Analogies: Notes और MCQ Practice

General Intelligence and Reasoning • RRB NTPC UG

आसान भाषा में:

Analogies का सीधा मतलब होता है 'समानता' या 'Relation'। Question में पहले दो terms के बीच एक specific logic या relation छुपा होता है। आपका बस एक ही काम है—उस hidden pattern को पहचानना और वही logic तीसरे term पर लगाकर सही Option select करना। यह RRB NTPC में free के marks दिलाने वाला topic है!

Core Types & Rules:

  • Word Analogy (GK Based): इसमें General Knowledge का relation होता है। जैसे Capital-Country, Unit-Quantity, Tool-Worker, या Synonyms/Antonyms।
  • Number Analogy (Math Based): इसमें numbers के relations होते हैं:
  • Squares & Cubes: n² ± 1 या n³ ± 1
  • Multiplication/Division: (n × a) + b
  • Digit Operations: Sum of digits या Multiplication of digits
  • Letter Analogy (Alphabet Based): Alphabet positions (A=1 से Z=26), Reverse positions (A-Z, B-Y), या Forward/Backward shifts (+2, -3)।

2 Quick Tricks:

  1. Number Priority Rule: जब एक सवाल में दो logic लगें, तो हमेशा यह Priority follow करें:

Prime Number > Cube / Square > Multiplication / Division > Addition / Subtraction।

  1. Opposite Letter Trick: Alphabet questions के लिए opposite letters याद रखें (Sum of positions = 27), जैसे AZ, BY, CX, DW, EV (Love), FU, GT road।

2 Common Mistakes:

  1. Direction of Relation भूल जाना: अगर सवाल में Tool : Worker दिया है, तो Answer में भी Tool : Worker ही होना चाहिए, Worker : Tool नहीं। Order reverse मत कीजिए।
  2. Single Logic पर जल्दबाज़ी: Number analogy में सीधे + या - देखकर answer mark न करें; Options को भी देखें कि कहीं Examiner ने Square/Cube का logic तो नहीं लगाया।

1. Concept

The word Analogy means "similarity" or "bearing a resemblance". In reasoning tests, an analogy question presents a relationship between two given elements (words, numbers, or letters) and requires you to identify a similar relationship in another pair.

The standard format is:

A : B :: C : D

(Read as: "A is to B as C is to D")

Here, you are given the first pair (A : B) and one element of the second pair (usually C), and you must determine the missing element (D) from the given options such that the relationship between C and D is identical to the relationship between A and B.

Main Types of Analogies in RRB Exams:

  1. Word / Semantic Analogy: Based on general knowledge, vocabulary, synonyms, antonyms, science facts, geography, etc.
  2. Letter / Alphabet Analogy: Based on the positions of letters in the English alphabet, reverse ranks, skips, or rearrangements.
  3. Number Analogy: Based on mathematical patterns such as squares, cubes, prime numbers, arithmetic operations, and digit sums.

2. Important Rules, Facts, and Relationships

A. Word Analogy Relationships

Always identify the exact relationship between the first pair:

  • Worker and Tool: Carpenter : Saw :: Blacksmith : Anvil
  • Tool and Measurement: Thermometer : Temperature :: Barometer : Atmospheric Pressure
  • Product and Raw Material: Butter : Milk :: Paper : Pulp
  • Country and Capital/Currency: India : New Delhi :: Japan : Tokyo | Bangladesh : Taka :: USA : Dollar
  • Unit and Quantity: Current : Ampere :: Resistance : Ohm
  • Study and Topic: Entomology : Insects :: Ornithology : Birds

B. Alphabet Positions & Opposite Letters

  • Forward Positions (EJOTY):

E = 5, J = 10, O = 15, T = 20, Y = 25

  • Reverse Positions Formula:

Reverse Rank = 27 − Forward Rank

(Example: Rank of C is 3; its reverse rank is 27 − 3 = 24, which is X)

  • Opposite Letter Pairs (Sum = 27):

A-Z, B-Y, C-X, D-W, E-V, F-U, G-T, H-S, I-R, J-Q, K-P, L-O, M-N

C. Number Analogy Priority Rule

When multiple patterns seem possible in number analogies, competitive exam boards generally follow this priority hierarchy:

  1. Prime Numbers (Highest priority)
  2. Squares and Cubes (n², n³, n² ± x, n³ ± x)
  3. Multiplication and Division (n × k ± m)
  4. Addition and Subtraction
  5. Digit Operations (Sum/product of digits)

3. Solved Examples

Example 1: Word Analogy (General Knowledge)

Question:

Anemometer : Wind Speed :: Hygrometer : ?

