In Reasoning Part, another important Topic is Inequality Problems.
It is a common topic for all competitive exams. We can expect 5 or 6
questions from Inequality. It is one of the topic, where you can get
full marks very easily. I am going to explain a very simple method and i
assure you that it’s possible to solve 5 questions in just two minutes.
In Inequality, at first they give some directions for the Problems. And in each problem, there will be statements followed by 4 conclusions. Our job is to find the conclusions which are true.
There are two types of models in Inequality.
1) Coded Inequality.
2) Direct Inequality.
In Coded Inequality, symbols like $, #, %, &, @ are used. In Direct Inequality, we use symbols like <, >, =, ≤, and ≥ . Before learning shortcuts, lets understand what these symbols mean. Most of us learn these symbols in lower classes and they all are familiar ones.
< – Less than
≤ – Less than or Equal to
> – Greater than
≥ – Greater than or Equal to
= – Equal to
I hope everybody know this. Let’s go to Coded Inequality.
Directions
P $ Q means P is not smaller than Q
P @ Q means P is neither smaller than nor equal to Q
P # Q means P is neither greater than nor equal to Q
P ∂ Q means P is neither greater than nor smaller than Q
P © Q means P is not greater than Q
Now our first work is to find what does the symbol means indirectly?
Lets solve it one by one.
P is not smaller than Q. So P can be either equal to Q or Greater than Q. Symbol is ≥.
P is neither smaller than nor equal to Q. So P is Greater than Q. Symbol is >.
P is neither greater than nor equal to Q. So P is lesser than Q. Symbol is <.
P is neither greater than nor smaller than Q. So P is equal to Q. Symbol is =.
P is not greater than Q. So P can be either equal to or lesser than Q. Symbol is ≤.
Now form a small table before solving this kind of problems.
Now we decoded the symbols and we clearly know what is the meaning of each symbol. Make sure that you form a table as above. The symbols >, ≥, and = should be in one row and the symbols <, ≤, and = should be in another row. Don’t memorize the table. Usually Symbols change. You have to decode it correctly and form a table.
Note:
———-> Forward Direction.
<———- Reverse Direction.
In Row 1, First Priority should go to >. Next ≥. Last =. Similarly,
In Row 2, First Priority should go to <. Next ≤. Last =.
Just remember these lines. You will understand it while solving problems.
Never make a mistake in forming this table. If you make a mistake then you loose all the 5 or 6 marks.
We will try to solve some problems based on the above directions.
Example 1
Statements: N ∂ B, B $ W, W # H, H © M
Conclusions: (1) M @ W. (2) H @ N. (3) W ∂ N.
Step 1 – Make a single statement.
N ∂ B $ W # H © M
Step 2 – Analyze the conclusions one by one. Always compare with the Modified Statement.
1. M @ W
Example 2
Statements – R © D, D $ J, J # M, M @ K
Conclusions – 1. K # J. 2. D @ M 3. R # M. 4. D @ K
Step 1 – Modify the statement.
R © D $ J # M @ K
Table
Step – 2 – Analyze the conclusion one by one.
1. K # J
In the above problem, all the characters of the statements are different. So we can not merge it. So None is True.
Example 3
Statements: M $ K, K @ N, N © R, R # W
Conclusions: 1) W @ K 2) M $ R 3) K @ W 4) M @ N
Step 1: M $ K @ N © R # W
(You don’t need to draw table again and again. I am pasting it for your convenience.)
Analyzing Conclusions
1) W @ K – Reverse line. Symbols are #, ©, and @. In table # and @ are in different Rows. False.
2) M $ R – Forward Line. Symbols are $, @, ©. They are in different rows, False.
3) K @ W – Forward Line. Symbols are @, ©, #. They are in different rows, False.
4) M @ N – Forward line. Symbols are $ and @. Highest priority is for @. So M @ N is True.
Only Conclusion 4 is True.
Example 4
Statement: H @ T, T # F, F ∂ E, E © V.
Conclusions: 1) V $ F. 2) E @ T. 3) H @ V. 4) T # V
Modified Statement – H @ T # F ∂ E © V
Conclusions
1) V $ F – Reverse Line – Symbols are © and ∂. Both are in Row 2. Since it forms a reverse line, and highest priority is for ©, we should mark the symbol which is exactly opposite to ©. So the correct symbol is $. Conclusion 1 is True.
2) E @ T – Reverse Line. Symbols are ∂ and #. Both are in Row 2. High priority is #. Symbol opposite to # is @. So E @ T is True.
3) H @ V – Forward line. Symbols are in different rows. So False.
4) T # V – Forward line. Symbols are #, ∂, and ©. All are in Row 2. High Priority is for #. So T # V is True.
Answer – Conclusion 1, 2, and 4 are True.
In Inequality, at first they give some directions for the Problems. And in each problem, there will be statements followed by 4 conclusions. Our job is to find the conclusions which are true.
There are two types of models in Inequality.
1) Coded Inequality.
2) Direct Inequality.
In Coded Inequality, symbols like $, #, %, &, @ are used. In Direct Inequality, we use symbols like <, >, =, ≤, and ≥ . Before learning shortcuts, lets understand what these symbols mean. Most of us learn these symbols in lower classes and they all are familiar ones.
