Refer to the following number, symbol series and answer the questions given below. Counting should be done from left to right only.

(Left) 5 8# 4@ 9$ 6% 1& 7* 2^ 4! 9@ 8$ (Right)

How many such symbols are there which are immediately preceded by an odd number but not immediately followed by an even number?

1. A

   Three

2. B

   Zero

3. C

   Two

4. D

   One

Appeared in: DSSSB 12 August 2024

Explanation

• The question asks to find the number of symbols that are immediately preceded by an odd number but not immediately followed by an even number.
• The series provided is: 5 8# 4@ 9$ 6% 1& 7* 2^ 4! 9@ 8$.
• Upon scanning the series, we identify the segment '1&7'.
• Here, the symbol '&' is immediately preceded by the number '1', which is an odd number.
• The symbol '&' is immediately followed by the number '7', which is an odd number and therefore not an even number.
• No other symbol in the series satisfies both of these conditions simultaneously.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

• Option A: This is incorrect. A count of three might be obtained by misinterpreting the condition, for instance, by counting all symbols preceded by an odd number ('$', '&', '*', '@') without checking the second condition about the following character.
• Option B: This is incorrect. A careful analysis of the series reveals one symbol, '&', that perfectly matches the given criteria.
• Option C: This is incorrect. There is only one symbol that meets both conditions. A count of two might result from incorrectly including a symbol like '$' in '9$6', which is preceded by an odd number but is also followed by an even number, violating the second condition.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

• Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Logical Reasoning: Alphanumeric Series Analysis as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
• This type of question assesses attention to detail and the ability to follow multi-step instructions precisely, which are crucial cognitive skills for nurses.
• In clinical practice, nurses must accurately interpret complex data from patient charts, medication orders, and monitoring equipment. A small error in reading a sequence of information can have significant consequences for patient safety.
• For example, when administering medication, a nurse must follow the 'five rights' in a specific sequence, similar to how this question requires checking conditions in a set order.

How to Approach the Question

• First, carefully read and deconstruct the conditions given in the question. Identify the target (a symbol) and the rules for its surrounding characters.
• Break down the rule into two parts: (1) The character immediately before the symbol must be an odd number. (2) The character immediately after the symbol must NOT be an even number.
• Scan the series methodically from left to right, focusing on identifying the symbols.
• For each symbol found, pause and check the character to its immediate left. If it is not an odd number, you can immediately discard this symbol and move to the next one.
• If the preceding character is an odd number, then proceed to check the character on the immediate right. Verify if this character is NOT an even number.
• If both conditions are met, increment your count. Continue this process until you have checked all symbols in the series.

Concept Tested & Keywords

• Concept Tested: Logical Reasoning: Alphanumeric Series Analysis
• Stem keywords: number symbol series, preceded by, followed by, odd number, even number
• Lead-in keywords: How many
• Negative lead-in flag: false

Question ID

QGrmfV7abiMx5GcYa3W1DM

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