Analogies — SSC CGL Reasoning Notes

Concepts and rules

An analogy A : B :: C : D means that the relation which takes A to B is exactly the relation which takes C to D. Read :: as 'in the same way as'.

Direction is part of the relation. Carpenter : Saw is worker to tool; Saw : Carpenter is tool to worker. The answer must keep the same order as the given pair.

Worker and tool: Carpenter : Saw, Tailor : Needle, Farmer : Plough, Surgeon : Scalpel, Mason : Trowel, Painter : Brush.

Worker and workplace: Teacher : School, Doctor : Hospital, Pilot : Cockpit. Worker and product: Tailor : Clothes, Author : Book, Cobbler : Shoes.

Product and raw material: Paper : Pulp, Butter : Milk, Jaggery : Sugarcane, Cloth : Yarn, Furniture : Wood. Read it as 'A is made from B'.

Other frequent families: instrument and what it measures (Thermometer : Temperature, Barometer : Pressure), animal and young (Cow : Calf), animal and home (Bee : Hive), individual and group (Fish : Shoal), cause and effect (Fire : Smoke).

Letter analogies use positions: A=1, B=2, … , Z=26. The anchor word EJOTY gives E=5, J=10, O=15, T=20, Y=25, so you can locate any letter in a second.

Opposite letters: the opposite of the letter at position n is at 27 − n (A–Z, B–Y, M–N). A pair whose positions add to 27 is an opposite pair.

Shifts wrap around: after Z comes A again. So Y + 3 = B and C − 5 = X. If a position goes above 26, subtract 26; if it goes below 1, add 26.

Common letter rules: the same shift on every letter (+2), alternate shifts (+1, −1), growing shifts (+1, +2, +3), opposite letters, reversal of the word, or reversal followed by a shift.

Number pairs in this family are usually a single operation (×4, +7, square, cube ± 1); harder number pairs, triads and word-number clusters are covered in Symbol and number analogies.

Method and shortcuts

Step 1: Say the first pair's relation as a full sentence, for example 'a carpenter cuts wood with a saw'.

Step 2: Put C into the same sentence and test each option: 'a surgeon cuts with a ___'.

Step 3: If 2 options fit, sharpen the sentence: main tool rather than any object at the workplace; main raw material rather than a minor ingredient.

For letters: write the position under each letter of both terms, subtract position by position, and read the list of differences (same, alternating or growing).

Shortcut 1: before computing, check whether the 2 terms use the same letters; if they do, the rule is a rearrangement (reversal, swap of halves), not a shift.

Shortcut 2: add the positions of each matching pair of letters; if every sum is 27, the rule is opposite letters and no differences are needed.

Shortcut 3: eliminate options using the easiest letter first (the first or last), then check the other letters only in the options that survive.

When shortcuts fail: a rule that fits only one letter is not the rule. If no option fits a shift, test reversal first, then a different shift at each position.

Example 1: Worker and tool

Question: Carpenter : Saw :: Surgeon : ?

Solution: A carpenter cuts wood with a saw, so the relation is worker : main cutting tool. A surgeon cuts tissue with a scalpel. Hospital (workplace) and Patient (person served) do not fit the sentence.

Answer: Scalpel

Example 2: Product and raw material

Question: Paper : Pulp :: Cheese : ?

Solution: Paper is made from pulp, so the sentence is 'A is made from B'. Cheese is made from milk. Bread is only eaten with cheese, and Cow is the source of the raw material, not the raw material itself.

Answer: Milk

Example 3: Constant letter shift

Question: ACE : DFH :: KMO : ?

Solution: A(1)→D(4), C(3)→F(6), E(5)→H(8): every letter moves +3. So K(11)→N(14), M(13)→P(16), O(15)→R(18).

Answer: NPR

Example 4: Opposite letters

Question: GOLD : TLOW :: SILK : ? (a) HRPO (b) HROP (c) IROP (d) HQOP

Solution: G(7)+T(20)=27, O(15)+L(12)=27, L(12)+O(15)=27, D(4)+W(23)=27, so each letter is replaced by its opposite letter.

S(19)→H(8), I(9)→R(18), L(12)→O(15), K(11)→P(16), giving HROP. Option (a) swaps the last 2 letters; (c) and (d) break the sum rule at one position.

Answer: (b) HROP

Example 5: Growing shifts

Question: BEAR : CGDV :: LION : ? (a) MKRQ (b) MJRR (c) MKRR (d) NKRR

Solution: B(2)→C(3) is +1, E(5)→G(7) is +2, A(1)→D(4) is +3, R(18)→V(22) is +4, so the shift grows by 1 at each position.

