Reasoning – Detailed Notes
Puzzles & Seating Arrangement
Concept: These questions involve arrangement of persons or objects in linear, circular,
floor-based, or box-based scenarios.
Detailed Explanation: For linear seating, people may face same or opposite directions. In
circular, people may face inward or outward. Floor-based puzzles ask you to arrange
people on floors of a building. Box puzzles deal with stacking.
Solved Example: Eight persons A–H sit around a circular table, all facing the centre. A sits
third to the left of B. C sits opposite A. D sits between B and C. (Solution involves stepwise
diagram.)
Tips & Tricks:
1. Always start with definite clues (e.g., 'A sits immediate left of B').
2. Use rough diagram & pencil marks, keep track of directions.
3. Avoid erasing; use possibility tables if unsure.
Syllogism
Concept: Tests logical reasoning with statements and conclusions.
Detailed Explanation: Statements can be universal (All, No) or particular (Some).
Conclusions are tested for definite or possible validity.
Solved Example: Statements: All cats are animals. Some animals are dogs. →
Conclusion: Some cats are dogs? (Not valid). Conclusion: Some animals are cats? (Valid).
Trick: Draw simple Venn diagrams quickly.
Tip: Watch out for 'possibility' type questions.
Inequalities
Concept: Compares relationships between variables.
Detailed Explanation: Questions may be direct (A > B, B ≥ C) or coded (%, $, #
representing relations).
Solved Example: A > B = C ≥ D. → Compare A & D → A > D.
Shortcut: Merge symbols left to right without breaking rules.
Tip: For coded, first decode symbols in a rough sheet.
Coding–Decoding
Concept: Symbolic representation of words/numbers.
Detailed Explanation: Types include letter shifting, substitution, mixed letter coding,
conditional coding.
Solved Example: If CAT = DBU, then DOG = EPH (+1 shift each).
Trick: Check positions of alphabets (A=1, Z=26).
Tip: In exam, look for consistency in first few letters only.
Blood Relations
Concept: Questions test family tree analysis.
Detailed Explanation: Terms like paternal uncle, maternal grandfather are common.
Gender must be carefully considered.
Solved Example: A is B’s mother. B is C’s father. Relation of A to C? → Grandmother.
Shortcut: Draw tree with gender symbols (+ male, ■ female).
Tip: Replace statements with 'he/she' to simplify.
Direction Sense
Concept: Based on movements in 2D plane (N, S, E, W).
Detailed Explanation: Requires knowledge of directions & angle rotation (left turn = 90°
anticlockwise, right turn = 90° clockwise).
Solved Example: A walks 3 km north, then 4 km east → displacement = 5 km NE
(Pythagoras).
Shortcut: Always draw diagram arrows.
Tip: Practice left/right turns carefully.
Alphanumeric/Number Series
Concept: Mix of digits, letters, symbols in a sequence.
Detailed Explanation: Questions ask about positions, neighbours, or patterns.
Solved Example: Series: A1B2C3. → Identify letter after 2? → C.
Shortcut: Count letters & digits separately.
Tip: For long strings, divide into small parts.
Order & Ranking
Concept: Ranking people based on criteria.
Detailed Explanation: Formula = Left Rank + Right Rank – 1 = Total.
Solved Example: A is 6th from left, 9th from right. Total = 14.
Shortcut: Memorise formula for quick solving.
Tip: For 'between' type, subtract accordingly.
Miscellaneous Reasoning
Concept: Includes odd-one-out, analogy, missing series.
Detailed Explanation: Based on common properties.
Solved Example: Odd one out → Mango, Banana, Apple, Potato. → Potato (vegetable).
Shortcut: Classify into categories quickly.
Tip: Attempt these first as they are time-saving.