ZE
ZESTEXAM

RBI Grade B Basic Ratio & Proportion

Study Material — 33 PYQs (2018–2024) · Concept Notes · Shortcuts

RBI Grade B Basic Ratio & Proportion is a frequently tested subtopic — 33 previous year questions from 2018–2024 papers are included below with concept notes, key rules and shortcut tricks.

33 PYQs
2018–2024
27 Practice
MCQs
10 Key Points
to remember
Free
no login needed
Take Free Mock →Full Practice Set
Also for:IBPS POIBPS ClerkSBI POSBI Clerk
PYQs
33
Practice
27
Key Points
10
Access
Free
Previous Year Questions

RBI Grade B Basic Ratio & Proportion — Past Exam Questions

33 questions from actual RBI Grade B papers · all shown free · click option to reveal solution

Exam Q 12020Previous Year Pattern

The ratio of ages of Amit and Bhavna is 5:7. If Amit is 20 years old, what is Bhavna's age?

Exam Q 22019Previous Year Pattern

The ratio of ages of A and B is 5:7. If A is 15 years old, what is B's age?

Exam Q 32024Previous Year Pattern

A sum of ₹1200 is divided among three people in the ratio 2:3:5. How much does the person with the largest share receive?

Exam Q 42024Previous Year Pattern

The ratio of boys to girls in a class is 5:3. If there are 40 boys in the class, how many girls are there?

Exam Q 52024Previous Year Pattern

A sum of money is divided among P, Q, and R in the ratio 2 : 3 : 5. If R receives ₹1000, what is the total sum?

Exam Q 62018Previous Year Pattern

The ratio of two numbers is 3:5. If each number is increased by 10, the new ratio becomes 5:7. What is the smaller of the two original numbers?

Exam Q 72024Previous Year Pattern

The ratio of two numbers is 4 : 7. If their difference is 45, find the larger number.

Exam Q 82024Previous Year Pattern

If 12 books cost ₹480, what is the cost of 18 books?

Exam Q 92024Previous Year Pattern

If A:B = 3:5 and B:C = 2:3, what is A:B:C?

Exam Q 102024Previous Year Pattern

Two numbers are in the ratio 7:4. If their difference is 45, what is the larger number?

Exam Q 112024Previous Year Pattern

If A : B = 3 : 5 and B : C = 2 : 3, find A : B : C.

Exam Q 122024Previous Year Pattern

The ratio of ages of A and B is 3 : 4. If A is 18 years old, how old is B?

Exam Q 132024Previous Year Pattern

The ratio of ages of A and B is 5:7. If A is 15 years younger than B, what is the sum of their ages?

Exam Q 142024Previous Year Pattern

If x:y = 3:5 and y:z = 2:3, what is x:y:z?

Exam Q 152024Previous Year Pattern

The ratio of boys to girls in a class is 7:5. If there are 84 boys, what is the total number of students in the class?

Exam Q 162024Previous Year Pattern

If x:y = 4:5 and y:z = 2:3, what is x:z?

Exam Q 172024Previous Year Pattern

A recipe requires flour and sugar in the ratio 5:2. If 350 grams of flour is used, how much sugar (in grams) is needed?

Exam Q 182024Previous Year Pattern

A mixture contains milk and water in the ratio 3:2. If the mixture contains 15 litres of milk, how many litres of water are in the mixture?

Exam Q 192018Previous Year Pattern

The ratio of two numbers is 3:5. If 6 is added to each number, the ratio becomes 2:3. What is the smaller of the two numbers?

Exam Q 202024Previous Year Pattern

The ratio of ages of A and B is 5:7. If A is 15 years younger than B, what is A's current age?

Exam Q 212024Previous Year Pattern

The ratio of boys to girls in a class is 4:5. If there are 12 more girls than boys, how many students are there in total?

Exam Q 222024Previous Year Pattern

In a mixture, the ratio of milk to water is 7:3. If 20 litres of water is added to the mixture, the ratio becomes 7:5. How many litres of milk were in the original mixture?

Exam Q 232024Previous Year Pattern

Two numbers are in the ratio 3:5. If each number is increased by 10, the ratio becomes 5:7. Find the larger number.

Exam Q 242024Previous Year Pattern

A profit of ₹1200 is divided among three partners in the ratio 2:3:5. The difference between the largest and smallest share is:

Exam Q 252024Previous Year Pattern

The ratio of ages of two persons P and Q is 4:5. After 8 years, the ratio of their ages will be 6:7. What is the sum of their present ages?

Exam Q 262024Previous Year Pattern

Three containers have milk in the ratio 3:4:5. If 10 litres is transferred from the third container to the first, the new ratio becomes 5:4:3. What was the original quantity of milk in the second container?

