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CAT 2025 » CAT Study Material » Quantitative Ability (Mathematics) » Puzzles
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Puzzles

Puzzles challenge ingenuity or knowledge. In a puzzle, the solver must logically combine parts to reach the correct or fun solution.

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Many people believe that solving puzzles is the most difficult aspect of logical thinking. Exams for entry into management schools such as the Common Admissions Test (CAT), the Graduate Management Admission Test (MAT), and the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and a variety of other examinations are given on an annual basis in the modern era. There is a reasoning component, and in order to finish the reasoning questions, you must first answer the puzzle questions.

Management entrance exams are high on puzzle questions. In particular for the CAT and XAT, the level of complexity of the puzzles that test reasoning is extremely high. In the reasoning part of bank exams, you will typically find problems that cover a variety of different types of reasoning . But in recent years, financial institutions have demonstrated a growing fondness for puzzles. When there are a total of fifty questions in the reasoning phase of a bank examination, at least thirty of those problems will be of the puzzle variety. As a result, puzzles have become an essential component of reasoning tests in recent years, whether they are for management or any bank or public sector organisation.

The majority of puzzles fall under the following categories:

  • Sitting arrangement (circular or rectangular)
  • Sitting arrangement (facing towards north or south)
  • Sitting arrangement (row I and row II facing each other)
  • Relationship of ancestry
  • Reasoning based on analysis
  • Logic based on numbers and calculations

Sitting arrangement (circular and rectangular)

When dealing with issues of this nature, a group of people will typically arrange themselves in a circle or a rectangle around a table. After that, questions will present you with a variety of potential configurations. It is necessary for us to study the question very carefully and make an effort to determine the appropriate order in which everyone should be seated. The answer can then be found by placing it on the circle or table that has been provided.

Sitting arrangement (facing towards north or south)

Another form of seating arrangement, this one involves a group of individuals or pupils sitting in a line, with their backs to either the north or south direction. After that, the inquiry will walk you through several distinct configurations. It is necessary for us to study the question very carefully and make an effort to determine the appropriate order in which everyone should be seated. The next step is to place it on the straight line and face it either north or south, depending on which direction is indicated, in order to determine the correct response.

Sitting arrangement (row I and row II facing each other)

In this alternative form of seating arrangement, each row may contain anywhere from four to five individuals, and those seated there face one another. Typically, when these questions are asked, the individuals in row I turn to face the south, while those in row II turn to face the north. This way, their backs are against one another. After that, the inquiry will walk you through several distinct configurations. It is necessary for us to study the question very carefully and make an effort to determine the appropriate order in which everyone should be seated. The answer can then be found by placing them in either row I or row II, depending on which is provided.

Inheritance of the Family

When it comes to queries about blood relations, people will typically offer the names of two or three generations of their family at a minimum. We need to carefully study the question and determine the appropriate sequence for the family tree. The questions regarding family ties to the deceased are only worth two to three points each. But if there are five or more than five marks available, the query about blood relations will typically be different. Although it is more difficult than the types of puzzles described before, it can be solved with only a little bit more attention to detail. In the more difficult blood relation puzzles, in addition to the family tree, the occupation of each individual is also included. Therefore, we need to examine each instance thoroughly, paying attention to both the professions and the relationships of the individuals involved.

In addition to this, there is a correlation between the arrangement of sitting and analytical reasoning and blood relations. These are the kinds of questions that are asked quite regularly on tests these days. These questions typically require a lot of time to answer and typically carry the largest number of points.

Reasoning Through Analysis

In the field of reasoning, the question that is asked the second most frequently is about analytical reasoning. Tables are the typical format for presenting this information. The word “analysis” in the heading indicates that these are questions based on analytical reasoning. It is necessary for us to conduct an in-depth analysis of these questions. The only way to tame such queries is to get plenty of practice answering them.

