DI/Reasoning

Symboperation, Ranking
& Missing Number

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 SYMBOPERATION

As is clear from the name, operations are done, by

following the directions given by symbols. These
questions do check the analytical skills of the candidate.
One has to be very careful while attempting these
problems. A greater than or equal to B (A ≥ B) is different
from A greater than B (A > B).
Solved Examples:
Let us understand this concept
If A > B and B < C then we cannot find any relationship
between A and C
Or A > B < C cannot say anything sure about relation
between A and C. Therefore we can say if signs are not
in symmetry (means symbol faces different directions)
then no relation can be established.
Again if we have A < B, B ≤ C and C = D, as all signs are in
symmetry, it can be written as A < B ≤ C = D, so if we
have to find relation between A and D then it is A < D,
between A and C it is A < C, and between B and D it is B ≤
D.

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From above discussion we can conclude that if the signs
are in symmetry then the preference of signs are in order
<, ≤, =.
Similarly if E > F ≥ G = H then the order of preferences of
signs are >, ≥, =
Let us discuss some examples
Illustrative Ex.1: Statements: N < M, N ≥ P, M = T
Conclusions: I. T = N II. P < M
Sol. From given statements we have T = M > N ≥ P
So we have T > N, so conclusion I does not holds true
And M > P, so conclusion II holds true
Illustrative Ex.2: Statements: D = E, E ≥ F, G ≤ F
Conclusions: I. F ≤ D II. E ≥ G
Sol. From given statements we have G ≤ F ≤ E = D
So we have F ≤ D, so conclusion I holds true
And E ≥ G, so conclusion II holds true
Illustrative Ex.3: Statements: X > Y, Z < Q, Q = P
Conclusions: I. Y < P II. Y ≥ P
Sol. From given statements we have X > Y and Z < Q = P

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As both conclusions do not holds true but on combining
both results we can say that either conclusion I or
conclusion II holds true.
In these questions symbols @, #, $, % and © are used with
different meanings as follows:
A @ B' means 'A is smaller than B.'
A # B' means 'A is greater than B.'
A $ B' means 'A is either smaller than or equal to B’.
A % B' means 'A is either greater than or equal to B.'
A © B' means 'A is neither greater than nor smaller than
B.'
In each question, three statements showing
relationships have been given, which are followed by two
conclusions I & II. Assuming that the given statements
are true, find out which conclusion(s) is/are definitely
true.
Mark answer (1), if only conclusion I is true;
mark answer (2), if only conclusion II is true;
mark answer (3), if either conclusion I or II is true;
mark answer (4), if neither I nor II is true and mark
answer (5), if both conclusions I and II are true.

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Ex.1: Statements: L $ K, K @ M, J % M
Conclusions: I. L @ M II. K @ J
Sol. we have L  K …(i) ; K < M …(ii) ; J  M …(iii)
Combining all, we get L  K < M  J.
Hence L < M and I follows.
Again, K < J and II follows.
Ex.2: Statements: E $ W, W @ Q, Q % H
Conclusions: I. E $ Q II. E © H
Sol. We have E  W …(i); W < Q…(ii) ; Q  H…(iii)
from (i) and (ii), E  W < Q or E < Q…(iv).
Hence I does not follow. Again, from (iv) and (iii), E
and H can’t be compared. Hence II does not follow.
Ex.3: Statements: J © T, T # W, W%R
Conclusions: I. J # R II. T % R
Sol. We have J = T….(i) ; T > W….(ii) ; W  R ….(iii)
Combining all, we get J = T >W  H ….(iv)
Hence J > R and so I follows.
Also, T > R and so II does not follow.

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Ex.4: Statements: T # R, R % H, H @ F
Conclusions: I. H @ T II. F © T
Sol. We have T > R …(i) ; R  H …(ii) ; H < F …(iii)
From (i) and (ii), T > R  H or H < T. Hence I follows.
But from (i) and (ii) F and T can’t be compared.
Hence II does not follow.
Ex.5: Statements: F © D, D # V, V @ P
Conclusions: I. F © P II. V @ F
Sol. We have F = D …(i); D > V …. (ii) ; V < P …(iii)
From (i) and (ii), F = D > V or V < F.
Hence II follows.
But from I and (iii) F and T can’t be compared.
Hence I does not follow.
Sometimes Symbols @, %, *, $ and # are used with different
meanings as explained below:
A$B' means 'A is not greater than B.
A#B' means' A is not smaller than B'.
A@B' means 'A is neither greater than nor equal to B'.
A % B' means 'A is neither smaller than nor equal B'.