L(12)+1=M(13), I(9)+2=K(11), O(15)+3=R(18), N(14)+4=R(18), giving MKRR. Notice that 2 different letters can turn into the same letter.

Answer: (c) MKRR

Example 6: Reversal followed by a shift

Question: PAINT : UOJBQ :: BRUSH : ? (a) ITVSC (b) CSVTI (c) ITVRC (d) ISVTC

Solution: Position by position the shifts are irregular: P(16)→U(21) is +5 but A(1)→O(15) is +14. So test reversal: PAINT reversed is TNIAP, and T→U, N→O, I→J, A→B, P→Q is +1 everywhere.

BRUSH reversed is HSURB; adding 1 to each letter gives I, T, V, S, C. Option (b) is the +1 shift without reversal; (c) and (d) slip at one letter.

Answer: (a) ITVSC

Common mistakes

Reversing the order: in Mason : Trowel :: ? : Plough the blank is the worker (Farmer), not another tool. Keep worker and tool in the same places on both sides.

Choosing a merely associated word: Carpenter : Wood is worker : material, not worker : tool. Name the relation before you read the options.

Checking only the first letter: in BEAR : CGDV the first letter moves +1, but the rule is +1, +2, +3, +4. Check every position.

Forgetting the wrap-around: X + 4 is B. When a position passes 26, subtract 26 and continue from A.

Mixing raw material with a minor ingredient: Bread : Flour is right, Bread : Salt is weak because salt is a small ingredient; choose the main raw material.

Practice questions

Q1. Mason : Trowel :: Farmer : ? (a) Field (b) Plough (c) Crop (d) Village

Q2. DGJ : HKN :: PSV : ? (a) TVZ (b) SWZ (c) TWY (d) TWZ

Q3. CAT : XZG :: DOG : ? (a) WKT (b) XLT (c) WLT (d) WLS

Answers

Q1. (b) Mason : Trowel is worker : tool, and the farmer's tool is the plough. Field is the workplace and crop is the product.

Q2. (d) D→H, G→K, J→N is +4 each; P→T, S→W, V→Z gives TWZ.

Q3. (c) Opposite letters: C(3)↔X(24), A(1)↔Z(26), T(20)↔G(7). So D(4)→W(23), O(15)→L(12), G(7)→T(20) gives WLT.

Quick revision

Say the relation as a sentence and keep its direction.

Families: worker–tool, worker–workplace, worker–product, product–raw material, instrument–measure, animal–young, animal–home.

Letters: A=1 … Z=26, EJOTY anchors, opposite = 27 − n, wrap around after Z.

Test in order: same letters (rearrangement), sums of 27 (opposites), then differences (same, alternating, growing).

Concepts and rules

A figure analogy Fig 1 : Fig 2 :: Fig 3 : ? means the change that turns Fig 1 into Fig 2 must be applied to Fig 3. Here the figures are described in words, so read each description as a list of elements.

Track 5 properties of every element separately: shape, number, position, direction and shading. A change in one property is independent of the others.

Grid positions: a 3×3 grid has rows R1 (top) to R3 (bottom) and columns C1 (left) to C3 (right). R1C3 is the top-right cell and R2C2 is the centre.

Rotation by 90° clockwise moves cell (r, c) to (c, 4 − r): the top row becomes the right column. For example R1C1 → R1C3 and R1C3 → R3C3.

Rotation by 180° moves (r, c) to (4 − r, 4 − c); rotation by 90° anticlockwise moves (r, c) to (4 − c, r). The centre R2C2 never moves under rotation.

Mirror on a vertical line (left–right flip) moves (r, c) to (r, 4 − c); mirror on a horizontal line (top–bottom flip) moves (r, c) to (4 − r, c).

Directions in 45° steps clockwise: N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW. A 90° clockwise turn is 2 steps forward, 135° is 3 steps and 180° is 4 steps; anticlockwise means counting backward.

Shape changes: the number of sides may grow (triangle 3, square 4, pentagon 5, hexagon 6), elements may be added or removed, and shading may switch between black and white.

One position change can have 2 explanations: a single dot moving from R1C1 to R1C3 fits both a 90° clockwise rotation and a left–right mirror. A second element is needed to decide.

Method and shortcuts

Step 1: Write Fig 1 and Fig 2 as lists: element, position or direction, count and shading.

