We know that such problems involve interpreting a given relationship-string which is coded in a particular fashion. The process of decoding each and every relation and then interpreting from the given relationship-string, is the final process which is a cumbersome process and doing all of it for all the choices makes it very time taking. Hence, following are some of the shortcuts −
Step I − Eliminate all wrong choices by check sex and check generation gap method.
Check Sex
In some questions, if you analyse symbols, you can easily find that the person you are considering is a male. For example, if ‘A + B’ means ‘A’ is the father of ‘B’, then ‘A + B × C – D’ implies that A is the father and therefore must be a male, i.e. A should be followed by ‘+’. Therefore, all the choices that mention A as sister/daughter/wife, etc. must be wrong.
Check Generation Gap
Sometimes, it may be time taking to actually find out the relation between two persons. But a rough estimate of the generation gap can be easily found out. For this, you should assume that −
- Mother/father to son or daughter have a generation gap of +1.
- Son/daughter to mother/father has a generation gap of -1.
- Brothers/sisters and husband/wife have a generation gap of zero.
Using this we can easily find out the generation gap between the persons under consideration and eliminate the wrong choices.
Example −
Suppose −
‘M Δ N’ means ‘M is mother of N’
‘M • N’ means ‘M is sister of N’
‘M ∗ N’ means ‘M is father of N’
‘M β N’ means ‘M is brother of N’
Then which of the following means ‘L is paternal grandfather of O’?
Option 1 − L ∗ R • M β K β O
Option 2 − R ∗ L Δ P β K • O
Option 3 − L ∗ M Δ R ∗ β O
Option 4 − L ∗ R β M ∗ K β O
Answer − ‘Δ’ and ‘∗’ are mother and father relations. So, each of them implies a generation gap of +1. Similarly, ‘•’ and ‘β’ imply a generation gap of zero as shown in the following chart.
| Symbol |
Generation Gap |
| Δ |
+1 |
| • |
0 |
| ∗ |
+1 |
| β |
0 |
So, generation gap in choice 1 is L (+1) R (0) M (0) K (0) O = +1
For choice 3, L (+1) M (+1) R (+1) K (0) O = +3
But, the generation gap between grandfather and grandchildren should be +2. Therefore, both choices are wrong. Again choice 2 is wrong because, here ‘L’ is mother of ’P’. It doesn’t obey check sex rule. Hence this leaves us with choice 4.
Step II − Draw a family-tree for remaining choices.
Please remember that using our earlier step, we only get some help in eliminating some wrong answers quickly. But we don’t arrive at the correct answer. To decide exactly the correct choice from the remaining options, you will need to draw a family tree.
Example −
This diagram tells us that −
F and A are a couple, F is the husband while A is the wife.
F has a sister K.
The couple F and A has three children: M, C, and another son, whose name is not known. C is also a son while the sex of M is not known.
M and other unknown son are unmarried while C is married to D.
The couple, C and D has a daughter S and a son whose name is not known.
So, from the previous example we have two options left. Let’s draw a family tree.
Example −
‘A + B’ means ‘A is daughter of B’; ‘A × B’ means ‘A is the son of B’ and ‘A – B’ means ‘A is the wife of B’. If ‘T – S × B – M’, which of the following is not true?
- B is mother of S
- M is husband of B
- T is wife of S
- S is daughter of B
- S is son of B
Answer −
Here, ‘check sex’ and ‘generation gap’ are not needed. Only the family tree is enough to know the answers.
From the above we find, B is mother of S. M is husband of B. T is wife of S. S is son of B. Hence S is the son of B statement is true.
Quicker Method
Consider choice (4) and choice (5), S can be either a son or daughter of B. So, one of these choices must be false. But in the given statement, immediately after S we have a ‘×’ sign. Therefore, this sign must be a male. Hence choice (4) is false. Choice (5) is correct.
