Logical Reasoning: Tricks to solve Puzzle Test

Puzzle Test is an integral part of Verbal Reasoning Section in various competitive exams like Banking, SSC, CSAT, etc.

In this type of test, the questions are based upon the given data belonging to different groups or possessing different qualities. You are supposed to analyse data by placing the different items or concepts in different categories with the help of given information. These problems can be easily solved by constructing a proper table or chart.

Read the question carefully by keeping in mind every point or detail. After reading the question, you will get the basic idea about what the general theme of the problem is. Determine the usefulness of each of the information and classify all the information into actual information, useful secondary information and finally negative information.

Let us now understand how to construct a table while solving a Puzzle Test:

Example: There are six places P, Q, R, S, T and U. There are exactly two District Parks, two Shopping Malls and two Amusement Parks. 

•    P is not a District Park.
•    Q and T are not Shopping Malls.
•    S is not an Amusement Park.
•    P and S are not Shopping Malls.
•    P and Q are not alike.

Which two places are amusement parks?

Explanation:

Step ─ I:         

The information can be analysed by constructing the below table:

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Step ─ II:        

We can observe that above table gives some definite information about P and S. P is neither a Shopping Mall nor a District Park. It is, therefore, an Amusement Park. In the same way, S is neither Shopping Mall nor Amusement Park so it must be a District Park.

Step ─ III:       

Finally we come to useful secondary information and negative information, for instance P and Q are not alike. This means that Q is not an Amusement Park. As Q is not a Shopping Mall, so it must be a District Park. Hence, the table will look like this:

Step ─ IV:       

Now in the question it is given that there are exactly two District Parks, two Shopping Malls and two Amusement Parks. We know the two District Parks, i.e., Q & S, so T has to be Amusement Park. Now, U and R have to be Shopping Malls.

Hence, our final table is as below:

On the basis of above table, it can be concluded that P and T are the Amusement Parks.

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