Step 2: For each element, write the change in one phrase, such as 'arrow turns 90° clockwise', 'dots +1', 'black becomes white'.

Step 3: Apply every change to Fig 3, element by element, and write the expected figure before you look at the options.

Step 4: Eliminate every option that fails any single property; the survivor must satisfy all of them.

Shortcut: check counts and shading first because they are fastest; check rotation or mirror last.

Shortcut: to tell rotation from mirror, look at the order of elements around the figure. A rotation keeps their clockwise order; a mirror reverses it.

When it fails: if 2 transformations both turn Fig 1 into Fig 2, apply both to Fig 3; if they give different figures, the options decide, because only one of them will be offered.

Example 1: Arrow rotation

Question: In Fig 1 an arrow points N; in Fig 2 it points E. In Fig 3 the arrow points W. Which way does it point in Fig 4?

Solution: N to E is 2 steps clockwise, which is a 90° clockwise turn. Turning W by 90° clockwise gives N.

Answer: The arrow points N.

Example 2: Number of sides

Question: Triangle : Square :: Pentagon : ?

Solution: A triangle has 3 sides and a square has 4, so the number of sides increases by 1. A pentagon has 5 sides, so the answer has 6 sides.

Answer: Hexagon

Example 3: Grid rotation with 2 dots

Question: Fig 1 has dots at R1C1 and R2C1. Fig 2 has dots at R1C3 and R1C2. Fig 3 has dots at R3C1 and R3C2. Where are the dots in Fig 4?

Solution: Under a 90° clockwise rotation (1, 1) → (1, 3) and (2, 1) → (1, 2), which matches Fig 2. A left–right mirror would send R2C1 to R2C3, so the mirror is ruled out.

Apply the same rotation to Fig 3: (3, 1) → (1, 1) and (3, 2) → (2, 1).

Answer: Dots at R1C1 and R2C1.

Example 4: Mirror flip in a grid

Question: Fig 1: black dot R1C1, white circle R1C2. Fig 2: black dot R3C1, white circle R3C2. Fig 3: black dot R2C3, white circle R1C3. Fig 4? (a) black dot R2C1, white circle R3C1 (b) black dot R2C3, white circle R3C3 (c) black dot R2C3, white circle R1C1 (d) black dot R3C3, white circle R2C3

Solution: Both elements keep their column and move from row 1 to row 3, which is the top–bottom flip (r, c) → (4 − r, c). A 180° rotation would also change the columns, so it is ruled out.

Flip Fig 3: the black dot (2, 3) stays at R2C3 and the white circle (1, 3) goes to (3, 3).

Answer: (b) black dot R2C3, white circle R3C3

Example 5: Rotation and count together

Question: Fig 1: arrow N with 2 dots. Fig 2: arrow SE with 3 dots. Fig 3: arrow W with 4 dots. Fig 4? (a) arrow SE, 5 dots (b) arrow NE, 4 dots (c) arrow NE, 5 dots (d) arrow NW, 5 dots

Solution: N to SE is 3 steps clockwise (N, NE, E, SE), so the arrow turns 135° clockwise, and the dots increase by 1.

From W, 3 steps clockwise are NW, N, NE. Dots: 4 + 1 = 5. Option (b) has the right arrow but the wrong count; (d) turns only 90°.

Answer: (c) arrow NE, 5 dots

Example 6: 2 independent movements

Question: A square has one symbol at each corner, listed as top-left, top-right, bottom-right, bottom-left (TL, TR, BR, BL). Fig 1: circle, triangle, square, star; TL shaded. Fig 2: star, circle, triangle, square; BL shaded. Fig 3: square, star, circle, triangle; BR shaded. Fig 4? (a) circle, triangle, square, star; TR shaded (b) triangle, square, star, circle; BR shaded (c) triangle, square, star, circle; TL shaded (d) triangle, square, star, circle; TR shaded

Solution: Symbols: each moves 1 corner clockwise (circle TL → TR, triangle TR → BR, and so on); Fig 2 to Fig 3 confirms it. Shading: TL → BL → BR, which is 1 corner anticlockwise each time.

Fig 4: the symbols of Fig 3 move 1 corner clockwise, giving TL triangle, TR square, BR star, BL circle; the shading moves from BR to TR.

Answer: (d) triangle, square, star, circle; TR shaded

Common mistakes

Taking a single dot's move as proof of rotation: R1C1 → R1C3 also fits a mirror. Use a second element or a second pair of figures.

