Mental Reasoning 10- Problem solving practice Set and Step-by-Step Solutions for Competitive Exams SSC, BSSC, Bank, Railways
Problem Solving Practice Set covering all 14 major problem-solving types for competitive exams, from Easy → Moderate → High Level. I will structure it as:
Problem Solving Practice Set
Q1 (Easy — Number Series)
Series: 3, 6, 12, 24, ?
Step-by-Step Solution:
- Differences: 6÷3=2, 12÷6=2, 24÷12=2 → pattern ×2
- Next = 24×2 = 48
Answer: 48
हिंदी: हर संख्या पिछले का 2 गुणा → अगली संख्या 48
Q2 (Easy — Alphabet Series)
Series: B, D, G, K, ?
Solution:
- Positions: B(2), D(4), G(7), K(11) → difference +2, +3, +4 → next +5 = 11+5=16 → P
Answer: P
हिंदी: क्रम में अंतर +2,+3,+4 → अगला अक्षर P
Q3 (Easy — Simple Coding & Decoding)
Code: CAT → DBU (each letter +1)
Question: DOG → ?
Solution:
D→E, O→P, G→H → EPH
Answer: EPH
हिंदी: हर अक्षर को +1 शिफ्ट करें → EPH
Q4 (Easy — Simple Blood Relation)
Statement: P is father of Q. Q is mother of R. How is P related to R?
Solution:
- Q is mother of R → P is grandfather
- Gender of P = Male
Answer: Grandfather
हिंदी: P = R का दादा
Q5 (Easy — Direction Sense)
Question: A walks 5 km North, 3 km East, 2 km South. Distance from starting point?
Solution:
- North-South = 5−2=3 km
- East = 3 km
- Distance = √(3²+3²)=√18≈4.24 km
Answer: ≈4.24 km
हिंदी: लंबवत और क्षैतिज दूरी √(3²+3²) = 4.24 km
Q6 (Moderate — Linear Seating)
Question: 5 people A, B, C, D, E sit in a row. B is left of D. C is between A and E. Who sits in the middle?
Solution:
- Arrange C between A & E → possible: A C E _ _
- B left of D → B D remaining → final: B D A C E
- Middle seat = A
Answer: A
हिंदी: मध्य में A बैठा है
Q7 (Moderate — Inequalities)
Statements: A > B ≥ C, B > D
Conclusions:
I. A > D
II. D < C
Solution:
- A>B>D, B≥C → A>D (I) true
- D<C? B≥C, B>D → D<C possible, not certain → II false
Answer: Only I
हिंदी: केवल I निष्कर्ष सही
Q8 (Moderate — Syllogism)
Statements: All roses are flowers. Some flowers are red.
Conclusions:
I. Some roses are red
II. Some flowers are not roses
Solution:
- Some flowers red may not include roses → I cannot follow
- Some flowers are not roses → true (since some flowers may be other than roses)
Answer: Only II
हिंदी: केवल II सही
Q9 (Moderate — Calendar)
Question: 1st Jan 2025 was Wednesday. What day is 1st Jan 2026?
Solution:
- 2025 = not leap year → 365 days → 1 day shift + 1 (365 mod 7=1) → Wednesday +1=Thursday
Answer: Thursday
हिंदी: 1 जनवरी 2026 = गुरुवार
Q10 (Moderate — Clock)
Question: Time = 3:20. Find angle between hour & minute hands.
Solution:
- Hour = 3×30 + 20/2 = 90+10=100°
- Minute = 20×6=120°
- Angle = |120−100|=20°
Answer: 20°
हिंदी: घंटे और मिनट का कोण 20°
Q11 (Moderate-High — Age Problem)
Question: A is twice as old as B. 5 years ago, A was 3 times B. Find their ages.
Solution:
- A=2B, 5 yrs ago: 2B−5=3(B−5) → 2B−5=3B−15 → B=10 → A=20
Answer: A=20, B=10
हिंदी: A=20 वर्ष, B=10 वर्ष
Q12 (Moderate-High — Profit/Loss)
Question: CP=₹500, SP=₹600. Profit %?
Solution:
- Profit = 600−500=100
- Profit % = 100/500×100=20%
Answer: 20%
हिंदी: लाभ प्रतिशत = 20%
Q13 (Moderate-High — Data Sufficiency)
Question: P is taller than Q. R is shorter than P. Who is tallest?
Statements:
- Q>R
- P>Q
Solution:
- Statement 1: Q>R → tallest? P? Unknown → Not sufficient
- Statement 2: P>Q → tallest? Only P>Q, R unknown → Not sufficient
- Combine 1+2 → P>Q>R → Tallest = P ✅
Answer: Both statements together sufficient
हिंदी: दोनों कथनों से हल निकलता है
Q14 (High — Analogy)
Question: Dog: Puppy :: Cat:?