Exam Q 272024Previous Year Pattern

A sum of money is divided among A, B, and C in the ratio 5:7:8. If the difference between the shares of B and A is ₹600, what is the total sum of money?

Exam Q 282020Previous Year Pattern

A sum of money is divided among A, B, and C in the ratio 5:7:8. If the difference between the shares of B and A is ₹480, then what is the total sum of money divided?

Exam Q 292024Previous Year Pattern

Three containers have liquids in the ratio 2:3:4. If the second container has 15 litres more than the first, what is the total quantity of liquid in all three containers?

Exam Q 302024Previous Year Pattern

The ratio of ages of father and son is 7:3. After 10 years, the ratio will be 9:5. What is the father's current age?

Exam Q 312024Previous Year Pattern

A mixture contains milk and water in the ratio 5:3. If 16 litres of water is added, the ratio becomes 5:7. How many litres of milk are in the original mixture?

Exam Q 322024Previous Year Pattern

A sum of money is divided among A, B, and C in the ratio 5:7:8. If the difference between the shares of B and A is ₹480, what is the total sum of money?

Exam Q 332019Previous Year Pattern

A sum of money is divided among A, B, and C in the ratio 5:7:8. If the difference between the shares of B and A is ₹480, then what is the total sum of money divided?

Concept Notes

Basic Ratio & Proportion— Rules & Concept

Core ConceptRead this first — the foundation of the topic

Basic Ratio & Proportion is the foundation of many SSC CGL problems. Think of ratio as a way to compare quantities. If you have 3 apples and 6 oranges, the ratio is 3:6, which simplifies to 1:2. This means for every 1 apple, there are 2 oranges. A ratio compares parts to parts. A proportion states that two ratios are equal. For example, 2:3 = 4:6 is a proportion because both ratios equal 2/3 when simplified.

Key Rules: (1) Ratios have no units - they are pure numbers. (2) Always simplify ratios by dividing by the HCF. (3) In a:b, 'a' is the first term and 'b' is the second term. (4) The ratio a:b can be written as the fraction a/b.

Formula BlockMemorise — at least one formula appears in every paper
• If a:b = c:d, then ad = bc (Cross multiplication rule)
• If a:b = m:n, then a = (m×total)/(m+n) and b = (n×total)/(m+n)

• For three quantities in ratio a:b:c, if total is T, then parts are aT/(a+b+c), bT/(a+b+c), cT/(a+b+c)

• Compound ratio of a:b and c:d is ac:bd

Exam PatternsWhat examiners ask — read before attempting PYQs
Common types include

age ratios, mixture problems, salary divisions, and proportion chains. Questions often involve finding actual values when ratios and total/difference are given

Powerful Shortcut - The K Method

When dealing with ratios, use 'K' as a multiplier. If ratio is 3:5, write quantities as 3K and 5K. This makes calculation much easier as you can find K first, then multiply.

Worked ExampleSolve this step-by-step before moving on
1
Step 1

Let numbers be 4K and 7K (using K method)

2
Step 2

Difference = 7K - 4K = 3K

3
Step 3

Given difference = 21, so 3K = 21

4
Step 4

Therefore K = 7

5
Step 5

First number = 4K = 4×7 = 28

6
Step 6

Second number = 7K = 7×7 = 49 Answer: 28 and 49 Worked Example 2: Rs. 850 is divided among A, B, C in ratio 2:3:5. Find each person's share.

1
Step 1

Ratio parts are 2, 3, 5

2
Step 2

Total ratio parts = 2+3+5 = 10

3
Step 3

A's share = (2/10) × 850 = Rs. 170

4
Step 4

B's share = (3/10) × 850 = Rs. 255

5
Step 5

C's share = (5/10) × 850 = Rs. 425 Answer: A gets Rs. 170, B gets Rs. 255, C gets Rs. 425 Shortcut for Direct Proportion: If A varies directly as B, and you know A₁, B₁, A₂, then B₂ = (A₂ × B₁)/A₁. Cross multiply and solve instantly. Trick for Inverse Proportion: If A varies inversely as B, then A₁B₁ = A₂B₂. When one increases, other decreases proportionally.

Exam TrapsCommon mistakes students make — avoid these

#1: Students often forget to check if the proportion is direct or inverse. In direct proportion, both quantities change in the same direction. In inverse proportion, they change in opposite directions.

Missing this distinction leads to wrong answers in 40% of cases. Always read the question twice to identify the relationship type.