Mixing clockwise and anticlockwise: write the 8 directions in clockwise order and count steps instead of picturing the turn.

Moving everything together: in Example 6 the symbols and the shading move in opposite directions. Track each element on its own.

Ignoring counts: options often have the right position with one dot more or less. Check the count of every element.

Copying the change from the wrong pair: the change is read from Fig 1 to Fig 2 and applied to Fig 3, not read from Fig 2 to Fig 3.

Practice questions

Q1. Fig 1: arrow NE. Fig 2: arrow SW. Fig 3: arrow SE. Fig 4? (a) NE (b) NW (c) SW (d) S

Q2. Fig 1: square with 1 dot. Fig 2: hexagon with 2 dots. Fig 3: triangle with 3 dots. Fig 4? (a) square with 4 dots (b) pentagon with 3 dots (c) hexagon with 4 dots (d) pentagon with 4 dots

Q3. Fig 1: dot R1C2, cross R2C1. Fig 2: dot R2C3, cross R1C2. Fig 3: dot R3C2, cross R3C3. Fig 4? (a) dot R2C1, cross R3C1 (b) dot R2C1, cross R1C1 (c) dot R2C3, cross R3C1 (d) dot R1C2, cross R3C3

Answers

Q1. (b) NE to SW is 4 steps, a 180° turn; SE turned through 180° points NW.

Q2. (d) Sides go 4 → 6 (+2) and dots 1 → 2 (+1); the triangle's 3 + 2 = 5 sides make a pentagon, with 3 + 1 = 4 dots.

Q3. (a) 90° clockwise: (1, 2) → (2, 3) and (2, 1) → (1, 2) match Fig 2; then (3, 2) → (2, 1) and (3, 3) → (3, 1).

Quick revision

Track shape, count, position, direction and shading separately.

90° clockwise: (r, c) → (c, 4 − r); 180°: (r, c) → (4 − r, 4 − c); left–right mirror: (r, c) → (r, 4 − c).

Directions clockwise: N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW; each step is 45°.

Rotation keeps the clockwise order of elements, a mirror reverses it; one element alone may not decide.

Concepts and rules

Meaning-based analogies test the sense of words, not their spelling. 5 relations cover almost every SSC item of this kind: synonym, antonym, degree, part–whole and function.

Synonym: both words mean nearly the same (Abundant : Plentiful, Brave : Courageous). The answer must be a synonym of C, not a word merely linked to it.

Antonym: the words are opposites (Ancient : Modern, Optimist : Pessimist). Check that the option is a true opposite and not just a different word from the same area.

Degree: the second word is a stronger (or weaker) form of the same idea: Warm : Hot, Like : Love, Drizzle : Downpour, Annoyance : Fury. The direction, weak to strong or strong to weak, must match.

Part–whole: A is a part of B (Petal : Flower, Page : Book, Spoke : Wheel). A part–part pair such as Spoke : Rim is a different relation.

Function: A is used to do B (Pen : Write, Knife : Cut, Broom : Sweep). The answer is an action, not the object acted on.

Keep the word class: if A : B is noun : verb, the answer to C : ? must also be a verb. A noun option cannot complete a function analogy.

Method and shortcuts

Step 1: Name the relation in a word (synonym, antonym, degree, part–whole, function) and note its direction.

Step 2: Make a bridge sentence: 'a petal is a part of a flower'; 'a downpour is a much stronger form of a drizzle'.

Step 3: Put C into the bridge and test every option; reject options that fit only loosely.

Step 4: If 2 options fit, the stricter bridge decides: an exact opposite beats a loosely different word, and the main function beats a possible use.

Shortcut: for degree pairs, place the words on one scale (cool, cold, freezing) and match both the size of the step and its direction.

Shortcut: when the first term is missing (? : B :: C : D), read the complete second pair first and build the bridge from it.

When it fails: if no option fits, your bridge is too narrow; widen it one step, for example from 'opposite' to 'opposite in degree'.

Example 1: Synonym

Question: Abundant : Plentiful :: Scarce : ?

Solution: Abundant and plentiful mean the same, so the answer is a word meaning scarce: rare, that is, in short supply.

Answer: Rare

Example 2: Antonym

Question: Optimist : Pessimist :: Generous : ?

Solution: An optimist expects good and a pessimist expects bad, so they are opposites. The opposite of generous (free in giving) is miserly.

Answer: Miserly

Example 3: Degree

Question: Warm : Hot :: Cool : ?

