Mathematical Operations Questions for SSC MTS

What Is This Topic

In normal math, you use +, -, x, / directly. In Mathematical Operations (Reasoning), the exam hides these symbols and replaces them with other symbols, letters, or words. Your job is to decode the symbols first, then solve the expression using BODMAS order. Think of it like a secret code language for math. Once you crack the code given in the question, it becomes simple arithmetic.

• Standard operators (+, -, x, /) are replaced by custom symbols like @, #, $, % or letters like P, Q, R
• The question always gives you the key — for example: A means +, B means -, C means x
• After substitution, solve using BODMAS (Brackets, Of, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction)
• Some questions ask you to find the correct equation from 4 options after substituting
• Some questions swap symbols and ask which statement becomes true

Type 1 — Direct Symbol Substitution

The most common type. A table or line gives you the new meaning of each symbol. You replace each operator in the expression with the real one, then calculate. The trap here is rushing — students often forget to apply BODMAS after substituting and just solve left to right. That gives a wrong answer.

• Read the code carefully — do not assume + always means plus
• Rewrite the full expression with real symbols before calculating
• Never solve left to right without checking BODMAS
• If two operations have same priority (like x and /), solve left to right
• Double-check substitution before computing — one wrong swap ruins everything

Type 2 — Which Equation Is Correct

Here, you are given 4 equations with coded symbols. You substitute real operators in each option and check which one gives a mathematically true statement (left side equals right side). Best strategy: do not solve all 4 options fully. Start with the simplest-looking option. If it works, mark it. If not, move to next. Usually one option is clearly correct within 30 seconds.

• Substitute real symbols in each option one by one
• Check if Left Hand Side equals Right Hand Side
• Start with the option that has smaller numbers — faster to verify
• Only one option will be correct — stop as soon as you find it
• Do rough work side by side to avoid confusion

Type 3 — Interchanging Signs or Numbers

Some questions say: 'If + and - are interchanged, which of the following is correct?' or 'If 2 and 4 are interchanged in the expression, what is the answer?' Here you do not get a new code — you just swap the two mentioned items throughout the expression and solve.

• Swap only what is mentioned — do not change anything else
• After swapping, apply BODMAS strictly
• These questions often appear in 'find the correct equation' form
• Common swap pairs: + and -, x and /
• Always rewrite the full expression after swapping — do not do it mentally

• Forgetting BODMAS after substitution and solving left to right — this is the number one mistake and will give wrong answers in most questions
• Misreading the code — for example reading 'P means +' as 'P means -'. Always underline the code before starting
• In Type 2 questions, trying to solve all 4 options fully instead of stopping at the first correct one — wastes precious time
• Swapping only some occurrences of a symbol and missing others when the same symbol appears more than once in the expression
• Confusing Mathematical Operations (Reasoning) with actual Arithmetic — here the symbols are artificial and do not follow real math meanings

• Mnemonic for BODMAS: Big Old Dogs Make All Sounds — Brackets, Of, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction
• Decode before you compute — like translating a sentence from Hindi to English before reading it. First translate, then understand
• Think of the symbol code as a costume party — + is dressed as @ tonight. Remove the costume (substitute) before doing math
• For Type 2 (which equation is correct), use the shortcut: Start Small — pick the option with smallest numbers first to save time

• SSC MTS typically gives 1 to 3 questions from this topic. Difficulty is easy to moderate — these are among the easiest reasoning questions if BODMAS is applied correctly
• In recent SSC MTS papers (2019-2023), Type 1 direct substitution was most common. Type 2 (which equation is correct) appeared occasionally
• Time target: each question should take under 45 seconds. If you are taking more than 1 minute, skip and return — do not waste time on a single question
• The expression in SSC MTS rarely has more than 5-6 operators. Do not panic — just substitute and use BODMAS step by step
• Watch out for negative results after substitution — for example if - becomes x, the expression might produce a large number. Always verify your final answer against the options before marking