Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: 5 fingers on a hand
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question uses the same style of number letter abbreviation puzzle found in many reasoning books. The code "5 F on a H" must be read as a compact way of writing a familiar statement about everyday life. These puzzles test both general knowledge and the ability to see how initials and numbers compress full sentences. The correct interpretation here refers to a basic fact about the human body.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The most common interpretation of this code is "5 fingers on a hand". Most humans have five fingers on each hand, and this fact is widely known across cultures. In number letter puzzles, the goal is to find the most natural and well established phrase that matches both the number and the initials. Other possibilities, such as floors on a highrise or friends on a holiday, are possible in particular stories but are not fixed facts and therefore are not good candidates.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Treat the 5 as a count and F as the initial of a noun that naturally comes in fives.
Step 2: Think of "fingers", as people immediately associate the number 5 with fingers or toes.
Step 3: Consider H as the initial of a body part that has five fingers: "hand".
Step 4: Combine these ideas into the phrase: "5 fingers on a hand".
Step 5: Check that this is a universal biological fact, making it an ideal target for such a puzzle.
Step 6: Confirm that the other options involve quantities that are not fixed by any rule, such as the number of friends on a holiday.
Verification / Alternative check:
Verify by comparing with other known abbreviation puzzles, such as "7 D in a W" (7 days in a week) or "52 C in a P" (52 cards in a pack). These all encode simple, widely known facts. "5 fingers on a hand" fits this pattern perfectly. Additionally, you can confirm that this exact decoding is frequently used as an example in puzzle collections, which reinforces that it is the standard answer.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B, 5 floors on a highrise, is not always true; highrise buildings can have many different numbers of floors.
Option C, 5 friends on a holiday, is just a random scenario with no special reason to fix the number at five.
Option D, 5 families on hire, is not a common phrase and does not describe a universal fact.
Option E, 5 files on hold, describes a possible office situation but has no permanent or widely recognised link to the number 5.
Common Pitfalls:
A typical error is to try to invent creative sentences that fit the letters but are not common facts. While this can be fun, reasoning questions are usually based on phrases that many people already know. Another pitfall is to forget that the number should match a stable quantity, not a variable one. In these puzzles, looking first for simple facts about the human body, the calendar or familiar objects is usually the fastest route to the solution.
Final Answer:
The code "5 F on a H" stands for 5 fingers on a hand.
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