In this letter analogy, MP is related to KN in the same way as DG is related to which pair of letters?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: BE

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This reasoning question uses an analogy based on alphabetical letter positions. The pair MP is connected to KN by a particular positional rule, and the same rule must be applied to DG to find its corresponding pair. Such questions test your ability to recognise patterns in letter shifts and apply them consistently.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • First pair: MP and KN.
  • Second pair pattern: DG and ?
  • Options: FI, GJ, HK, BE.
  • Alphabet positions: A = 1, B = 2, ..., Z = 26.
  • The transformation from MP to KN is consistent for both letters in the pair.


Concept / Approach:
We interpret each letter by its position in the alphabet and examine how the letters in MP change to become KN. Once we find the numeric shift, we apply the same arithmetic change to D and G. The key idea is that a consistent pattern, such as subtracting the same number from each position, must hold for the analogy to be valid.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Convert letters in MP to numbers. M is 13 and P is 16. Step 2: Convert letters in KN to numbers. K is 11 and N is 14. Step 3: Find the difference. M (13) to K (11) is a shift of minus 2. P (16) to N (14) is also minus 2. Step 4: Conclude the rule: to go from MP to KN, subtract 2 from the position of each letter. Step 5: Apply the same rule to DG. D is 4 and G is 7. Step 6: Subtract 2 from each: D (4) minus 2 gives 2, which is B. G (7) minus 2 gives 5, which is E. Step 7: The required pair of letters is BE.


Verification / Alternative check:
Write both mappings clearly: MP → KN using minus 2 on each letter. DG → BE using minus 2 on each letter. Check the options and confirm that only BE matches the result from the same transformation. Since the positional shift is consistent and simple, and the same rule correctly produces BE, the analogy is correctly preserved.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
FI: F is 6 and I is 9. From D (4) to F (6) is plus 2, not minus 2. This breaks the established rule. GJ: G is 7 and J is 10. From D (4) to G (7) is plus 3, which is inconsistent with the transformation used from M to K. HK: H is 8 and K is 11. From D (4) to H (8) is plus 4, again not matching the minus 2 pattern.


Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes compare letters visually rather than numerically, leading to confusion. Another common mistake is to miscount positions in the alphabet, especially around middle letters like M, N, and P. To avoid these issues, always write down the alphabet with positions or do careful counting, and ensure that the same numeric operation applies to both letters of each pair.


Final Answer:
Using the same minus two shift that maps MP to KN, DG must be mapped to BE.

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