Four sets of letters are given, out of which three are congruent and one is incompatible. Select the inconsistent one. ?

Appeared in: UP CHO - 10 September 2021

Explanation

The option YADJ is the correct answer because its underlying pattern of letter progression is different from the other three options.
The pattern in YADJ is determined by adding 2, then 3, then 6 to the alphabetical position of each letter (Y+2=A, A+3=D, D+6=J).
This (+2, +3, +6) pattern is inconsistent with the (+2, +3, +5) pattern found in the other three options (ACFK, MORW, JLOT).

Option A: This option is incorrect because it follows the consistent pattern shared by two other options. The positional differences between the letters are +2, +3, and +5 (A+2=C, C+3=F, F+5=K).
Option B: This option is incorrect because it adheres to the common pattern. The positional differences between the letters are +2, +3, and +5 (M+2=O, O+3=R, R+5=W).
Option D: This option is incorrect as it also follows the established rule. The positional differences between the letters are +2, +3, and +5 (J+2=L, L+3=O, O+5=T).

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Logical Reasoning - Odd One Out (Letter Series) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
This type of question assesses logical and analytical reasoning, a crucial skill for nurses in clinical problem-solving and decision-making.
While not directly clinical, the ability to identify patterns and anomalies is analogous to recognizing subtle changes in a patient's condition or interpreting complex data from monitors and lab reports.
What if the pattern was based on vowels and consonants? The approach would change from calculating positional differences to categorizing letters, highlighting the need to test multiple logical hypotheses when problem-solving.

How to Approach the Question

First, understand the task: find the one letter group that does not follow the same rule as the other three.
The most common rule in such questions is the numerical difference between the positions of consecutive letters in the alphabet.
Assign a number to each letter based on its alphabetical position (A=1, B=2, ... Z=26).
Calculate the difference between consecutive letters for each option. For example, in 'ACFK', calculate the difference between A and C, C and F, and F and K.
Compare the patterns of differences across all four options. Three options will share an identical pattern, and one will be different.
The option with the unique pattern is the correct answer. Remember to account for the alphabet wrapping around (e.g., after Z comes A).

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full UP CHO - 10 September 2021

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.