How to Solve | Learn Analytical Reasoning

Questions in Test | Quiz

The term "analytic reasoning" refers to recognizing patterns and connections in a
variety of information.
Each analytical reasoning question is a logical puzzle, based on a given set of
conditions
Analytical reasoning questions are presented in groups of four or five questions. Each
group is based on a short passage followed by a set of conditions.
Analytical Reasoning test measures your ability to analyze and to draw result from a
complex situation by applying your logic.

Analytical Reasoning questions are designed to assess the ability to consider a group
of facts and rules, and, given those facts and rules, determine what could or must be
true. The specific scenarios associated with these questions are usually unrelated to
law, since they are intended to be accessible to a wide range of test takers. However,
the skills tested parallel those involved in determining what could or must be the case
given a set of regulations, the terms of a contract, or the facts of a legal case in relation
to the law. In Analytical Reasoning questions, you are asked to reason deductively from
a set of statements and rules or principles that describe relationships among persons,
things, or events.
Analytical Reasoning questions appear in sets, with each set based on a single
passage. The passage used for each set of questions describes common ordering
relationships or grouping relationships, or a combination of both types of relationships.
Examples include scheduling employees for work shifts, assigning instructors to class
sections, ordering tasks according to priority, and distributing grants for projects.
Analytical Reasoning questions test a range of deductive reasoning skills. These
include:
Comprehending the basic structure of a set of relationships by determining a complete
solution to die problem posed (for example, an acceptable seating arrangement of all
six diplomats around a table)

 Reasoning with conditional ("if-then") statements and recognizing logically equivalent

formulations of such statements
Inferring what could be true or must be true from given facts and rules
Inferring what could be true or must be true from given facts and rules together with
new information in the form of an additional or substitute fact or rule
Recognizing when two statements are logically equivalent in context by identifying a
condition or rule that could replace one of the original conditions while still resulting in
the same possible outcomes

Analytical reasoning Types

Seating Arrangements
Sequencing
Combinations
Comparisons
Selections
Ranking
Relations
Grouping

Techniques used for Analytical problem solving

Van Diagrams
Math Operators
Line up representation
Equations
Table representation
Diagrams & Notations
Basic Linear Sequence Game set up
If then Notation:
Grouping Game Diagrams
Math Symbols

Any good diagramming system must be:

Fast - You must be able to express ideas in shorthand to save time
Neat - messy notations will cost You points
Easy to Understand You must instantly understand what your notations mean

1: Entities
One of the first steps in setting up your diagram is write down a letter or number to
represent each of your entities. Each game will have a list of entities that will be placed
into an order or groups or both. Start by writing down this list of entities. For example:
you are told that there are 5 different clogs in a race and they are a Labrador, Mixed
Breed, Newfoundland, Poodle, and a Schauzer. Record this list of entities as follows:
L M N P S
Notice that we only used one letter for Mixed Breed. There is no sense in confusing
yourself with additional letters. Keep it to one letter per entity. Also notice that the
entities are given in alphabetical order. However, they will often leave our a letter or two
to confuse you. Some students will unwittingly insert that letter by force of habit. For

example in this question many students might just add in the letter O because the are
used to O following L M N. Make sure your list of entities matches those given.
Now that we have our list of entities we can move on to the diagram itself.

2: Basic Linear Sequence Game set up

A Linear Sequence Game will ask you to place a set of entities in order. This could be
expressed in a number of ways including: 1st to 6th, First to Last, Monday to Friday, Top
to Bottom, Front to Back, etc.
In order to make a place for each entity in your diagram simply lout an underline for
each space where an entity will go. So if we are told to list five dogs in order from
fastest to slowest we can set up our game as follows:

____

_____

_____

_____

______

We now have 5 spots for our 5 dogs. If you want you could put F and S at the ends of
the diagram to represent that it goes from Fastest to Slowest. This is usually not
necessary and can waste time when you are re-drawing your diagram. If you chose to
include this extra notation make sure that the F and S do not match any of your entities.
For example if you had a Schnauzer as one of your dog types you would not want to
have S for Schauzer and S for slowest. One way you can avoid this is to put the f and s
for fast and slow in lower case.

