In the following question, select the related letters from the given alternatives.
PHKB
Understanding Letter Analogies in Reasoning
This question is a classic example of a letter analogy, a common type of reasoning problem. In letter analogies, you need to find the relationship or pattern between the first pair of letters and then apply that same pattern to the third element to find the fourth one.
Analyzing the First Letter Pair: MTBO to KRZM
Let's examine how the letters in MTBO transform into the letters in KRZM. We can look at the position of each letter in the English alphabet (A=1, B=2, ..., Z=26).
| Original Letter (MTBO) | Alphabet Position | Transformed Letter (KRZM) | Alphabet Position | Difference (Shift) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M | 13 | K | 11 | $11 - 13 = -2$ |
| T | 20 | R | 18 | $18 - 20 = -2$ |
| B | 2 | Z | 26 | $26 - 2$ (wrapping around from B) $= -2$ |
| O | 15 | M | 13 | $13 - 15 = -2$ |
From the analysis, we observe a consistent pattern: each letter in MTBO is shifted 2 positions backward in the alphabet to obtain the corresponding letter in KRZM. When shifting backward from 'B', we wrap around to 'Z' (B → A → Z).
Applying the Pattern to RJMD
Now, we apply the same rule (shift each letter 2 positions backward) to the letters in RJMD.
| Original Letter (RJMD) | Alphabet Position | Shift (-2 positions) | Resulting Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| R | 18 | $18 - 2 = 16$ | 16th letter is P |
| J | 10 | $10 - 2 = 8$ | 8th letter is H |
| M | 13 | $13 - 2 = 11$ | 11th letter is K |
| D | 4 | $4 - 2 = 2$ | 2nd letter is B |
Applying the -2 shift to each letter of RJMD gives us the letters P, H, K, and B respectively.
The Solution
Following the pattern established in the first pair, RJMD transforms into PHKB.
Revision Table: Key Concepts Recap
| Concept | Explanation | Application in this Problem |
|---|---|---|
| Letter Analogy | Identifying the relationship between two groups of letters to find a missing group. | MTBO : KRZM :: RJMD : ? |
| Alphabetical Position | Using the numerical order of letters (A=1, B=2, etc.). | Used to quantify the shift between letters. |
| Letter Shifting (Cipher) | Moving letters forward or backward a fixed number of positions in the alphabet. | The pattern found was a consistent backward shift of 2 positions. |
| Wrap-around Effect | When shifting past the beginning or end of the alphabet, continuing from the other end (e.g., shifting back from B goes to A then Z). | Observed when shifting 'B' back by 2 resulted in 'Z'. |
Additional Information on Letter Series and Analogies
Letter series and analogies are common question types in various competitive exams. They test your logical reasoning and ability to spot patterns. Patterns can be based on:
- Position of letters in the alphabet (forward or backward shifting).
- Skipping letters (e.g., skipping one letter, skipping two letters).
- Vowels and consonants.
- Reversal of letters.
- Combination of different patterns.
Practicing different types of letter puzzles helps improve your speed and accuracy in identifying these patterns quickly during an exam.
Important Questions from Letter Based
Select the option that is related to the third letter-cluster in the same way as the second letter-cluster is related to the first letter-cluster.
PDK : QFN :: SJQ : ?
Select the option that is related to the third term in the same way as the second term is related to the first term.
FASTER : AEFRST :: KINGDOM : ?
Select the option that is related to the third term in the same way as the second term is related to the first term.
PRACTISE : ACEIPRST :: TECHNOLOGY : ?
Select the option that is related to the third letter-cluster in the same way as the second letter-cluster is related to the first letter cluster.
RJB : TGF :: QPG : ?
Select the option that is related to the third word in the same way as the second word is related to the first word. (The words must be considered as meaningful English words and must not be related to each other based on the number of letters/number of consonants/vowels in the word.)
Ant ∶ Antling ∶ ∶ Deer ∶ ?
