Four letter-clusters have been given, out of which three are alike in some manner and one is different. Select the letter-cluster that is different.

Question

Prepp Team · Accepted Answer

Finding the Different Letter Cluster

The question asks us to identify the letter cluster that is different from the other three. To solve this type of question, we usually look for a pattern or rule that applies to most of the letter clusters, and then find the one that does not follow that rule. A common approach is to use the positional values of the letters in the English alphabet (A=1, B=2, ..., Z=26).

Analyzing Each Letter Cluster

Let's write down the positional values for each letter in the given clusters:

WRO: W is the 23rd letter, R is the 18th letter, O is the 15th letter.
HDA: H is the 8th letter, D is the 4th letter, A is the 1st letter.
LHE: L is the 12th letter, H is the 8th letter, E is the 5th letter.
PLI: P is the 16th letter, L is the 12th letter, I is the 9th letter.

Identifying the Pattern

Now, let's look at the difference in positional values between consecutive letters in each cluster:

WRO:
- W (23) to R (18): $$18 - 23 = -5$$
- R (18) to O (15): $$15 - 18 = -3$$
- The pattern is $$-5, -3$$.
HDA:
- H (8) to D (4): $$4 - 8 = -4$$
- D (4) to A (1): $$1 - 4 = -3$$
- The pattern is $$-4, -3$$.
LHE:
- L (12) to H (8): $$8 - 12 = -4$$
- H (8) to E (5): $$5 - 8 = -3$$
- The pattern is $$-4, -3$$.
PLI:
- P (16) to L (12): $$12 - 16 = -4$$
- L (12) to I (9): $$9 - 12 = -3$$
- The pattern is $$-4, -3$$.

We can see that in letter clusters HDA, LHE, and PLI, the difference in positional values between consecutive letters follows the pattern $$-4, -3$$. However, in the letter cluster WRO, the pattern is $$-5, -3$$.

Conclusion

Since WRO follows a different pattern ($$-5, -3$$) compared to the other three clusters (which follow $$-4, -3$$), WRO is the letter-cluster that is different.

Letter Cluster	Positional Values	Differences	Pattern
WRO	23, 18, 15	$$18-23=-5$$, $$15-18=-3$$	$$-5, -3$$
HDA	8, 4, 1	$$4-8=-4$$, $$1-4=-3$$	$$-4, -3$$
LHE	12, 8, 5	$$8-12=-4$$, $$5-8=-3$$	$$-4, -3$$
PLI	16, 12, 9	$$12-16=-4$$, $$9-12=-3$$	$$-4, -3$$

Therefore, the letter cluster WRO is the odd one out.

Revision Table: Letter Series Patterns

Concept	Description	Example
Positional Value	Numerical position of a letter in the alphabet (A=1, B=2, etc.).	C=3, Z=26
Difference Pattern	The difference between positional values of consecutive letters.	ABC: 2-1=1, 3-2=1 (Pattern: +1, +1)
Skip Pattern	Letters might skip positions following a rule (e.g., skip 1 letter, skip 2 letters).	ACE: A, skip B, C, skip D, E (Pattern: skip 1 letter)
Vowel/Consonant Pattern	The sequence might follow a pattern of vowels and consonants.	AEIOU (all vowels)
Reverse Positional Value	Numerical position from the end of the alphabet (Z=1, Y=2, etc.).	A=26, B=25

Additional Information: Solving Odd Letter Cluster Questions

Odd letter cluster questions test your ability to identify patterns and rules in letter sequences. Here are some strategies:

Always start by assigning positional values to the letters.
Look for arithmetic progressions in the positional values or differences between them.
Check for patterns involving vowels and consonants.
Consider patterns based on reverse alphabetical order.
Look for simple alphabetical sequences or skips.
Sometimes, the pattern might relate to the number of letters skipped or a specific arithmetic operation.
Systematically checking these possibilities will help you find the rule and identify the different cluster.