3: Fixed Entity
If we are told that an entity is placed in one spot then we can just fill that directly into
the diagram. This is the easiest type of rule to include. For example if we are told that
the Schnauzer will be 3rd fastest then we can include it as follows:

Not in that spot: If we are told that a particular entity does not go in a particular spot
we should add that directly to our diagram by putting the entity under that spot and
designating that it does not go there. There are number of ways to designate that the
entity does not go there. You can put a slash through it, or put in front of the entity.
Find one that works best for you. For example if we are told the the Poodle is not the
fastest dog we can include it in our diagram as follows:

4: Here or There Pair notation:

This notation is used when two entities are going to fill two spots but we don't know
which entity is in which spot. For example if K and T must be in spots 2 and 3. We know
we either have K in 2 and T in 3 or T in 2 and K in 3.
The way to express this with the Here or There Pair notation is as follows:

5: If then Notation
Use an arrow ====> for If then statements. Just rewrite the if then statement
replacing If and then with ====> arrows. Also remember to shorten the entity to the
first letter.
For example the statement: If Albert is included then Bert is also included. Can be
expressed as:
====> A ====> B

6: Spots Between notation:

If we are told that entities are a specific number of spots apart simply insert that many
blank lines between them. For example: Two runners come after Sarah but before Fred.
Can be expressed as
S ____ _____ F
This can be combined with the Here or There Pair notation.
Example: Two runners come between Sarah and Fred.
S/F ____

____ F/S

Example: 1
7 persons live in a street, having houses in line. Consider the following:
1. A lives in the corner's house.

2. 2. C is between E and G 3.
3. There is 1 house between D and F 4.
4. F is neighbor of G s.
5. There are two houses between A and G

Solution
7 Persons A,B,C,D,E,F,G
7 persons live in a street
We can make
X X X X X X X
1.A lives in the corner's house
So, there are two possibilities:
A X X X X X X
X X X X X X A
2. C is between E and G
Here, also two possibilities:
E C G
G C E
3. There is 1 house between D and F Two possibilities:
D X F
F X D
4. F is neighbor of G
2 possibilities

F G or G F
There are two houses between A and G
A X X G
G X X A
Two houses between A and G:

A X X G

C is between E and G:

A E C G

F is neighbor of G:

A E C G F

1 house between D and F :

AECGFXD

And finally:

A E C G F B D

Example: 2
As part of their sports physical, seven college athletes F, G, H, I,J, K and L are being
weighed. In announcing the results of the physical exams, the coach has given the
following information.
i. None of the athletes is exactly the same weight as another athlete.
ii: K is heavier than L, but lighter than H.
iii. I is heavier than J
iv. Both F and G are heavier than H.

Solution
We Can Make Such relations from Given Information
1: Seven College athletes are

F G H I J K L

i. None of the athletes is exactly the same weight as another athlete. So we can
represent as F > G > H > I > J > K > L
ii: K is heavier than L, but lighter than H.
H>K>L
iii: I is heavier than J :

I>J

iv. Both F and G are heavier than H.

F > G > H OR G > F > H

So the overall relation for Given athlete becomes

H>K>L
F > G > H > k > L OR G > F > H > k > L
Where I > J can be adjusted anywhere in Above relations Any Single Athlete or more
can be possible between I & J Such as
I > F > J, I > J > G, I > H
>K>J
Question. 1: Each of the following could be true EXCEPT
A. F is the heaviest.
B. G is the heaviest.
C. I is the heaviest.
D. More than three athletes are heavier than K.
E. More than three athletes are lighter than K.
Answer is E
As Maximum three athletes can be lighter than K
F > G > H > k > L > I > J OR G > F > H > k > L > I > J
Question.2: Which of the following, if true, would be sufficient to determine which
athlete is the lightest?
A. I is the heaviest
B. I is lighter than K

C. K is heavier than J
D. J is heavier than K
E. Exactly five students are lighter than F.
Answer is D
If J is heavier than K then simply L will be the Lightest
F > G > H > k > L OR G > F > H > k > L and I > J before K.

Question. 3: If J is heavier than F, how many different rankings by weight, of the

athletes are possible?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
E. 5
Answer is D
As F > G > H > k > L OR G > F > H > k > L & I > J > F
If J > F then following relations can be possible
I>J>F>G>H>k>L
I>J>G>F>H>k>L
I>G>J>F>H>K>L
G>I>J>F>H>K>L
Question. 4: If H is heavier than I, which of the following CANNOT be true?
A. I's weight is equal to the average of F's weight and G's weight.
B. I's weight is equal to the average of K's weight and L's weight
C. J's weight is equal to the average of K's weight and L's weight
D. J is the second lightest.
Answer is A

As H > I so possible relations can be

F > G > H > k > I > L > J OR G > F > H > I > k > J > L