TNPSC – SELECT THE ODD ONE

TNPSC – SELECT THE ODD ONE

Select the odd one out:

Odd Letters section asks you to point out a group of letters that don’t fit. “Pick the odd one out”. In these questions usually, an odd number of letters are given that have a relation or form elements of a given set. The task is to find the one that doesn’t belong.

Type I Problems: Odd Letters

Example 1:                                                                                 (Maternal & Child Health Officer – 2015)

Pick out the odd one from the following alphabetical sequence.

A) PSVYB B) HKNQT C) NQTWZ                        D) SVXAD

Soln. D) SVXAD

A) P S V Y B

B) H K N Q T

C) N Q T W Z

D) S V X A D

In the options A, B and C, there are two alphabets left in between the given alphabets regularly.

But in the option ’D’, there is irregularly in the arrangement unlike the others. Hence, the option ‘D’.

Type II Problems: Odd Numbers

Example 2:                                                                                                                           (Group II A – 2016)

Find out the odd number in the series given 25, 36, 49, 81, 121, 169, 225

1. A) 36 B) 49 C) 169                                D) 225

Soln. A) 36

              25, 36, 49, 81, 121, 169, 225

              5², 6², 7², 9², 11², 13², 15²

In the sequence given above, all the terms other than 6² = 36, are the squares of the odd numbers. 36 only is sequence of an even number. Hence option (A).

Type III Problems: Awareness based question

Example 3:                                                                                                                                          (ASO – 2001)

Find the odd man out.

1. A) Apple B) Mango C) Watermelon                              D) Guava

Soln. C) Watermelon

Watermelon is different from the other three.