Key Points to Remember

  • Ratio compares quantities without units, always simplify by dividing by HCF
  • Use K method: if ratio is a:b, write quantities as aK and bK for easy calculation
  • Cross multiplication rule: if a:b = c:d, then ad = bc
  • For ratio a:b with total T, parts are aT/(a+b) and bT/(a+b)
  • Direct proportion: A₁/B₁ = A₂/B₂, quantities change in same direction
  • Inverse proportion: A₁B₁ = A₂B₂, quantities change in opposite directions
  • Compound ratio of a:b and c:d equals ac:bd
  • In three-way ratio a:b:c with total T, each part is (ratio part × T)/(a+b+c)
  • Proportion means two ratios are equal: 2:3 = 4:6 is a valid proportion
  • When difference is given in ratio problems, subtract ratio terms to find multiplier

Exam-Specific Tips

  • Cross multiplication formula: if a/b = c/d, then ad = bc
  • Golden ratio value is approximately 1.618:1
  • In direct proportion, if A doubles, B also doubles
  • In inverse proportion, if A becomes half, B becomes double
  • Compound ratio formula: (a:b) combined with (c:d) gives ac:bd
  • For ratio a:b, percentage share of first term is a/(a+b) × 100%
  • Mean proportional between a and b is √(ab)
  • If three numbers are in continued proportion a:b:c, then b² = ac
Practice MCQs

Basic Ratio & Proportion — Practice Questions

27graded MCQs · easy to hard · full solution & trap analysis · showing 20 of 27

All MCQs →
Practice 1easy

If A:B = 7:5 and B:C = 5:4, then A:B:C is equal to:

Practice 2easy

A sum of ₹1200 is divided between Raj and Priya in the ratio 3:5. How much does Priya receive?

Practice 3easy

The ratio of boys to girls in a class is 4 : 5. If there are 20 boys, how many girls are there?

Practice 4easy

If 4 pens cost ₹60, how much will 10 pens cost?

Practice 5easy

If x : 8 = 6 : 4, then the value of x is:

Practice 6easy

The ratio of boys to girls in a class is 5:3. If there are 40 boys in the class, how many girls are there?

Practice 7easy

If A : B = 3 : 5 and B : C = 2 : 3, then find A : B : C.

Practice 8easy

The ratio of ages of Amit and Bhavna is 5:7. If Amit's age is 25 years, what is Bhavna's age?

Practice 9easy

A sum of ₹1200 is divided between A and B in the ratio 2 : 3. How much does B receive?

Practice 10easy

Two numbers are in the ratio 7 : 9. If their difference is 8, find the larger number.

Practice 11medium

The ratio of ages of A and B is 5:7. If A is 15 years younger than B, what is A's current age?

Practice 12medium

The ratio of boys to girls in a school is 7:5. If there are 840 more boys than girls, how many girls are there in the school?

Practice 13medium

A sum of money is divided among P, Q, and R in the ratio 3:5:7. If R receives ₹2100 more than P, what is the total sum?

Practice 14medium

The ratio of ages of A and B is 5:7. If A is 15 years younger than B, what is the sum of their ages?

Practice 15medium

A certain amount is divided among X, Y, and Z in the ratio 1:2:3. If Z receives ₹300 more than X, what is Y's share?

Practice 16medium

In a mixture, the ratio of milk to water is 7:3. If 20 litres of water is added, the ratio becomes 7:5. How many litres of milk are in the original mixture?

Practice 17medium

The ratio of present ages of two brothers is 4:5. After 8 years, the ratio will be 6:7. What is the sum of their present ages?

Practice 18medium

Two numbers are in the ratio 4:9. If their difference is 35, what is the larger number?

Practice 19medium

If A:B = 3:4 and B:C = 5:6, then A:B:C is equal to:

Practice 20hard

The ratio of boys to girls in a school is 5:7. If there are 480 more girls than boys, how many boys are there in the school?

7 more practice questions in the Study Panel

Difficulty-graded, bookmarkable, with timed mode. Free account — no credit card.

Create Free Account →Browse Questions

60-Second Revision — Basic Ratio & Proportion

  • Remember: Use K method for all ratio problems - if ratio is a:b, quantities are aK and bK
  • Formula: Cross multiplication rule ad = bc when a:b = c:d
  • Formula: For total division, part = (ratio term × total)/sum of all ratio terms
  • Trap: Always check if proportion is direct (same direction) or inverse (opposite direction)
  • Shortcut: In difference problems, subtract ratio terms to find the multiplier K
  • Remember: Simplify ratios by HCF before starting calculations
  • Formula: Compound ratio of multiple ratios = multiply all first terms : multiply all second terms
Studied the notes? Now test yourself
See how Basic Ratio & Proportion appears in the real RBI Grade B paper
Full timed mock · Instant All-India percentile · Free
Free forever for basic prepNo app downloadReal exam-pattern questions12,000+ aspirants
Test Basic Ratio & Proportion under exam conditions
Free RBI Grade B mock · instant rank · no login
Free Mock →
RBI Grade B Basic Ratio & Proportion — Study Material, 33 PYQs & Practice MCQs | ZestExam