Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: FKP
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
In this question, you are given a series of three letter groups and asked to find the missing group that fits naturally between the given terms. Each group, such as BGL or DIN, appears to follow a consistent pattern across the positions of the letters. Letter series questions like this test your ability to recognise parallel progressions and apply them consistently to determine unknown elements.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The strategy is to examine the positions of corresponding letters in the alphabet. For example, B is the second letter, G is the seventh and L is the twelfth. By comparing these with the positions of the letters in DIN and HMR, you can discover whether there is a fixed increment or decrement between terms. If the pattern is consistent, you can apply the same step to each letter of DIN to obtain the missing term. Finally, you match that result to the options given.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Write the numeric positions: BGL becomes 2, 7, 12; DIN becomes 4, 9, 14; HMR becomes 8, 13, 18.
From BGL to DIN: the first letters go from 2 to 4, the second from 7 to 9, and the third from 12 to 14, which means plus 2 in every position.
From DIN to the missing term, if the pattern continues, you again add 2 to each position: 4 plus 2 is 6, 9 plus 2 is 11, 14 plus 2 is 16.
Letter 6 is F, letter 11 is K and letter 16 is P, so the missing term should be FKP.
Check from the missing term to HMR: FKP corresponds to 6, 11, 16 and HMR to 8, 13, 18, again a plus 2 step in each position, confirming a steady pattern throughout.
Verification / Alternative check:
Insert FKP into the series to obtain BGL, DIN, FKP, HMR and examine each column. In the first column, letters are B, D, F, H, which are every second letter starting from B. In the second column, G, I, K, M also move by two letters each step. In the third column, L, N, P, R likewise progress by plus 2. No other option maintains this consistent pattern in all three positions, so FKP is the unique valid choice.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B, FPK, has the correct letters but in the wrong order, so it would break the plus 2 pattern in at least one position. Option C, GLQ, does not fit the numeric step when compared with DIN and HMR. Option D, EJO, also fails to keep the regular increment of plus 2 in all three positions. Option E, None of these, is incorrect because FKP perfectly continues the pattern established by the visible terms of the series and thus must be the correct answer.
Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes try to treat each three letter group as a single unit and look for patterns based on whole word similarity, which does not work well for this kind of structured letter series. Another frequent error is to lose track of letter positions in the alphabet and make counting mistakes. Writing out the alphabet with numeric positions and then tabulating the first, second and third letters of each term is a reliable way to avoid these problems and clearly reveal the underlying pattern.
Final Answer:
The missing term in the series BGL, DIN, ___, HMR is FKP.
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