mindset and not just
the right preparation. In this article, he busts five common CAT myths that students generally hold
onto.
The CAT 2011 has finally dawned on the horizon. Those who have been anxiously waiting for the mother
of all competitive examination are now greeted by the IIMs with an announcement of change in the
pattern from the previous year.
The 2011 CAT is in some way a throwback to the 1997 CAT and a decade prior to that with sectional
timings.
The IIMs have announced that there are going to be two timed sections in the 2011 CAT. Quant and Data
Interpretation in a section of 70 minutes and Verbal and Logical Reasoning in another section of 70
minutes.
The discussion seems to be centered on the Verbal and Logical Reasoning section -- whether the Logical
Reasoning is going to be the Quant based Analytical Reasoning or the critical reasoning of the verbal.
However, the student simply needs to be prepared for all the combinations possible in this section -predominantly verbal with a few questions in analytical reasoning or a section equally divided between
these two types.
Preparedness is all. The student however must not fail to take account of the certain other myths related
to the CAT.
In the process of teaching and observing students appearing for the CAT, one realises that the
fundamental difference in those who crack it and those who don't is the mindset. Beyond a basic level of
intelligence and aptitude that the exam demands, it is indeed more about attitude than brilliance.
Most students cross the basic threshold, but stumble when it comes to having the right mindset. In fact,
most start out with telling themselves 'CAT is too difficult an exam for me to crack'. This self-defeating
thought is supported by some false notions that only further strengthen the negative belief.
Let us first bust a few myths that students generally hold onto.
Myth 1: Only engineers can crack the CAT. If I'm not one, it will be very difficult for me to make it.
Terming the CAT as a 'difficult exam' and relegating it to the likes of engineers to have the ability to crack
it is pure escapism from the effort that the preparation entails.
Results have proven that non-engineers have done equally well.
One needs to ask the question 'What does a difficult exam really mean?' and break it down to its
components.

Myth 2: I need to be brilliant at both verbal and quantitative aptitude. If I'm not great at quant,
there's no way I'll make it.
It's absolutely possible to do well with any one area as the core strength.
Many people who didn't think of themselves as 'numbers people' managed to crack CAT by following a
simple strategy manage your weak area, maximize in your area of strength, and manage time to
maximise overall score.
CAT has many simple, basic questions as well. Having a block against any one area makes one ignore
these questions or approach them as if they were tough to solve. It's possible to get over the numbers
phobia when the paper is approached with practical sense.