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AB' means 'A is neither smaller than nor greater than
B'.
In each question, three statements showing
relationships have been given, which are followed by two
conclusions I and II. Assuming that the given statements
are true, find out which conclusion(s) is/are definitely
true.
Give answer 1): if only conclusion I is true.
Give answer 2): if only conclusion II is true.
Give answer 3): if either conclusion I or II is true.
Give answer 4): if neither conclusion I nor II is true.
Give answer 5): if both conclusions I and II are true.
Ex.6: Statements: H%L, LG, G#M
Conclusions: I. H#M II. H%G
Sol. We have H > L... (i); L = G ... (ii); G ≥ M... (iii)
Combining all, we get H > L = G ≥ M
Hence, H > M. This does not lead us to conclusion
1. And H > G This is conclusion II.
Ex.7: Statements: A$J, J%R, P@R
Conclusions: I. J%P II. PA

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Sol. We have A  J ... (i). J > R ... (ii); P < R ... (iii)
Combining (ii) and (iii), we get J > P. Hence
conclusion I is true.
But A and P can't be compared from (i) and I.
Hence II is not true.
Ex.8: Statements: K%N, N#U, U$M
Conclusions: I. N M II. N%M
Sol. We have K >N ...(i); N  U...(ii); U ≤ M... (iii)
N and M can't be compared from (ii) and (iii).
Neither I nor II are exhaustive because they are
silent on the possibility N < M. Hence neither is
definitely true.
Ex.9: Statements: E%I, 1K, K@J
Conclusions: I. K%E II. J%I
Sol. We have E > I... (i); I = K ... (ii); K < J ... (iii)
Combining (i) and (ii), we get
E > I = K or E > K.
Hence conclusion I (K > E) is not true.
Combining (ii) and (iii), we get
I = K< J or I < J.
Hence conclusion II (J > I) is true.

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Ex.10: Statements: BS, S@D, U#D
Conclusions: I. S@U II. D%B
Sol. We have B = S ... (i); S < D ... (ii); U ≥ D ... (iii)
Combining (ii) and (iii), we get
S < D  U or S < U. Hence conclusion I is true.
Combining (i) and (ii), we get B = S < D or B < D
Hence conclusion II (D > B) is true.
If symbols ©, @, &, * and ∑ are used with different meanings
as explained below:
A © B' means 'A is neither greater than nor equal to B.’
A @ B' means' A is neither smaller than nor greater than
B'.
A & B' means 'A is neither smaller than nor equal to B'.
A * B' means 'A is not smaller than B'.
A ∑ B' means 'A is not greater than B'.
In each question, three statements showing
relationships have been given, which are followed by two
conclusions I and II. Assuming that the given statements
are true, find out which conclusion(s) is/are definitely
true.

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Give answer 1): if only conclusion I is true.
Give answer 2): if only conclusion II is true.
Give answer 3): if either conclusion I or II is true.
Give answer 4): if neither conclusion I nor II is true.
Give answer 5): if both conclusions I and II are true.
Ex.11:Statements: P * Q, Q & R, S ∑ T, R © S
Conclusions: I. P © R II. T * R
Sol. From given symbols we have P ≥ Q, Q > R, S ≤ T, R<
S
Or P ≥ Q > R => P > R
And R < S ≤ T => R < T
So conclusion I, P< R is not correct and conclusion
II, T ≥ R is also not correct
Hence none follows, so option 4 is the answer
Ex.12: Statements: M ∑ N, P @ N, O & P, M * U
Conclusions: I. M ∑ P II. U @ P
Sol. From given symbols we have M ≤ N, N = P, O > P, M
≥U
So we have U ≤ M ≤ N = P < O
Therefore conclusion I, M ≤ P is true

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 And conclusion II, U = P is not true
Hence option 1 is the answer
Ex.13: Statements: F @ E, F © G, H & G, J * H
Conclusions: I. E © H II. J & G
Sol. From given symbols we have F = E, F < G, H > G, J ≥
H Or
E=F<G<H≤J
Therefore conclusion I, E < H holds true
And conclusion II, J > G also holds true
Hence option 5 is the answer
Ex.14: Statements: M ∑ P, K © L, L @ Q, N * P
Conclusions: I. K © M II. K* M
Sol. From given symbols we have M ≤ P, K < L, L = Q, N
≥ P. Therefore we have K < L = Q and N ≥ P ≥ M
So conclusion I, K < M does not holds true and
conclusion II, K ≥ M also does not holds true
But on combining both conclusions we can see
that either I or II holds true
Hence option 3 is the answer

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Ex.15: Statements: Z* Y, X ∑ Y, W @ Z, V & W
Conclusions: I. W * Y II. X ∑ Y
Sol. From given symbols we have Z ≥ Y, X ≤ Y, W = Z, V
>W
Therefore we have V > W = Z ≥ Y ≥ X
So conclusion I, W > Y does not holds true
And conclusion II, X ≤ Z holds true
Hence option 2 is the answer
Note: The examples discussed above have 5 options, but
sometime in the exam there are four options and their
order may be different as given here. So always check for
the number of choices as well as their order before
solving the questions.

