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Question

Three of the following four letter-clusters are alike in a certain way and one is different. Pick the odd one out.

The correct answer is

JQT

Finding the Odd Letter Cluster

In this question, we are given four letter clusters: HSP, JQT, FUR, and LOL. We need to find the one cluster that is different from the other three based on a certain pattern or rule.

Let's analyze the position of each letter in the English alphabet. We can also look for relationships between the letters within each cluster, such as sequential movement (addition or subtraction of position value) or reverse letter pairs.

A common pattern in such problems involves 'reverse letters'. Two letters are reverse letters if the sum of their positions in the alphabet is 27. For example, A (1) and Z (26) are reverse letters because \(1 + 26 = 27\). Similarly, B (2) and Y (25) are reverse letters (\(2 + 25 = 27\)), and so on.

Analyzing Each Letter Cluster

1. HSP

  • H is the 8th letter.
  • S is the 19th letter.
  • P is the 16th letter.

Let's check for patterns:

  • Relationship between H and S: \(8 + 19 = 27\). H and S are reverse letters.
  • Relationship between S and P: The position changes from 19 to 16. This is a decrease of \(19 - 16 = 3\).

Pattern for HSP: First two letters are reverse letters, and the third letter's position is 3 less than the second letter's position.

2. JQT

  • J is the 10th letter.
  • Q is the 17th letter.
  • T is the 20th letter.

Let's check for patterns:

  • Relationship between J and Q: \(10 + 17 = 27\). J and Q are reverse letters.
  • Relationship between Q and T: The position changes from 17 to 20. This is an increase of \(20 - 17 = 3\).

Pattern for JQT: First two letters are reverse letters, and the third letter's position is 3 more than the second letter's position.

3. FUR

  • F is the 6th letter.
  • U is the 21st letter.
  • R is the 18th letter.

Let's check for patterns:

  • Relationship between F and U: \(6 + 21 = 27\). F and U are reverse letters.
  • Relationship between U and R: The position changes from 21 to 18. This is a decrease of \(21 - 18 = 3\).

Pattern for FUR: First two letters are reverse letters, and the third letter's position is 3 less than the second letter's position.

4. LOL

  • L is the 12th letter.
  • O is the 15th letter.
  • L is the 12th letter.

Let's check for patterns:

  • Relationship between L and O: \(12 + 15 = 27\). L and O are reverse letters.
  • Relationship between O and L: The position changes from 15 to 12. This is a decrease of \(15 - 12 = 3\).

Pattern for LOL: First two letters are reverse letters, and the third letter's position is 3 less than the second letter's position.

Comparing the Patterns

Let's summarize the patterns we found for each letter cluster:

  • HSP: First two are reverse letters, third letter position = second letter position - 3.
  • JQT: First two are reverse letters, third letter position = second letter position + 3.
  • FUR: First two are reverse letters, third letter position = second letter position - 3.
  • LOL: First two are reverse letters, third letter position = second letter position - 3.

The pattern "First two letters are reverse letters, and the third letter's position is 3 less than the second letter's position" is followed by HSP, FUR, and LOL. The cluster JQT follows a different pattern where the third letter's position is 3 *more* than the second letter's position.

Therefore, JQT is the odd one out.

Cluster Letter Positions 1st & 2nd Letter Relation 2nd & 3rd Letter Relation Pattern
HSP H(8), S(19), P(16) \(8+19=27\) (Reverse) \(19-16=3\) (\(-3\)) Reverse, then -3
JQT J(10), Q(17), T(20) \(10+17=27\) (Reverse) \(20-17=3\) (\(+3\)) Reverse, then +3
FUR F(6), U(21), R(18) \(6+21=27\) (Reverse) \(21-18=3\) (\(-3\)) Reverse, then -3
LOL L(12), O(15), L(12) \(12+15=27\) (Reverse) \(15-12=3\) (\(-3\)) Reverse, then -3

Based on this analysis, JQT is the letter cluster that does not follow the same pattern as the other three.

Revision Table: Letter Cluster Analysis

Cluster First Letter Second Letter Third Letter Pattern Observed
HSP H (8) S (19) P (16) 1st & 2nd are reverse; 3rd = 2nd - 3
JQT J (10) Q (17) T (20) 1st & 2nd are reverse; 3rd = 2nd + 3
FUR F (6) U (21) R (18) 1st & 2nd are reverse; 3rd = 2nd - 3
LOL L (12) O (15) L (12) 1st & 2nd are reverse; 3rd = 2nd - 3

Additional Information: Letter Reasoning Patterns

Letter reasoning questions often test your ability to identify patterns based on:

  • Alphabetical Position: Using the sequence A=1, B=2, ..., Z=26.
  • Letter Sequence: Moving a fixed number of steps forward or backward in the alphabet.
  • Reverse Letter Pairs: Letters whose positions sum up to 27 (A-Z, B-Y, C-X, etc.).
  • Vowels and Consonants: Patterns based on the type of letter.
  • Skip Counting: Skipping a fixed number of letters between terms.
  • Combination of Patterns: Sometimes multiple rules are applied simultaneously.

Practicing with different types of letter series and analogy problems helps in quickly identifying the underlying pattern in competitive exams.

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Important Questions from Jumble Words

  1. Three of the following four letter-clusters are alike In a certain way and one Is different. Pick the odd one out. 

    PTXB

    GKOS

    HKNQ

    MQUY

  2. A number has been denoted to each of the given letters. Select the option from the following four possible arrangements of these numbers that forms a meaningful word.

    E = 1, Z = 2, L = 3, P = 4, U = 5, Z = 6

  3. A number has been denoted to each of the given letters. Select the option from the following four possible arrangements of these numbers that forms a meaningful word.

    E = 1, N = 2, T = 3, S = 4, T = 5, D = 6, U = 7

  4. Information given below represents the number codes for the given letters. Select the combination of numbers so that the letters arranged accordingly will form a meaningful word.

    R = 1, E = 2, A = 3, C = 4, T = 5, I = 6, V = 7, E = 8  

  5. Four words have been given out of which three are alike in some manner, while one is different. Choose the odd one.

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