(a) Atmospheric Pressure

(b) Humidity

(c) Ocean Depth

(d) Electric Current

Step-by-step Solution:

  1. Analyze the relationship in the first pair: An Anemometer is an instrument used to measure Wind Speed.
  2. Apply the same relationship to the second pair: A Hygrometer is an instrument used to measure Humidity.
  3. Verify against options:
  • Atmospheric pressure is measured by a Barometer.
  • Ocean depth is measured by a Fathometer.
  • Current is measured by an Ammeter.
  • Humidity is measured by a Hygrometer.

Answer: (b) Humidity

Example 2: Letter Analogy

Question:

FILM : ADGH :: MILK : ?

(a) HDGF

(b) HEGF

(c) HDFE

(d) GDFE

Step-by-step Solution:

  1. Write down forward alphabetical positions for the first pair:
  • F (6) → A (1) : Difference is −5
  • I (9) → D (4) : Difference is −5
  • L (12) → G (7) : Difference is −5
  • M (13) → H (8) : Difference is −5
  1. The rule is to subtract 5 from the positional value of each letter.
  2. Apply the same rule to MILK:
  • M (13) − 5 = 8 → H
  • I (9) − 5 = 4 → D
  • L (12) − 5 = 7 → G
  • K (11) − 5 = 6 → F
  1. Combining the letters gives HDGF.

Answer: (a) HDGF

Example 3: Number Analogy (Algebraic Pattern)

Question:

12 : 156 :: 14 : ?

(a) 182

(b) 210

(c) 196

(d) 224

Step-by-step Solution:

  1. Look for relationships between 12 and 156:
  • Method 1: 12 × 13 = 156 (Number × Next consecutive number)
  • Method 2: 12² + 12 = 144 + 12 = 156 (n² + n)
  1. Apply the same rule to 14:
  • Using Method 1: 14 × 15 = 210
  • Using Method 2: 14² + 14 = 196 + 14 = 210
  1. Check options: 210 is present in option (b).

Answer: (b) 210

Example 4: Number Analogy (Squares with Offset)

Question:

25 : 37 :: 49 : ?

(a) 64

(b) 65

(c) 56

(d) 60

Step-by-step Solution:

  1. Analyze 25 and 37:
  • 25 = 5²
  • 37 = 6² + 1 = 36 + 1
  • The relationship is: n² : (n + 1)² + 1
  1. Analyze the first term of the second pair:
  • 49 = 7² (here n = 7)
  1. Following the same pattern for the missing term:
  • (7 + 1)² + 1 = 8² + 1 = 64 + 1 = 65

Answer: (b) 65

4. Shortcuts and Tricks

  1. Use the "EJOTY" and Reverse Value Rule:

Memorize EJOTY (5, 10, 15, 20, 25). To quickly find reverse pairs, ensure their sum is 27. For example, if a letter is D (4), its opposite is 27 − 4 = 23 (W).

  1. Look for Near-Square and Near-Cube Values First:

If you see numbers like 26, 63, 124, 215, immediately think of:

  • 26 = 5² + 1 or 3³ − 1
  • 63 = 8² − 1 or 4³ − 1
  • 124 = 5³ − 1
  1. Language Toggle Advantage:

In RRB computer-based tests, if you do not know the English meaning of a word in Word Analogy (e.g., "Anvil" or "Pulp"), toggle the question language to Hindi or your regional language to understand the word instantly.

  1. Work Through the Options:

If the pattern between A and B leads to a number not in the options, immediately stop and try the next operational layer (e.g., shift from addition to multiplication, or from basic operations to prime numbers).

5. Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Reversing the Order of the Relationship:

If the question gives Cause : Effect, do not select an option showing Effect : Cause.

Incorrect: Rain : Flood :: Destruction : Earthquake (Destruction is the effect, earthquake is the cause).

Correct: Rain : Flood :: Earthquake : Destruction.

  • Ignoring Prime Numbers:

For a pair like 2 : 5 :: 7 : ?, many students do 2 × 2 + 1 = 5, then 7 × 2 + 1 = 15. If 11 or 13 is in the options, check if it's following the prime sequence (2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13) before picking an arithmetic option.

  • Counting Alphabet Steps Incorrectly:

Do not count the starting letter when calculating step difference. For C to G, do not count C. Count D(1), E(2), F(3), G(4) → +4 steps.

  • Overcomplicating the Pattern:

Do not jump to complex two-step digit multiplication before testing basic addition, subtraction, squares, or simple tables.