Solution: Hot is a higher degree of warm on the same scale. On the cold side of the scale, cool rises in degree to cold.

Answer: Cold

Example 4: Part and whole

Question: Petal : Flower :: Spoke : ? (a) Speaker (b) Wheel (c) Road (d) Rim

Solution: A petal is a part of a flower, and a spoke is a part of a wheel. Rim is also a part of a wheel, so Spoke : Rim is part : part; Speaker only looks similar in spelling.

Answer: (b) Wheel

Example 5: Degree with close distractors

Question: Annoyance : Fury :: Fear : ? (a) Courage (b) Caution (c) Worry (d) Terror

Solution: Fury is the extreme degree of annoyance, so the answer is the extreme degree of fear, which is terror. Courage is the opposite of fear; caution and worry are milder states, so they break the direction.

Answer: (d) Terror

Example 6: Missing terms on both sides

Question: ? : Book :: Leaf : ? (a) Author : Branch (b) Library : Forest (c) Page : Tree (d) Cover : Root

Solution: Test each option in both blanks. (c) gives Page : Book :: Leaf : Tree, part : whole on both sides. (b) gives Library : Book :: Leaf : Forest, where the container comes first on the left but last on the right, so the direction breaks.

(a) gives Author : Book (maker : product) but Leaf : Branch (part : larger part); (d) gives Cover : Book (part : whole) but Leaf : Root (part : part). Only (c) keeps one relation on both sides.

Answer: (c) Page : Tree

Common mistakes

Picking a word from the same topic: for Pen : Write :: Knife : ?, Fork is also from the kitchen, but the function of a knife is Cut.

Ignoring degree direction: Drizzle : Downpour goes weak to strong, so Breeze : Calm (towards weaker) is wrong and Breeze : Gale (towards stronger) is right.

Taking part–part for part–whole: Spoke : Rim and Page : Cover are part : part, not part : whole.

Choosing a near-opposite: the antonym of Generous is Miserly, not Poor; poor is about money held, generous is about willingness to give.

Matching by spelling or sound: Spoke : Speaker is a trap built on similar letters, not on meaning.

Practice questions

Q1. Timid : Bold :: Humble : ? (a) Arrogant (b) Shy (c) Modest (d) Polite

Q2. Simmer : Boil :: Breeze : ? (a) Air (b) Gale (c) Cloud (d) Calm

Q3. Scissors : Cut :: Broom : ? (a) Floor (b) Dust (c) Handle (d) Sweep

Answers

Q1. (a) Timid and bold are opposites, and the opposite of humble is arrogant. Shy and modest are close in meaning to humble, not opposite.

Q2. (b) Boil is the strong form of a simmer, and a gale is the strong form of a breeze.

Q3. (d) Scissors are used to cut and a broom is used to sweep. Floor and dust are the things acted on; handle is a part.

Quick revision

5 meaning relations: synonym, antonym, degree, part–whole, function.

Build a bridge sentence; keep its direction and word class.

Degree: put the words on one scale and match step size and direction.

Part–whole is not part–part; function answers are actions.

Concepts and rules

A number analogy hides one operation, or a short chain of operations, that turns the first number into the second. The same chain must turn the third number into the answer.

Know by heart: squares up to 30, cubes up to 20, and the primes below 100: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43, 47, 53, 59, 61, 67, 71, 73, 79, 83, 89, 97.

Common pair rules: n → n² ± k, n → n³ ± k, n → n(n + 1), n → n² × (n − 1), n → next prime, n → sum of digits, n → digits reversed.

Triads (a, b, c): the usual rules are b = a × c, b = a² + c², or c = a + b followed by a fixed step. Always test the rule on the given triad, in the given order, before using it.

Letter–number clusters: a word is turned into a number using positions (A=1 … Z=26) or reverse positions (A=26 … Z=1), usually by sum, product or count of letters.

Reverse-position sum of a word = 27 × (number of letters) − forward sum, because each reverse position is 27 − n.

A rule must be simple and exact. If 2 rules fit the given pair, the options normally rule out one; if they do not, prefer the standard rule (square or cube) over an odd chain.

Method and shortcuts

Step 1: Compare sizes. A much larger second number suggests powers (n², n³, n² × (n − 1)); a close one suggests a difference or the next prime; a smaller one suggests digit operations.

Step 2: Write the nearest square or cube of the first number and the gap: 7 → 50 is 7² + 1.

Step 3: Apply the rule to the third number, match the options, and check that no other option fits a different obvious rule.

