ALBHABETS SERIES IN REASONING ABILITY
1 11 21
A K U OPPOSITE LETTERS
B L V ( SUM IS 27 )
C M W UF BY LOVE
D N X SHIRT GAZ
E O Y PK MN JQ
F P Z CX DW
G Q
H R I S
J TE | J | O | T | Y |
5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 |
Although such question are very simple, yet by doing them in a systematic manner you can save some extra seconds. We suggest that you perform recalculation .In this method,
1) Subtract the numbers if both the direction are same
2) Add the numbers if the directions are opposite
For example: 1) ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Which letter would be the seventh to the right of the eleventh letter from?
The right end 1)K 2) W 3) J 4) U 5) none of these
Since both directions are same (right, right) we request we subtract 7
From 11.Hence the answer would be the 4th from the right that is, W
Some more examples are given below.
3) Which letter is seventh to the right of the thirteen letters from the left?
a) S b) T c) U d) V e) none of these
sol: Since we want the seventh letter to the right of the thirteen letter from the left -directions are opposite -hence we add 7+13=20 .Hence the answer is 20th from the left . Now 20th from the left means 26-20+1=7th from right (note this step). Hence answer is T.
You must have understood the method of pre-calculation by now .The trick is to calculate the actual position of the required letter before going to search for it .Now there may be some variations to the above type of problem. Some variations are presented below. See how we precalculate the position of the required letter.
Ex: 3If the above alphabet is written in reverse order, which will be the eighth letter to the right of O?
a) F b) G c) V d) W e) none of these
Sol: The letter which is eighth to the right of O when the alphabet is , reversed must be presently eighth to the left of O. Hence it is G .
Ex:4 If the first half of the alphabet is written in reverse order which letter would be the nineteenth letter from the right ?
a)F b) G c) E d) H e) none of these
sol: Since the second half is not reversed the first 13 letters would be the same when counting is done from right .But next letters after 13th will be actually from the left end( the 14th letter would be A) Hence the
Some more rules on English alphabet series
a)Question based on dropping or deleting of letters in the english alphabet at regular intervals
Ex- every third letter from left to right of the English alphabet is dropped. Find the 7th letter from the left of the new series obtained.
sol: In the English alphabet ,every third letter is dropped from the left (given) ,Hence the new series will be like ,
AB C DE F GH I JK L MN O PQ R ST U VW X YZ
That is ; A B D E G H J K M N P Q S T V W Y Z
Clearly, 7th letter from the left in the new series is J
Quicker method:
Above discussed method is lengthy and time consuming. Therefore you need a quicker method to solve such kind of problems.
Question says that every 3rd letter is dropped in the original series that is we are left with two letters after every dropping of letters. Here 2 is the key figure .We have to seek a digit which is just les than 7 but divisible by 2. In this case the required digit is 6. Now we do the following operations to get the required answer.
7th letter from the left in the new series = 7+6/2=10th letter from the left in the original series=J
Similarly, you can find any letter at a particular position in the new series.
Question based on reversed English alphabet series.
The English alphabet series can be reversed in many ways. Some of them are discussed below
1) The whole English Alphabet is reversed
2) First half of the series is reversed
3) Second half of the series is reversed
4) Many sections of the English alphabet series are reversed
To solve the questions of the Reversed English alphabet series, you should
Remember the basic rule, that is:
Mth element counting from left to right of a series of N characters is equal to the (N +1-M)th element counting from right to left of that series.
let us take a example :
Let us take the english alphabet series as given below:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Suppose we have to find the position of L in the above series counting from right to left.
We know that the English alphabet has 26 characters.
Hence N =26
Position of L in English alphabet starting from A (left to right) is 12. Hence M=12
Hence Position of L in the above series is from right to left is (26+1-12)=15
Let us take a typical example: Suppose first five letters, then next six letters, then next 7 letters and then after last 8 letters of the following English alphabet series are reversed.
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Then you are asked to find I) 4th II) 20th elements from the left of the new series .How will you proceed to get the answer? Let us see.
According the question, first 5, then next 6,7,8 letters of the English alphabet are reversed.
Hence we obtain a new series as given below
EDCBA / KJIHGF / RQPONML / ZYXWVUTS
1 2 3 4
We have to find i) 4th letter from the new series, 4th letter falls into group 1
Hence fourth letter in group 1= (5+1-4)=2nd letter from the left in the
Original series.(refer to the basic rule )
II) 20th letter from the left of the new series falls into the group 4.There are
8 characters in-group 4.We have to find second letter of the group 4
(Since 5 letters of group 1, 6 letters of group 2 and 7 letters of group 3
Does not effect the position of letter that falls into the group 4 that is
20=5+6+7+2) 2nd letter in the group 4 =18+(8+1-2)=25th letter from the
Left in the original series=Ys
Remember: - If we want to go back 3 places back from c then answer will be z. similarly if we want to go back 5 places back from the alphabet e then answer will be z.
C-3 = Z
E-5 = Z
C- 5 = X (26+3-5=24 which is the position of x)