< – Less than
≤ – Less than or Equal to
> – Greater than
≥ – Greater than or Equal to
= – Equal to
I hope everybody know this. Let’s go to Coded Inequality.
Directions
P $ Q means P is not smaller than Q
P @ Q means P is neither smaller than nor equal to Q
P # Q means P is neither greater than nor equal to Q
P ∂ Q means P is neither greater than nor smaller than Q
P © Q means P is not greater than Q
Now our first work is to find what does the symbol means indirectly?
Lets solve it one by one.
P is not smaller than Q. So P can be either equal to Q or Greater than Q. Symbol is ≥.
P is neither smaller than nor equal to Q. So P is Greater than Q. Symbol is >.
P is neither greater than nor equal to Q. So P is lesser than Q. Symbol is <.
P is neither greater than nor smaller than Q. So P is equal to Q. Symbol is =.
P is not greater than Q. So P can be either equal to or lesser than Q. Symbol is ≤.
Now form a small table before solving this kind of problems.
Now we decoded the symbols and we clearly know what is the meaning of each symbol. Make sure that you form a table as above. The symbols >, ≥, and = should be in one row and the symbols <, ≤, and = should be in another row. Don’t memorize the table. Usually Symbols change. You have to decode it correctly and form a table.
Note:
———-> Forward Direction.
<———- Reverse Direction.
In Row 1, First Priority should go to >. Next ≥. Last =. Similarly,
In Row 2, First Priority should go to <. Next ≤. Last =.
Just remember these lines. You will understand it while solving problems.
Never make a mistake in forming this table. If you make a mistake then you loose all the 5 or 6 marks.
We will try to solve some problems based on the above directions.
Example 1
Statements: N ∂ B, B $ W, W # H, H © M
Conclusions: (1) M @ W. (2) H @ N. (3) W ∂ N.
Step 1 – Make a single statement.
N ∂ B $ W # H © M
Step 2 – Analyze the conclusions one by one. Always compare with the Modified Statement.
1. M @ W
- If you draw a line from M to W, you will get a Reverse Line.
- Between M and W two symbols are there. One is © and other is #. Both are in row 2. Highest Priority is #. Since the letters form a reverse line, we should note the symbol which is exactly above #. The symbol above to # is @. So M @ W is TRUE.
- If you draw a line from H to N, you will get a Reverse line.
- Between H and N, the symbols are #, $, and ∂.
- If you check these symbols with the table, # is in Row 2 and $ is in Row 1. So Conclusion 2 is FALSE.
- If you draw a line from W to N, you will get a Reverse line.
- Between W and N, the symbols are $ and ∂. Between $ and ∂, the higher priority goes to $.
- The conclusion formed a reverse line. So we should note the symbol which is opposite to $. That is ©. But given conclusion is W @ N. So it is FALSE
Example 2
Statements – R © D, D $ J, J # M, M @ K
Conclusions – 1. K # J. 2. D @ M 3. R # M. 4. D @ K
Step 1 – Modify the statement.
R © D $ J # M @ K
Table
Step – 2 – Analyze the conclusion one by one.
1. K # J
- Between K and J – Reverse Line. Symbols are – @ and #.
- In table @ and # are in different rows.
- Conclusion 1 – FALSE
- Between D and M – Forward Line. Symbols are $ and #.
- In table $ and # are in different rows.
- Conclusion 2 – False.
- Forward line. Symbols are ©, $, and #.
- $ and # are in different rows.
- Conclusion 3 – False.
- Forward Line. Symbols are $, # and @.
- Symbols are in different rows.
- Conclusion 4 – False.
In the above problem, all the characters of the statements are different. So we can not merge it. So None is True.
Example 3
Statements: M $ K, K @ N, N © R, R # W
Conclusions: 1) W @ K 2) M $ R 3) K @ W 4) M @ N
Step 1: M $ K @ N © R # W
(You don’t need to draw table again and again. I am pasting it for your convenience.)
Analyzing Conclusions
1) W @ K – Reverse line. Symbols are #, ©, and @. In table # and @ are in different Rows. False.
2) M $ R – Forward Line. Symbols are $, @, ©. They are in different rows, False.
3) K @ W – Forward Line. Symbols are @, ©, #. They are in different rows, False.
4) M @ N – Forward line. Symbols are $ and @. Highest priority is for @. So M @ N is True.
Only Conclusion 4 is True.
Example 4
Statement: H @ T, T # F, F ∂ E, E © V.
Conclusions: 1) V $ F. 2) E @ T. 3) H @ V. 4) T # V
Modified Statement – H @ T # F ∂ E © V
Conclusions
1) V $ F – Reverse Line – Symbols are © and ∂. Both are in Row 2. Since it forms a reverse line, and highest priority is for ©, we should mark the symbol which is exactly opposite to ©. So the correct symbol is $. Conclusion 1 is True.
2) E @ T – Reverse Line. Symbols are ∂ and #. Both are in Row 2. High priority is #. Symbol opposite to # is @. So E @ T is True.
3) H @ V – Forward line. Symbols are in different rows. So False.
4) T # V – Forward line. Symbols are #, ∂, and ©. All are in Row 2. High Priority is for #. So T # V is True.
Answer – Conclusion 1, 2, and 4 are True.
