Logical & Analytical Reasoning — Module 2

Number & Letter Series

Series questions ask you to find the missing or wrong term by identifying the pattern. 4–6 questions appear in every MHT CET LAW paper.

6 Core Number Series Patterns

Arithmetic (+/−)Constant difference: 3, 7, 11, 15, ? → +4 each → 19

Geometric (×/÷)Constant ratio: 2, 6, 18, 54, ? → ×3 → 162

Perfect Squares1, 4, 9, 16, 25, ? → n² → 36

Perfect Cubes1, 8, 27, 64, ? → n³ → 125

Increasing Differences1, 2, 4, 7, 11, ? → diff: 1,2,3,4 → +5 → 16

Fibonacci1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13 → each = sum of previous two

Letter Series — EJOTY Rule

EJOTY: E=5, J=10, O=15, T=20, Y=25 — every 5th letter. Memorise these 5 anchor points.
Opposite letters always sum to 27: A(1)+Z(26)=27, B(2)+Y(25)=27, M(13)+N(14)=27
Example: B, D, G, K, ? → differences +2,+3,+4 → next +5 → P (K=11, +5=16=P)

Solving Strategy: Step 1 — Find difference between consecutive terms. Step 2 — If constant → arithmetic. Step 3 — If increasing/decreasing → find pattern of differences. This single method solves 80% of series questions!

Analogies, Classifications & Odd-One-Out

Analogies test relationships between pairs. 3–5 questions per paper. Find what connects A:B, then apply the same logic to C:?

Types of Analogies

Tool → UserScalpel : Doctor :: Stethoscope : Doctor. Chisel : Carpenter :: Needle : Tailor

Part → WholePage : Book :: Brick : Wall :: Key : Piano

Animal → SoundDog : Bark :: Cow : Moo :: Lion : Roar :: Frog : Croak

Worker → ProductCarpenter : Furniture :: Cobbler : Shoes :: Baker : Bread

Cause → EffectFire : Ashes :: Flood : Erosion :: Exercise : Fitness

Number Pattern36 : 6 :: 49 : ? → 36=6², 49=7² → answer: 7

Odd-One-Out Strategy

Category: Rose, Lotus, Mango, Jasmine → Mango (not a flower)
Number pattern: 4, 9, 16, 25, 35 → 35 (not a perfect square)
Letter pattern: AZ, BY, CX, EW → EW breaks sequence (should be DW)
Tip: Identify what ALL others share — the odd one is whatever doesn't fit that common rule

Syllogisms & Venn Diagrams

Syllogisms give 2 statements and ask which conclusions are definitely true. 4–5 questions per paper.

4 Rules — Must Memorise

Valid ✓All A are B + All B are C → All A are C

Invalid ✗All A are B + Some B are C → Some A are C — WRONG!

Valid ✓No A is B + All C are A → No C is B

Invalid ✗Some A + Some B → No definite conclusion ever possible

Venn Diagram Method (Safest Approach)

Draw ALL possible Venn diagram arrangements for the given statements
A conclusion is definitely true only if it holds in EVERY possible diagram
Either-Or: If two conclusions form a complementary pair (one must be true), mark "Either I or II follows"
Two Some / Two No statements → never give a definite conclusion

Blood Relations

Blood Relation questions describe family connections and ask you to identify the relationship between two members. 2–4 questions per paper. Always draw a family tree!

Key Relationships

Paternal SideFather's brother = Uncle. Father's sister = Aunt. Father's father = Grandfather

Maternal SideMother's brother = Maternal Uncle. Mother's sister = Aunt. Mother's father = Maternal Grandfather

In-LawsSpouse's father = Father-in-law. Sibling's spouse = Sister/Brother-in-law

CousinsChildren of Uncle or Aunt = Cousin. Not to be confused with siblings.

Gender Clue Words

Male: Son, Brother, Father, Uncle, Husband, Nephew, Grandfather, Groom
Female: Daughter, Sister, Mother, Aunt, Wife, Niece, Grandmother, Bride
Always draw: ▲ for male, ○ for female, = for married, | for parent-child, — for siblings

Golden Rule: ALWAYS draw the family tree — never try to solve in your head. 30 seconds of drawing saves 2 minutes of confusion and eliminates errors.

Directions & Distance

Direction questions involve movement in N/S/E/W directions and ask for final position or total distance. 2–3 questions per paper.

Core Rules

Turn RightClockwise 90°: North → East, East → South, South → West, West → North

Turn LeftAnti-clockwise 90°: North → West, West → South, South → East, East → North

U-TurnFace opposite direction: North ↔ South, East ↔ West

Shadow RuleMorning shadow = West side of person. Evening/sunset shadow = East side

Distance Formula — Pythagoras

When movements are at right angles: Distance = √(a² + b²)
3-4-5 trick: 3km East + 4km North → straight line distance = √(9+16) = √25 = 5 km
5 km North + 5 km South = cancel out. Net distance = 0 in that direction
Always draw the path on paper — mark start as "O", plot every movement step by step

Critical Reasoning & Conclusions

Critical Reasoning tests your ability to evaluate arguments, identify assumptions and draw conclusions. 6–8 questions per paper.

