Numerical Reasoning: More Than Just Numbers
We hope you enjoy reading this blog post!
Fermion is a Wollongong-based HR consultancy that specialises in helping companies across Australia save money through innovative recruitment and retention programs. Let us help your organisation thrive.
Why understanding numbers defines smarter decision-making
We often hear candidates say, “I’m not a maths person.”
But numerical reasoning isn’t about being a mathematician. It’s not about solving complex equations or calculating the trajectory of a rocket. It’s about understanding numbers in context — interpreting information, recognising trends, and making sound decisions based on evidence.
Numerical reasoning is the ability to understand, interpret, and use numerical data to solve problems and draw logical conclusions. It’s about looking at a set of figures: maybe a sales report, an operational dashboard, or a marketing performance chart and being able to extract what matters.
And that’s why numerical reasoning tests have become a core part of modern recruitment and selection processes. These tests don’t just measure someone’s ability to crunch numbers, they assess how well they can use numbers to think.
In fields like finance, operations, logistics, consulting, and even marketing, numerical reasoning is an important function of the role and being aware of the candidate’s ability in this area is important. It reflects critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making under pressure.
When you use psychometric assessments early in the hiring process, we’re not just testing skills, you are uncovering how candidates process information and approach complexity.
Because at the end of the day, numbers don’t make decisions, people do, and the people who can interpret numbers well are often the ones who make the right ones.
Answers:
¼ x ½ = 0.125
5! = 120
Five consecutive whole numbers add up to 55. What is the smallest of the five numbers? = 9
About the Author:
Christopher Apps is an Organisational Psychologist and the owner of Fermion. He stays updated on the latest psychology research and shares evidence-based insights. The focus of Fermion is "Psychometric Testing for Recruitment" and “Recruitment to Retention: How to Select Good Staff & Keep Them”. If you would like to learn how to select good staff and keep them, please feel free to contact us at Fermion.
“Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.”
Eleanor Roosevelt.
