Solving Letter Analogy Questions

Letter analogy questions require you to identify the relationship or pattern between the first pair of letters or groups of letters and then apply that same pattern to the third term to find the fourth term.

In this question, we are given the analogy: PQRS : OOQQ : : DEFG : ?

Our goal is to discover the rule transforming PQRS into OOQQ and then use that rule to transform DEFG.

Analyzing the Pattern from PQRS to OOQQ

Let's examine the positions of the letters in the English alphabet. We can assign a number to each letter, starting with A=1, B=2, and so on.

• P is the 16th letter.
• Q is the 17th letter.
• R is the 18th letter.
• S is the 19th letter.

Now let's look at the letters in the second term, OOQQ:

• O is the 15th letter.
• Q is the 17th letter.

Let's compare the positions of corresponding letters:

• The first letter changes from P (16) to O (15). The change in position is $15 - 16 = -1$.
• The second letter changes from Q (17) to O (15). The change in position is $15 - 17 = -2$.
• The third letter changes from R (18) to Q (17). The change in position is $17 - 18 = -1$.
• The fourth letter changes from S (19) to Q (17). The change in position is $17 - 19 = -2$.

The pattern of changes in letter positions is consistently -1, -2, -1, -2 for the first, second, third, and fourth letters, respectively.

Applying the Pattern to DEFG

Now we apply this identified pattern (-1, -2, -1, -2) to the letters in DEFG. First, find the position of each letter in DEFG:

• D is the 4th letter.
• E is the 5th letter.
• F is the 6th letter.
• G is the 7th letter.

Apply the positional shifts:

• First letter (D, 4th position): Apply a shift of -1. The new position is $4 - 1 = 3$. The 3rd letter of the alphabet is C.
• Second letter (E, 5th position): Apply a shift of -2. The new position is $5 - 2 = 3$. The 3rd letter of the alphabet is C.
• Third letter (F, 6th position): Apply a shift of -1. The new position is $6 - 1 = 5$. The 5th letter of the alphabet is E.
• Fourth letter (G, 7th position): Apply a shift of -2. The new position is $7 - 2 = 5$. The 5th letter of the alphabet is E.

Applying the pattern to DEFG results in the letters CCEE.

Comparing Result with Options

The letters derived by applying the pattern are CCEE. We check this against the given options:

• Option 1: CCDD
• Option 2: CCFF
• Option 3: BBDD
• Option 4: CCEE

The result CCEE matches Option 4.

Revision Table: Letter Positional Relationship

Additional Information: Solving Letter Series and Analogy

Letter series and analogy questions are common in reasoning sections of competitive exams. To solve them effectively, consider the following strategies:

• Alphabet Position: Always remember the position of each letter in the alphabet (A=1, B=2, ..., Z=26).
• Forward and Backward Counting: Be comfortable counting positions from A to Z and Z to A.
• Identify the Pattern: Look for patterns in position shifts (addition, subtraction), skipping letters, alphabetical sequence, vowel/consonant patterns, or reverse order.
• Check Each Letter: Analyze the transformation for each corresponding letter individually, as the pattern might vary across positions within the group.
• Apply Consistently: Once the pattern is found, apply it rigorously to the second pair.
• Practice: Solving a variety of these questions helps you recognize common patterns quickly.

Regular practice will improve your speed and accuracy in solving letter-based reasoning problems.