Solution: Young one of cat = Kitten
Answer: Kitten
हिंदी: बिल्ली का बच्चा = Kitten
Q15 (High — Classification / Odd One Out)
Question: Apple, Banana, Carrot, Mango
Solution: Carrot = Vegetable; others = Fruits
Answer: Carrot
हिंदी: गाजर = सब्जी
Q16 (High — Logical Sequence)
Question: Arrange: (i) Sow seeds (ii) Water plants (iii) Grow plants (iv) Harvest
Solution: 1 → 2 → 3 → 4
Answer: Sow → Water → Grow → Harvest
हिंदी: बुवाई → पानी → विकास → कटाई
Q17 (High — Circular Seating)
Question: 6 people sit around a circle. A opposite B, C left of D. Who sits opposite C?
Solution: Draw circle, place opposites → position analysis → answer = E
Answer: E
हिंदी: C के सामने E
Q18 (High — Coded Directions)
Code: N→+Y, S→−Y, E→+X, W→−X.
- Move: 3E, 4N, 2W, 1S. Find distance from start.
Solution:
- X=3−2=1, Y=4−1=3 → distance = √(1²+3²)=√10 ≈3.16 km
Answer: 3.16 km
हिंदी: प्रारंभ से दूरी ≈ 3.16 km
Q19 (High — Mixed Reasoning / Inequalities)
Statements: P>Q≥R, R<S<T
Conclusions: P>T?
Solution:
- P>Q≥R, R<S<T → P and T unknown relation → cannot conclude
Answer: Cannot conclude
हिंदी: P और T का संबंध ज्ञात नहीं
Q20 (High — Blood Relation + Coding)
Statement: X is father of Y. Y is coded as Z, X as W. Who is W?
Answer: X (father of Y)
हिंदी: W = X, पिता
Q21 (Very High — Complex Number Series)
Series: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?
Solution: Differences: 4,6,8,10 → next = 30+12=42
Answer: 42
हिंदी: अंतर 4,6,8,10 → अगली संख्या 42
Q22 (Very High — Clock & Angle)
Question: 7:40, angle between hands?
Solution:
- Hour = 7×30 + 40/2=210+20=230°
- Minute=40×6=240°
- Angle = 10°
Answer: 10°
हिंदी: कोण 10°
Q23 (Very High — Calendar / Leap Year)
Question: 29 Feb 2020 → day of the week?
Solution: Known: 1 Jan 2020 = Wednesday → 31 Jan=Friday → Feb 29 → Saturday
Answer: Saturday
हिंदी: शनिवार
Q24 (Very High — Data Sufficiency)
Question: Who is tallest among P,Q,R,S?
- P>Q
- R>S>P
Solution: Combine → R tallest
Answer: Both statements together sufficient
हिंदी: R सबसे लंबा
Q25 (Very High — Analogy / Odd One Out)
Question: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Sun
Answer: Sun (not planet)
हिंदी: Sun ग्रह नहीं
Q26 (Very High — Mixed Seating)
Question: 8 people, A opposite B, C right of D, E left of F. Who sits left of A?
Solution: Draw diagram → answer = G
Answer: G
हिंदी: A के बाएँ G
Q27 (Very High — Complex Coding & Direction)
Code: Left=+X, Right=−X, Up=+Y, Down=−Y
- Move: 2L, 3U, 4R, 1D
- Distance = √((−2+4)² + (3−1)²)=√(2²+2²)=√8≈2.83 km
Answer: 2.83 km
हिंदी: दूरी ≈ 2.83 km
Q28 (Very High — Inequalities + Age)
Statements: A>B≥C, D<B, E>C
- Who is youngest?
Solution: C ≤ B, D<B → D<C? Not certain. Youngest = Cannot conclude
**
Answer:** Cannot conclude
हिंदी: सबसे छोटा निश्चित नहीं
Q29 (Very High — Logical Sequence / Daily Activities)
Events: Wake up, Breakfast, Brush, Leave Home → Arrange
Solution: Brush → Wake → Breakfast → Leave? Correct = Wake → Brush → Breakfast → Leave
Answer: Wake → Brush → Breakfast → Leave
हिंदी: जागना → ब्रश → नाश्ता → घर छोड़ना
Q30 (Very High — Mixed Reasoning / Coding + Relation)
Statement: X→Father of Y, Y→Mother of Z, Z→Brother of W, W→Daughter of X
Question: How is W related to Y?
Solution: X=Father of Y, W=Daughter of X → Y sibling of W → W= Sister of Y
Answer: Sister
हिंदी: Y की बहन
