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Question

A + B means ‘A is the father of B’;

A – B means ‘A is the sister of B’;

A × B means ‘A is the brother of B’;

A ÷ B means ‘A is the mother of B’;

If, U + H × L – Q ÷ R – Y, then how is L related to Y?

This question was previously asked in
SSC CGL 2019 (Tier 2) GS Finance & Economics Previous Year Paper (17-Nov-2020)
The correct answer is

Mother’s sister

Solving Blood Relation Puzzles with Code Decoding

This question asks us to determine the relationship between two individuals, L and Y, based on a coded expression representing blood relationships. We are given a set of codes and their meanings, and we need to decode the given expression step-by-step to build the family links and find the required relationship.

Understanding the Blood Relation Codes

First, let's understand what each symbol in the code represents:

  • A + B means ‘A is the father of B’.
  • A – B means ‘A is the sister of B’.
  • A × B means ‘A is the brother of B’.
  • A ÷ B means ‘A is the mother of B’.

Decoding the Expression U + H × L – Q ÷ R – Y

Let's break down the given expression segment by segment from left to right:

  1. U + H: According to the code, + means 'father'. So, U is the father of H.
  2. H × L: According to the code, × means 'brother'. So, H is the brother of L. Since U is the father of H, and H is the brother of L, U is also the father of L. H and L are siblings.
  3. L – Q: According to the code, means 'sister'. So, L is the sister of Q. Since U is the father of L, and L is the sister of Q, U is also the father of Q. L, H, and Q are all siblings.
  4. Q ÷ R: According to the code, ÷ means 'mother'. So, Q is the mother of R. Since Q is a sibling of L and H, and U is their father, U is the maternal grandfather of R.
  5. R – Y: According to the code, means 'sister'. So, R is the sister of Y. Since Q is the mother of R, and R is the sister of Y, Q is also the mother of Y. R and Y are siblings.

Determining the Relationship between L and Y

From our decoding, we know the following relationships:

  • L is the sister of Q.
  • Q is the mother of Y.

If Q is Y's mother, and L is Q's sister, then L is Y's mother's sister. A mother's sister is also known as a maternal aunt.

Analyzing the Options

Let's look at the given options:

  • Sister: L and Y are not siblings. L is from the previous generation relative to Y.
  • Mother’s sister: This matches our derived relationship. L is the sister of Q, and Q is the mother of Y.
  • Mother’s brother: L is female (L is the sister of Q). A mother's brother is a maternal uncle.
  • Maternal grandmother: A maternal grandmother is the mother of one's mother. L is Q's sister, not Q's mother.

Based on our analysis, the relationship between L and Y is that L is Y's mother's sister.

Expression Segment Meaning Inferred Relationship
U + H U is father of H U → Father; H → Child
H × L H is brother of L H, L → Siblings; U → Father of L
L – Q L is sister of Q L, H, Q → Siblings; U → Father of Q
Q ÷ R Q is mother of R Q → Mother; R → Child; U → Maternal Grandfather of R
R – Y R is sister of Y R, Y → Siblings; Q → Mother of Y; U → Maternal Grandfather of Y

From the inferred relationships, L is the sister of Q, and Q is the mother of Y. Therefore, L is the mother's sister of Y.

Revision Table: Blood Relation Terms

Relationship Description
Father Male parent
Mother Female parent
Sibling Brother or sister
Uncle Father's brother or Mother's brother
Aunt Father's sister or Mother's sister
Cousin Child of an uncle or aunt
Grandfather Parent's father
Grandmother Parent's mother
Maternal Related through the mother's side
Paternal Related through the father's side

Additional Information: Tips for Solving Blood Relation Questions

Blood relation questions involving codes or complex expressions can be solved systematically:

  • Identify the meaning of each symbol or code.
  • Break the given expression into smaller parts.
  • For each part, determine the relationship between the two individuals.
  • Link these individual relationships together to form a family tree or diagram. You can use symbols like <--> for siblings, for parent-child, etc., and note gender.
  • Trace the path between the two individuals whose relationship is asked.
  • Be careful with gender; sometimes, the code only specifies the relation of the first person to the second, not the second person's gender. However, 'sister' and 'brother' imply gender.

Practice decoding different types of expressions to become proficient in solving blood relation problems quickly and accurately.

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Similar Questions

  1. Pointing to the photograph of a girl, Raghav said, "She is my father's mother's daughter's only brother's daughter". How is Raghav's father related to that girl's mother?

  2. Looking at the family picture, Rajan said, "She is my wife's son's father's mother's husband's daughter.' How is the girl in the photo related to Rajan?

  3. Pointing towards Sumit, Anuj said, “He is my mother’s father’s son’s brother’s son”. If Vinita who is married to Kartik, is the mother of Anuj, then how is Vinita related to Sumit?

  4. Arya's mother's husband is the brother of Meena's mother. Vansh is the brother of Meena and Kavita. Varun is the father of Arya. How is Varun related to Vansh?

  5. A – B means ‘A is the mother of B’;

    A × B means ‘A is the sister of B’;

    A ÷ B means ‘A is the daughter of B’.

    Which of the following expressions means ‘U is the daughter of Q?
  6. Introducing Rajat to a guest, Ajay said, "He is the only son of my father's daughter-in law". How is Ajay related to Rajat?

  7. Pointing to a player in a stadium, Sanjana said, "He is my paternal grandmother's only son's only son-in-law's son". How is that player's father related to Sanjana?

  8. Saksham introduced Nidhi to his friend, “She is the daughter of the only son of my father’s wife.” How is Saksham related to Nidhi?

  9. Punit said to a lady, "The sister of your father's wife is my aunt". How is the lady related to Punit?

  10. Pointing to a lady, Diwakar said, "Her mother's only grandson is my son." Lady is not married. How is that lady related to Diwakar?


Important Questions from General Blood Relation Problems

  1. A man said to a lady, "your mother's husband's sister is my Aunt". How is lady related to the man?

  2. Sadhana introduces Ramu as “The son of the brother of her father’s wife”. How is Ramu related to Sadhana?

  3. Preeti is Harish's only daughter. Lakhan is Birendra's only son. Lakhan's sister Neeti is married to Manas. Preeti has only one brother, Manas. How is Manas related to Birendra?

  4. Introducing Asha to guests, Bhaskar said, "her father is the only son of my father". How is Asha related to Bhaskar?

  5. A is father of B. B is sister of C. C is sister of D. D is the son of E. How many women are there?

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