SSC CGL 2025 Tier-I · 17 September 2025, Shift 2 · General Intelligence and Reasoning · Question 23 of 99

We transcribed this text from the pictures on a candidate's response sheet for this shift; the answer is the key SSC colour-marked on that sheet. Solution last reviewed 13 September 2026.

Where this paper and its answers come from

SSC does not publish CGL question papers or a public answer key. From 2025 the candidate response sheet prints every question and option as a picture, so the text here is transcribed from those pictures for this shift and checked against them independently; where the layout carries meaning, the picture is shown as well. Each answer is the key SSC colour-marked on that sheet. SSC released a tentative key for challenge and later its final one, both only to candidates behind a login, and the sheet does not say which of the two it carries. The solutions are written by UnlockIAS.

If 'P' = ×, 'Q' = ÷, 'R' = +, 'S' = −, which equation is correct?

(a)18 R 2 P 4 S 2 Q 1 = 15
(b)12 P 3 S 4 Q 2 R 1 = 13
(c)20 Q 5 R 2 P 3 S 1 = 9
(d)30 S 5 R 2 Q 1 P 3 = 32

Answer

Why

Correct — C.
Rule: substitute P = ×, Q = ÷, R = +, S = −, then use BODMAS on each option.

(c) 20 Q 5 R 2 P 3 S 1 = 20 ÷ 5 + 2 × 3 − 1
Divide and multiply: 20 ÷ 5 = 4, 2 × 3 = 6
Then add and subtract: 4 + 6 − 1 = 9

9 equals the printed right-hand side → option (c).

Why the others are wrong

(a)
18 R 2 P 4 S 2 Q 1 = 15 — (a) is 18 + 2 × 4 − 2 ÷ 1 = 18 + 8 − 2 = 24, not the printed 15.
(b)
12 P 3 S 4 Q 2 R 1 = 13 — (b) is 12 × 3 − 4 ÷ 2 + 1 = 36 − 2 + 1 = 35, not the printed 13.
(d)
30 S 5 R 2 Q 1 P 3 = 32 — Off by one: 30 − 5 + 2 ÷ 1 × 3 = 30 − 5 + 6 = 31, not the printed 32.

Concept

A which equation is correct item makes you evaluate up to four expressions, so speed comes from doing each one the same way: substitute, then ÷ and × left to right, then + and − left to right.

Only (c) balances, 4 + 6 − 1 = 9. The other left-hand sides come to 24, 35 and 31 against printed 15, 13 and 32.

The near miss is 31 against a printed 32, close enough to pass a rough check. Work every side exactly.

Key facts

In this item P = ×, Q = ÷, R = + and S = −.
20 ÷ 5 + 2 × 3 − 1 = 4 + 6 − 1 = 9.
Within one level, ÷ and × (or + and −) are worked left to right.

Study next

Equation items that swap the operation signs themselvesFinding which two signs must be interchanged to balance an equationSymbol items that ask for the value of a single expression

Common traps

Working left to right, which turns (c) into 17 so that no option balances
Accepting 31 = 32 on a rough check

15 Sep 2025, 12:30, Reasoning Q.24 asks which equation is correct after the signs themselves are swapped (× means −, − means +, / means ×, + means ÷), keyed 16 / 2 + 4 − 1 × 3 = 6.

Related PYQs

No directly related past PYQ was found.

Topic: Numerical Operations — all 148 SSC CGL questions on it, every solved shift.