Reasoning Based on Arithmetic

The use of mathematical concepts is implicit in the very name of this type of reasoning. In the majority of examinations, you will encounter very few problems involving mathematics. However, these are relatively straightforward questions that are designed to award points.

Example of a logic puzzle

  1. Logic Puzzle: Two ducks are in front of a duck, two ducks are behind a duck, and one duck is in the middle. How many ducks do you have?

Three times. Two ducks are in front of the final duck; two ducks are behind the first duck; and one duck is sandwiched between the other two.

  1. Logic Puzzle: Five people were eating apples, and A finished first, followed by B, but after C. D came in ahead of E but behind B. What was the order of completion?

CABDE, of course. In order to put the first three in order, A finished ahead of B but behind C, resulting in CAB. Then, as D concluded before B, CABD applies. CABDE, because we know E finished after D.

  1. Logic Puzzle: Jack has his gaze fixed on Anne. Anne has her gaze fixed on George. Jack is married, George is not, and Anne’s marital status is unknown. Is a married person admiring a single person?

Yes, you can. If Anne is married, she is married and staring at George, who is single. If Anne is single, Jack, who is married, is admiring her. The statement is correct in any case.

  1. Logic Puzzle: A man has 53 pairs of socks in his drawer: 21 pairs of blue, 15 pairs of black, and 17 pairs of red. He is entirely in the dark because the lights have gone out. How many pairs of black socks does he need to remove to be positive he has at least one pair?

40 pairs of socks. Although it is extremely unlikely, if he removes 38 socks (added the two largest quantities, 21 and 17), it is feasible that they will all be blue and red. He must remove two more socks to be absolutely certain that he has a pair of black socks.

Conclusion 

Some claim the most difficult part of logic is solving puzzles. Modern management school exams include CAT, MAT, IBPS, RBI, and others. Complete the puzzles before answering the reasoning questions.

Management entrance exams have puzzles. CAT and XAT reasoning puzzles are hard. There are several types of reasoning tasks in bank exams. Financial institutions love puzzles. In a 50-question bank exam, 30 will be riddles. Puzzles are a key feature of management, financial, and government reasoning tests.

faq

Frequently asked questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the CAT Examination Preparation.

What are logical reasoning questions, exactly?

Answer: Questions about logical thinking can be both vocal and nonverbal. Such questions are commonly asked in compe...Read full

What are the topics covered in the section on logical reasoning?

Answer: The logical reasoning syllabus covers topics such as blood relations, coding-decoding, orientation tests, se...Read full

How do you solve logical reasoning problems?

Answer:  To answer the logical reasoning problems, follow the procedures below: ...Read full

How can I prepare for upcoming competitive exams by practising logical reasoning?

Answer:  Candidates can use the following techniques to practise logical thinking for future competitive exams:...Read full

What is the difference between the two styles of logical reasoning?

Answer: Logical and analytical reasoning are the two categories of reasoning.

Answer: Questions about logical thinking can be both vocal and nonverbal. Such questions are commonly asked in competitive tests to assess candidates’ thinking abilities.

Answer: The logical reasoning syllabus covers topics such as blood relations, coding-decoding, orientation tests, seating arrangements, puzzles, input-output, syllogism, alphanumeric sequence, mirror images, statement, and conclusions/argument.

Answer:  To answer the logical reasoning problems, follow the procedures below:

  • Line by line, read the question carefully.
  • Make a list of crucial details.
  • In the event of ambiguity, use a graphic solution.
  • If possible, use shortcuts and tricks.
  • Determine whether or not the question can be answered vocally. This will save you some time.

Answer:  Candidates can use the following techniques to practise logical thinking for future competitive exams:

  • Examine the curriculum thoroughly and begin your preparations accordingly.
  • To improve your command of each topic, solve several types of problems based on it.
  • To save time on the final test, practise shortcuts and tricks.
  • Concentrate on Time Management.
  • Examine prior year’s papers to compile a list of key points.

Answer: Logical and analytical reasoning are the two categories of reasoning.

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