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Techniques for division?

Case Calculations Division maths
New answer on Jun 09, 2020
7 Answers
1.3 k Views
Anonymous A asked on Jun 07, 2020

I find my case math division skills are generally ok. I have learned the division table up to 1/11 and find it very helpful for divisions with a single digit diviser.

My main issue is when I am dealing with a multi digit diviser (e.g. 25k / 42 or 825 / 76) because I usually take quite a long time to do the calulation and it is not often accurately done.

What techniques do others use for these sorts of problems?

Thank you very much.

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Vlad
Expert
updated an answer on Jun 08, 2020
McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School

Hi,

I recommend learning a division table. Learn all the numbers until 1/10 (e.g. 1/3 = 33.3%, 1/4 = 25%, 3/4 = 75%, 1/6 = 16.7%, etc)

This method will help you calculate any percentage problems like market shares or margins. For example, if your market is $620M and your revenues are $5.1M you can use 5/6 or 83.3%, as a proxy to calculate the market share. By adjusting to zeroes and slightly decreasing the number, you'll get 8.2%

Best

(edited)

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Anonymous updated the answer on Jun 07, 2020

Hi there,

I agree with David, most interviewers would be fine if you just round the denominator to make the calculation slightly easier (it is all about being 80/20) - if the interviewer insists against the rounding, then it's normal to ask to solve it by hand.

Best of luck in the process.

Khaled

(edited)

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Anonymous replied on Jun 07, 2020

Hello,

Maybe other people will have better ideas than me on this, but I fear that certain divisions must really be put on paper. But I still advise you to propose rounding to your interviewer before embarking on complicated calculations (e.g. divide 25k / 40 vs. 25k / 42).

Best,

David

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Antonello
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Jun 09, 2020
McKinsey | NASA | top 10 FT MBA professor for consulting interviews | 6+ years of coaching
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Clara
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Jun 08, 2020
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

Whenever you find those odd divisions in an MBB/consulting interview, be careful. It´s precisely a trap to see if you can simplify.

For instance, to your examples:

  • 25,000 / 42:
    • Round up 42 to 40
    • 40 is 4/10, or 2/5
    • Now it´s much easier:
      • Divide 25,000/5
      • Then multiply per two

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Clara

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Anonymous updated the answer on Jun 09, 2020

Dear A,

You can make your calculations easier with round the last number or for division process itself you can put asid all the nulls (but then don't forget to put them back).

Like 25k/42

25 000/40

25/40--> 24/4---> 6

600 appr

Whould it be ok?

Good luck,

André

(edited)

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Ian
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Jun 09, 2020
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate
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Vlad gave the best answer

Vlad

McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School
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