All Exams Test series for 1 year @ ₹349 only
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.

Was this answer helpful?

Similar Questions

  1. Niraj is the father of Rinku. Jiya and Tiya are the daughters of Ruby, who is the only sister of Rinku. Vishnu is the son of Rinku and Gita. How is Niraj related to Tiya?

  2. Pointing to the photograph of Sanchi, Nitin said, “Her mother’s father’s son’s wife is my mother-in-law’s only daughter”.

    How is Nitin related to Sanchi’s mother?
  3. Pointing to the photograph of a girl Akanksha, Rajeev said, “Her daughter’s father’s wife’s mother is my wife’s daughter’s mother’s mother-in-law.” How is Rajeev related to Akanksha?

  4. Arsh is Shivam’s father and Dhruv is the son of Bimla. Eshwar is the father of Arsh. If Shivam is the brother of Dhruv, how is Bhimla related to Eshwar?

  5. Bharat and Sapna are husband and wife. Rohit and Bharat are brothers. Suresh is the father of Rohit. Sapna’s son is Krish. How is Krish related to Suresh?

  6. P is the sister of Q and mother of R. S is the daughter-in-law of W and Wife of Q. W’s grandson M is the nephew of P and brother of V. W has only two children. How is Q related to v?

  7. Poonam told Akshay that "Yesterday she defeated Akshay's only sister's daughter Sneha in a school Taekwondo competition." How is Akshay related to Sneha?

  8. 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?

  9. 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?

  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 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?

  2. Introducing a lady, Varun said, “The son of her only brother is the brother of my wife”. How is the lady related to ‘Varun?

  3. Gopi said to Vivek, "That person is the father of the only brother of my mother."

    What would Gopi call him?

  4. A is the son of C, but C is not the mother of A. B is A’s sister. C and D are a married couple. E is the mother of C. Who is A’s mother?

  5. Vijay is the father of Sanjay’s mother. Sanjay is the son of Vijay’s only son-in-law. How is Vijay’s Son-in-law related to Sanjay?

Need Expert Advice?
Upcoming Exams
UPSSSC PET
October 25, 2026
SSC JE
November 02, 2026
SSC CPO
November 20, 2026
SSC CHSL
November 30, 2026
Test Series
SSC CGL img
SSC
SSC CGL (Tier I + Tier II) 2026 Mock Test Series - Latest Pattern
2503 Tests 6 Tests Free
8413 Attempts
4.2(922)
English, Hindi

Start Your Preparation with Prepp Mobile App

Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Prepp Mobile App