Math Questions at Zomato: What to Expect

Math questions appear in roughly 10% of Zomato's technical interviews (3 out of 29 total questions). They aren't about advanced calculus; they test your quantitative reasoning, ability to model real-world scenarios with code, and skill at optimizing operations—core competencies for a company dealing with logistics, pricing, delivery time estimation, and data analytics at scale.

What to Expect — Types of Problems

Zomato's math problems typically fall into two categories. First, applied arithmetic and probability: questions about delivery probabilities, discount and commission calculations, or average order values. You might calculate the expected time for multiple delivery agents to cover an area or model a simple pricing strategy. Second, basic number theory and combinatorics: problems involving divisors, multiples, permutations of menu items or delivery routes, or counting valid arrangements. These questions assess your logical structuring of a problem more than raw mathematical knowledge. The common thread is translating a business or logistical constraint into a clean, efficient piece of logic.

How to Prepare — Study Tips

Focus on foundational concepts. Review modular arithmetic, greatest common divisor (GCD)/least common multiple (LCM), prime checks, and basic combinatorics (nCr calculations). Practice probability problems involving simple independent and dependent events. Use brute-force simulation for verification when stuck. Most importantly, learn to decompose word problems into discrete computational steps. For example, a problem about scheduling delivery slots might reduce to finding the LCM of time intervals.

A key pattern is using the Euclidean algorithm to find the GCD, often the first step in solving problems about dividing resources, finding common cycles, or simplifying ratios.

def gcd(a, b):
    while b:
        a, b = b, a % b
    return a

# Example: Simplify a driver-to-order ratio
def simplify_ratio(num, den):
    divisor = gcd(num, den)
    return num // divisor, den // divisor

Recommended Practice Order

1. Core Concepts: Solidify GCD/LCM, prime factorization, and modular arithmetic.
2. Probability Basics: Practice counting favorable outcomes and calculating simple expected values.
3. Word Problems: Translate scenarios about delivery times, pricing, or resource allocation into code.
4. Optimization: Look for ways to avoid brute force—use mathematical properties to reduce complexity.
5. Simulation: For probability questions, write a quick simulation to verify your analytical solution.

Practice Math at Zomato