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 RANKING
Concept of Ranking

Type I
1) Total number of people = {(Sum of the ranks of
same person from both the sides i.e. left hand side
as well as right hand side) – 1}
OR
2) Rank of a person from the opposite side = {(Total
number of people – Rank of the same person from
given side) +1}
Ex.1. In a row of people, position of Abhijeet from left
hand side of the row is 28th and position of Abhijeet
from right hand side of the row is 33rd. Find total
number of people in the row.
Sol. Total no. of people = (Rank of Abhijeet from left +
Rank of Abhijeet from right) -1
⇒Total no. of people = (28 + 33) – 1 = 61 – 1 = 60
Ex.2. In a line of 17 students, position of Beanu from left
hand side of the row is 13th. Find the position of
Beanu from right hand side of the row.

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Sol. Position of Beanu from Right hand side = {(Total
number of students – Position of Beanu from left
side) + 1}
⇒Position of Beanu from right hand side = (17 –
13) + 1 = 14 + 1 = 15th
Type II
1) Total number of people = Number of people after or
before the given person in a row + Rank of same
person from the other side.
OR
2) Number of persons after or before the given person
in a row = Total number of people – Rank of same
person from other side
Ex.3. In a row of students, Rank of Anubhav from left
hand side of the row is 26th and there are 6 persons
after Anubhav in the row. Find total number of
people in the row.
Sol. Number of people in the row = Rank of Anubhav
from left + Number of people after Anubhav
⇒ Total number of people = 26 + 6 = 32

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Ex.4. In a line of 19 people, rank of Sonu from left side of
the row is 7th. Find the number of people after Sonu
in the row.
Sol. Number of people after Sonu = Total number of
people – Position of Sonu from left
⇒ Number of people after Sonu in the row = 19 – 7
= 12
Type III
Whenever the ranks of two people are given from
opposite ends of the row & total number of persons in
the row is also given, then either of the two cases arise
when we try to determine number of people between
these persons –
Whenever there is no overlapping in these cases: 1) the
sum of ranks of the two persons from the opposite ends
is less than the total number of persons.
Whenever there is overlapping in these cases: 2) the sum
of ranks of the two persons from opposite ends is
greater than the total number of persons.
Case 1): Total number of people between two different
persons = Total number of people – (Sum of the ranks of
two different persons from the opposite ends)

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Ex.5. In a line of 53 persons, Sunita is 14th from the left
hand side of the row and Bijoy is 20th from the
right hand side of the row. Find the number of
persons sitting between Sunita and Bijoy.
Sol. Here Sum of ranks of Sunita and Bijoy from
opposite ends = 14 + 20 = 34 which is less than the
total number of persons.
Therefore, number of persons between Sunita and
Bijoy = Total number of persons – (Position of
Sunita from left hand side + Position of Bijoy from
right hand side)
⇒ Number of people between Sunita and Bijoy = 53
– (14 + 20) = 53 – 34 = 19 persons.
Case 2): Number of persons between two different
persons = (Sum of ranks of two different persons from
opposite ends) – Total number of people – 2
Ex.6. In a line of 53 people, Amrit is 25th from the left
hand side of the row and Sandeep is 32nd from the
right hand side of the row. Find the number of
people sitting between Amrit and Sandeep.
Sol. Here Sum of ranks of Amrit and Sandeep from
opposite ends = 25 + 32 = 57 which is greater than
the total number of persons.

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 Therefore, total number of persons between Amrit
and Sandeep = (Position of Amrit from left hand
side + Position of Sandeep from right hand side) –
Total number of people – 2
Number of people between Amrit and Sandeep =
(25 + 32) – 53 – 2 = 57 – 53 – 2 = 2.
Type IV
If the total number of persons is to be calculated and
ranks of different persons from any of the side are given
then it's a case of ‘data insufficient’ or ‘cannot be
determined’ or ‘data inadequate’. This is because of the
reason that we do not know if there is overlapping in this
case or not.
Ex.7. In a line rank of Ankur from left hand side of the
row is 19th and rank of Bijoy from right hand side
of the row is 35th. Find the total number of people
in the row.
Sol. Data Inadequate as we do not know if there is any
overlapping in this case or not.

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