For triads, confirm the relation on the given set and then test every option; exactly one option should satisfy it.

For words, write positions under the letters and add them; if the sum is far from the given number, try reverse positions or the product.

Shortcut: if the second number is divisible by the first, divide first: 1210 ÷ 11 = 110 = 11 × 10, which exposes n² × (n − 1) at once.

When it fails: if no single operation fits, try 2 operations on n (n² + n, n³ + n, n² − n) before trying digit tricks.

Example 1: Square plus 1

Question: 7 : 50 :: 11 : ?

Solution: 7² = 49 and 49 + 1 = 50, so the rule is n² + 1. Then 11² + 1 = 121 + 1 = 122.

Answer: 122

Example 2: Cube minus 1

Question: 4 : 63 :: 6 : ?

Solution: 4³ = 64 and 64 − 1 = 63, so the rule is n³ − 1. Then 6³ − 1 = 216 − 1 = 215.

Answer: 215

Example 3: Sum of letter positions

Question: CAT : 24 :: DOG : ?

Solution: C(3) + A(1) + T(20) = 24, so the number is the sum of the positions. D(4) + O(15) + G(7) = 26.

Answer: 26

Example 4: Triads

Question: Select the set whose numbers are related in the same way as (6, 42, 7). (a) (5, 30, 7) (b) (4, 24, 5) (c) (9, 72, 8) (d) (3, 15, 4)

Solution: 6 × 7 = 42, so the middle number is the product of the outer numbers. (a) 5 × 7 = 35, (b) 4 × 5 = 20, (c) 9 × 8 = 72, (d) 3 × 4 = 12. Only (c) fits.

Answer: (c) (9, 72, 8)

Example 5: Square times one less

Question: 11 : 1210 :: 9 : ? (a) 729 (b) 648 (c) 720 (d) 810

Solution: 1210 ÷ 11 = 110 = 11 × 10, so 1210 = 11² × 10 = 11² × (11 − 1). For 9: 9² × 8 = 81 × 8 = 648.

Check the traps: 729 = 9³; 720 = 9 × 80 = 9 × (9² − 1), but 11 × (11² − 1) = 1320, not 1210; 810 = 9² × 10 would need 11² × 12 = 1452 on the left.

Answer: (b) 648

Example 6: Reverse-position sum

Question: BOAT : 70 :: CART : ? (a) 42 (b) 70 (c) 62 (d) 66

Solution: Forward positions give B(2) + O(15) + A(1) + T(20) = 38, not 70. Reverse positions (27 − n) give 25 + 12 + 26 + 7 = 70, which fits.

Shortcut check: 27 × 4 − 38 = 108 − 38 = 70. For CART the forward sum is 3 + 1 + 18 + 20 = 42, so the reverse sum is 108 − 42 = 66. Option (a) is the forward-sum trap.

Answer: (d) 66

Common mistakes

Stopping at the first rule that fits: 6 : 36 fits both 'square' and '× 6', and 6 : 36 :: 9 : ? gives 81 by one and 54 by the other. Use the options or a second pair to decide.

Misremembering powers: 13² = 169, 17² = 289, 7³ = 343, 9³ = 729, 11³ = 1331. One wrong value loses the whole question.

Using forward positions when the sum is too large: if the given number equals 27 × letters − forward sum, switch to reverse positions.

Testing a triad rule only on the options: confirm it first on the given set, in the same order (a, b, c).

Treating 1 as prime or 2 as not prime: 1 is neither prime nor composite, and 2 is the only even prime.

Practice questions

Q1. 5 : 124 :: 7 : ? (a) 343 (b) 336 (c) 342 (d) 350

Q2. 37 : 10 :: 56 : ? (a) 11 (b) 30 (c) 12 (d) 9

Q3. BAD : 8 :: BED : ? (a) 11 (b) 40 (c) 20 (d) 45

Answers

Q1. (c) 5³ − 1 = 124, so 7³ − 1 = 343 − 1 = 342.

Q2. (a) 3 + 7 = 10, so 5 + 6 = 11.

Q3. (b) B(2) × A(1) × D(4) = 8 (the sum would be 7), so B(2) × E(5) × D(4) = 40.

Quick revision

Learn squares to 30, cubes to 20 and primes below 100.

Big jump: powers; small jump: difference or next prime; smaller result: digit operations.

Words: forward sum, reverse sum = 27 × letters − forward sum, or product.

Triads: confirm on the given set first; exactly one option must fit.