Reasoning

Inequalities

--Rajoli Girisai Madhav

9121775542
 Inequalities
• Unequal/not equal
Symbols representing inequalities
 !=  not equal in computer language
 ≠ not equal in mathematical language
 < Lesser than
 > Greater than
 <= or ≤ Lesser than or equal to
 >= or ≥  Greater than or equal to
Symbols in Inequalities
 Where and Why?
• In Quant/Math:-used to relate two or more
known Numbers/Literals/Variables.
Ex:- Quadratic Equations

• In reasoning:-used to relate two or more

unknown Numbers/Literals/Variables
Ex:- P < S < R < T > Q
 Types of Inequalities
• Direct Inequality
Ex:-P < S < R < T > Q
• Indirect/Coded Inequality
Ex:-P % S %R %T $ Q
% represents <
$ represents >
 Concepts drawn from Inequalities
• Lesser Family (<,≤,=)
• Greater Family (>,≥,=)
• Actual concept of Lesser than or equal to and
Greater than or equal to
• Relation cannot be determined concept
• = is neutral (i.e., having less priority or no
priority).
Conclusions from the concepts of Lesser and
Greater Families
In order to get any one of the lesser or greater conclusion,
the path should contain only their respective family
members.
For example if the conclusion is only Lesser, than the path
should contain at least one Lesser than symbol and then
the remaining path may contain any of the members of
Lesser Family and Vice Versa.
But In case of Lesser than or Equal to case, however, the
path should not contain opposite family members and also
that it should never contain only Lesser(<) symbol. i.e., it
may contain these two symbols(≤ or =) and Vice Versa.
 Actual concept of ≤ and ≥
• ≤ means either Lesser or Equal to
• ≥ means either Greater or Equal to
• We are not 100% sure, whether it is Lesser/Equal(≤) and
Greater/Equal(≥)
• Ex:-a ≥ b ≥ c
i. a>b and b>c i.e., a>c
ii. a>b and b=c i.e., a>c
iii. a=b and b>c i.e., a>c
iv. a=b and b=c i.e., a=c are all the possible cases and so we
cannot conclude it exactly, whether it is greater or it is equal.
Relation cannot be determined concept
• If path between two literals having at least one symbol
of both the two families, then the relation between
them can be said as relation cannot be determined.
• Ex:- a<b>c<=d=e;
• Relation between a and c
• Relation between a and d
• Relation between a and e cannot be determined
• Relation between b and d
• Relation between b and e
Note on answering <= and >= case
• Statement:-a>=b>=c=d
• Conclusion(i) a>d and (ii)a=c
• Options :-
1) Only i follows
2) Only ii follows
3) Neither i nor ii follows
4)Either i or ii follows
Note on answering <= and >= case
• a>=b>=c=d
• Relation between a and c is >= and c=d i.e.,
Relation between a and d is also >=.
Conclusion :-(i)a>d and (ii) a=c
Individually both the conclusions do not follow but
when you see together c can be replaced as d, so in
any one of the conclusion c and d can be replaced
Now, conclusion(ii) will be a=d so a>=d means either
of the conclusion follows
 Types of Questions
Ex-1:- Statement:-
a>=b>=c=d
Conclusion(i) a>d and
(ii)a=c
Options :-
1) Only i follows
2) Only ii follows
3) Neither i nor ii follows
4)Either i or ii follows
Ex-2:- Statement:-a$b$c*d
Conclusion(i) a#d and
(ii)a*c
$  >=; *  =; #  >;
Options :-
1) Only i follows
2) Only ii follows
3) Neither i nor ii follows
4)Either i or ii follows
 Types of Questions
• Ex-3:- Which option fits • Ex-4:- Which option fits in
in the blank that makes the blank that makes a>d as
true.
a>d as true.
a__b$c*d
a__b>=c=d $ >=; # >; @ <; * =; %
1)a<b <=
2)a=b 1)a@b
3)a>=b 2)a*b
3)a$b
4)a>b
4)a#b
5)a<=b 5)a%b
 Types of Questions
• Split Statements • How to tackle such a split
statements in Less time.
Ex-5:- Find the common literals in the path
Statements:-K < H > G, G ≤ of relating two literals and find the
relation.
N, N = U  But always remember one thing, if
Ex-6:- your selected path has symbols of
both the families, then stop there
Statements:-K @ H # G, G and say there is no relation
$ N, N % U  between them.
@  <; #  >; $  <=; For example in the side example, if
you try to find relation between K
%  =; and U, Your path is from K  H G
N U. But K H and H G has
two opposite signs and so say
relation cannot be determined.