Types of Questions

AssumptionUnstated belief that MUST be true for the argument to hold. Use the negation test to verify.

ConclusionMust follow ONLY from given information. Never go beyond what is stated.

InferenceSlightly broader than conclusion. Can be implied but not directly stated. Must remain within passage.

Strengthens/WeakensWhich option supports or attacks the argument's logic? Look for what directly impacts the reasoning.

Negation Test for Assumptions

Take an option and NEGATE it (make it opposite/false)
If the argument FALLS APART after negation → that IS the assumption
If argument still holds → not the assumption
For Statement-Conclusion: "Some" conclusions are safer than "All". Mark "Does Not Follow" when in doubt.

Key Rule: Conclusion must follow from given info ALONE. Assumption is always unstated but necessary. Inference is implied. Never add your own knowledge or common sense to these questions!

Flashcards — Click to Flip

Click any card to reveal the answer. All 12 cards reviewed = 100% progress.

What is the EJOTY rule in Letter Series?

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E=5, J=10, O=15, T=20, Y=25. These are every 5th letter. Using these anchor points, you can find any letter's position instantly without counting from A.

All A are B + Some B are C. What follows?

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No definite conclusion about A and C. The rule is: All A are B + Some B are C does NOT give "Some A are C". This is one of the most commonly asked trick questions in Syllogisms.

What is the "3-4-5" trick in Directions?

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If a person moves 3 km in one direction and 4 km at right angles to it, the straight-line distance from start = √(3²+4²) = √25 = 5 km. This Pythagorean triple (3,4,5) appears very frequently in exam questions.

Series: 2, 5, 10, 17, 26, ? — what comes next?

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37. Differences: 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 — odd numbers increasing by 2. Next difference = 11. So 26 + 11 = 37.

A is father of B. C is sister of B. D is husband of C. How is A related to D?

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A is father of B. C is B's sister, so A is also C's father. D is C's husband. Therefore A is D's Father-in-law.

What is the Negation Test used for?

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The Negation Test identifies Assumptions. Negate the option — if the argument collapses, that's the assumption. If the argument still holds, it's not the assumption.

Analogy: Book : Author :: Sculpture : ?

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Sculptor. Relationship: A Book is created by an Author. A Sculpture is created by a Sculptor. Always identify the exact relationship type first (creator, user, part-whole, etc.).

Which direction is a person's shadow in the morning?

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West side. Sun rises in the East, so morning shadows fall to the West. Evening/sunset shadows fall to the East. Remember: shadow always falls AWAY from the sun.

Odd-One-Out: 4, 9, 16, 25, 35 — which doesn't belong?

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35. All others are perfect squares: 4=2², 9=3², 16=4², 25=5². 35 is not a perfect square (√35 ≈ 5.9). Always look for the mathematical property that the others share.

Ravi walks 5km North, then 3km East, then 5km South. How far from start?

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3 km East. 5km North and 5km South cancel each other. Net displacement: 3km East only. Distance from start = 3 km.

Coding: If CAT = DBU, what is DOG?

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EPH. Rule: each letter is shifted +1. C→D, A→B, T→U. So D→E, O→P, G→H = EPH. Always find the rule by comparing one known coded word first.

What do opposite letters sum to in the alphabet?

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27. A(1)+Z(26)=27, B(2)+Y(25)=27, M(13)+N(14)=27. All pairs of letters equidistant from both ends sum to 27. Useful for reverse alphabet coding questions.

Practice Quiz — Logical Reasoning

15 questions covering Series, Analogies, Syllogisms, Blood Relations, Directions & Critical Reasoning.

What comes next? 3, 7, 11, 15, ?

Book : Author :: Painting : ?

Statements: All cats are dogs. All dogs are animals. Conclusion I: All cats are animals. Conclusion II: Some animals are cats.

A is the mother of B. C is the brother of A. B is the daughter of D. How is C related to D?

Ravi walks 5km North, then turns right and walks 3km East, then turns right and walks 5km South. How far is he from the starting point?

Which is the Odd-One-Out? Rose, Lotus, Mango, Jasmine, Sunflower

If MANGO is coded as OCPIQ, what is the code for APPLE?

What is the next number? 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, ?

Statement: All students who passed the exam were hardworking. Priya passed the exam. Conclusion: Priya is hardworking.

Q10

Which letter is 7th to the right of the 5th letter from the left in the alphabet?

Q11

Facing North, you turn Right, then Right again, then Left. Which direction are you facing?

Q12

Statements: No A is B. All C are A. Conclusion: No C is B.

Q13

Series: 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, ? — what comes next?

Q14

Doctor : Hospital :: Teacher : ?

Q15

Statement: The government should ban all fast food restaurants to improve public health. Which is the best assumption?

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