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Question

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.

This question was previously asked in
SSC Stenographer 2020-21 Previous Year Paper (15-Nov-2021) (Shift 2)
The correct answer is

SXHD

Understanding Letter Cluster Reasoning

Letter cluster reasoning questions ask you to find a pattern or rule that connects the letters within a group or sequence. In this type of question, often called 'Odd One Out', you are given several letter clusters, and you need to identify the one that does not follow the same rule or pattern as the others. To solve these, we usually look at the alphabetical positions of the letters and the differences between them.

Analyzing Letter Patterns

Let's analyze each given letter cluster by looking at the positional value of each letter in the English alphabet (A=1, B=2, ..., Z=26). We will calculate the absolute difference between the positions of consecutive letters within the cluster, and also the absolute difference between the last letter and the first letter, considering the alphabetical cycle (A follows Z).

Letter Cluster Letter Positions Absolute Differences (1st-2nd, 2nd-3rd, 3rd-4th, 4th-1st) Difference Sequence
BKYP B=2, K=11, Y=25, P=16 $|11 - 2| = 9$
$|25 - 11| = 14$
$|16 - 25| = |-9| = 9$
$|2 - 16| = |-14| = 14$
9, 14, 9, 14
GDTW G=7, D=4, T=20, W=23 $|4 - 7| = |-3| = 3$
$|20 - 4| = 16$
$|23 - 20| = 3$
$|7 - 23| = |-16| = 16$
3, 16, 3, 16
SXHD S=19, X=24, H=8, D=4 $|24 - 19| = 5$
$|8 - 24| = |-16| = 16$
$|4 - 8| = |-4| = 4$
$|19 - 4| = 15$
5, 16, 4, 15
XJCQ X=24, J=10, C=3, Q=17 $|10 - 24| = |-14| = 14$
$|3 - 10| = |-7| = 7$
$|17 - 3| = 14$
$|24 - 17| = 7$
14, 7, 14, 7

Identifying the Odd Letter Cluster Out

Let's examine the sequence of absolute differences calculated for each letter cluster:

  • BKYP: The absolute differences are 9, 14, 9, 14. This shows a repeating pattern of (9, 14).
  • GDTW: The absolute differences are 3, 16, 3, 16. This shows a repeating pattern of (3, 16).
  • SXHD: The absolute differences are 5, 16, 4, 15. This sequence does not show a simple repeating pattern of two numbers.
  • XJCQ: The absolute differences are 14, 7, 14, 7. This shows a repeating pattern of (14, 7).

Based on this analysis of absolute differences between consecutive letters (including wrapping from the last letter back to the first), the letter clusters BKYP, GDTW, and XJCQ all follow a pattern where the absolute differences alternate between two specific values. However, the letter cluster SXHD does not exhibit this repeating two-value pattern in the absolute differences.

Therefore, the letter cluster that is different from the others is SXHD.

Revision Table: Letter Cluster Analysis

Letter Cluster Pattern Observed
BKYP Absolute differences between consecutive letters (including last to first) follow pattern A, B, A, B (9, 14, 9, 14).
GDTW Absolute differences between consecutive letters (including last to first) follow pattern A, B, A, B (3, 16, 3, 16).
SXHD Absolute differences between consecutive letters (including last to first) do not follow a simple repeating A, B, A, B pattern (5, 16, 4, 15).
XJCQ Absolute differences between consecutive letters (including last to first) follow pattern A, B, A, B (14, 7, 14, 7).

Additional Information on Letter Reasoning

Letter reasoning problems can use various types of patterns, including:

  • Positional Differences: Constant difference, increasing/decreasing differences, alternating differences between letters.
  • Vowel/Consonant Patterns: Arrangement or count of vowels and consonants.
  • Alphabetical Series: Letters skipping a fixed number of letters.
  • Reverse Alphabetical Order: Patterns based on the alphabet spelled backward (Z=1, Y=2, etc.).
  • Skip Patterns: Relationships between letters that are not adjacent (e.g., the first and third letters).
  • Symmetry: Palindromic patterns in the letter sequence or differences.

Solving these problems requires careful observation and systematic checking of different possible patterns. Writing down the alphabetical positions of letters is often a helpful first step.

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