In the alphabet series XBC, WFG, VJK, which of the following three letter groups should appear next to continue the pattern in all positions?

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: UNO

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This alphabet series involves three letter groups: XBC, WFG, VJK, ?. We must determine what comes next so that the pattern for the first, second and third letters is maintained. In such multi letter series, the first letters often follow one arithmetic pattern, while the second and third letters follow another. The candidate must identify all of these patterns and choose an option that satisfies them simultaneously.


Given Data / Assumptions:

    • Known terms: XBC, WFG, VJK, ?.• First letters: X, W, V.• Second letters: B, F, J.• Third letters: C, G, K.• Alphabet positions: A=1, B=2, ..., Z=26.


Concept / Approach:
The strategy is to treat each column as a separate number series and compute successive differences. The first letters may be decreasing steadily, while the second and third letters may be advancing by the same constant amount. Once we find regular step sizes that explain the given terms, we extend each series by one more step to find the next first, second and third letters, yielding the next term in the series.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: First letters: X, W, V.Positions: X=24, W=23, V=22.Step 2: Differences: 23 − 24 = −1, 22 − 23 = −1.Step 3: The first letters are decreasing by 1 each time, so the next first letter should be 22 − 1 = 21, which is U.Step 4: Second letters: B, F, J.Positions: B=2, F=6, J=10.Step 5: Differences: 6 − 2 = 4 and 10 − 6 = 4.Step 6: The second letters are increasing by 4 each time, so the next second letter is 10 + 4 = 14, which is N.Step 7: Third letters: C, G, K.Positions: C=3, G=7, K=11.Step 8: Differences: 7 − 3 = 4 and 11 − 7 = 4.Step 9: The third letters are also increasing by 4 each time, so the next third letter must be 11 + 4 = 15, which is O.Step 10: Combining these results, the next term is U N O (UNO).


Verification / Alternative check:
Writing the complete series including UNO, we have XBC, WFG, VJK, UNO. The first letters form 24, 23, 22, 21; the second letters form 2, 6, 10, 14; and the third letters form 3, 7, 11, 15. Each sequence is clearly an arithmetic progression: the first decreases by 1, the other two increase by 4. No other option from the list produces such a neat extension of all three column wise patterns, which confirms UNO as the correct answer.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
XGH keeps the first letter at X instead of advancing the series downward, breaking the −1 pattern. YFG and WKL do not provide the correct numeric jumps in the second and third letters; for instance, they fail to follow the +4 increment from J to the next second letter and from K to the next third letter. Because the rules are simple and strictly followed in each column, any deviation disqualifies an option as a valid continuation.


Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may focus on the fact that B, F and J are separated by three letters in between (CDE, GHI) and then guess without verifying the difference numerically. Others might recognise that the first letters are decreasing but not check whether the second and third letters share a common pattern. For reliable results, always convert letters to numeric positions, confirm the constant differences and ensure that the chosen term maintains all of those differences at once.


Final Answer:
UNO

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