Analytical Reasoning

Analytical Reasoning

Analytical reasoning questions measure your ability to figure out and understand a structure of relationships and to draw logical conclusions about the structure.

You are asked to make deductions or conclusions from a set of statements, conditions or rules that describe the relationships among given entities such as persons, places, things or events. They simulate the kinds of detailed analyses of relationships that a student must perform in solving research oriented problems they will have to interact during higher studies.

For example, seven airplane passengers sitting in Business class, follow certain rules as to who can sit where. You must answer questions about the deductions from the given information, like,
Who is sitting with passenger A?

No formal training in logic is required to answer these questions correctly. Analytical reasoning questions are intended to be answered using knowledge, skills, and reasoning ability generally expected of college students and graduates.

General Types of Questions

 

Tasks and Performance:

Two sales persons K and M, visit their territories T1 and T2 in 4 days, Monday through Thursday.

Grouping:

A commander forms a troop from 4 soldiers - A, B, C and D. Each soldier has a particular strength.

Sequencing:

Bus-2 arrives after Bus-3 but before Bus-1.

Topologies:

A city has 4 towns and each town is connected to at least one other town by roads, some of which are connected are connected by intercity railway track.
Careful reading and analysis are necessary to determine the exact nature of the relationships involved.

Most Frequent Relationships

Fixed Relations:

Some relationships among the entities are fixed and cannot be changed unless stated in any other question about the same set of conditions.
e.g., R and I always sit next to each other. Or R stays at Lahore and I at Karachi.
Such relations are easily manageable by fixing the entities in the diagram of the question.

Variable Relations:

Some relations are variable. The test taker is actually, asked to adjust the variables correctly for the right answer.
e.g., Zahid must be assigned to either window 1 or window 3.
The questions base on the adjustment of such type of relations.

Implied Relations:

Some relationships that are not stated in the conditions are implied by and can be deduced from the stated set.
e.g., If one condition about boxes on a shelf specifies that Box 1 is to the left of Box 2, and another specifies that Box 4 is to the left of Box 1, then it can be deduced that Box 2 is to the left of Box 4.

Strategies

Work in Sequence:

Some people prefer to answer first those questions about a passage that seem less difficult and then those that seem more difficult. It is not good to start another passage before finishing one begun earlier, because it is time consuming to return to a passage and to reestablish familiarity with its relationships.

Avoid Wrong Judgment:

Do not assume that because the conditions for a set of questions look long or complicated, the questions based on those conditions will necessarily be difficult. Avoid the wrong judgment, work in sequence and try all questions.

Avoid your own Assumptions:

Do not introduce unwarranted assumptions in the given conditions. Alaways base on the given conditions and facts only. e.g., don't assume that if A is taller than B then A has more weight than that of B.

Exploit Given Information:

Each passage provides full information required to solve the question. The conditions are designed to be as clear as possible; do not interpret them as if they were intended to trick you. For example, if a question asks how many women could be eligible to get admission, consider only those women named in the passage unless directed otherwise. When you feel doubt, read the conditions in their most obvious sense. Remember, however, that the language in the conditions is intended to be read for precise meaning.

Key Words:

It is essential to pay special attention to words that describe or limit relationships, such as "only", "similarly", "as", "exactly", "never", "always", "must be", "can be", and the like.

Treat Every Question Independently:

Test taker must treat each question separately from the other questions in its set; no information, except what is given in the original conditions, should be carried over from one question to another.

Draw Diagrams of the Conditions:

It is very useful to draw a diagram to assist you in finding the solution. On the other hand, many people find it useful to underline key points in the passage and in each question. In addition, some people like to use symbols, for example; the condition that "A and B sit together" can be represented by A<>B, and for "A and B are not to sit together" the symbol might be A<!>B. Visualization of conditions by symbol is a quicker reference in the application of the conditions than to read conditions repaeatedly. You can devise your own symbols for most often used conditions. Always use a fixed symbol for a particular condition.

Attacking with Diagrams:

In preparing for the test, you may use different types of diagrams for different types of questions. There is by no means universal agreement on which kind of diagram is best for which problem or in which cases a diagram is most useful.Do not be concerned if a particular problem in the test seems to be best approached without the use of a diagram.

Scheduling Question:

In scheduling problem, a tabular diagram may be helpful.

Topological Question:

For a topological relationship problem, an arrow diagram or a simple map can be a useful device.

Example

Passage for Question

Country Kabana has seven major cities -- A, B, C, D, E, F and G. Three flights labeled 1, 2 and 3 are available to connect the cities following the rules:
Flight 1 has its ends at A and C, and passes through B only.
Flight 2 has its ends at B and C, and passes through D only.
Flight 3 has its ends at E and G, and passes through F only.
Directly connected cities are those cities between which there is no other city to land any flight.

Question

Which of the following city is directly connected to the most other cities?

1. B
2. C
3. D
4. E
5. F

Explanation for Question

This question can be solved with the aid of Topological diagram:

Diagram clearly shows that city B is directly connected with most other cities. The right choice is A.

 GRE (Graduate Record Test) is generally conducted to check the psychological capability of a student.

• Do as much thinking as possible before you tackle the questions.
• Read the facts carefully.
• Draw a diagram and rewrite the rules in shorthand.
• Make connections and deductions.

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Two distinct, though related, types of analytical reasoning:

1. Abstract and 
2. Quantitative. 

 Abstract Reasoning 

The ability to recognize patterns




Analytical Section of the GRE

In the analytical section of the GRE, questions are aimed at measuring your ability to : 

• Think logically on the basis of a set of rules
• Analyse situations using common sense

The types of questions that you will come across in this section are:

• Logical Reasoning
• Analytical Reasoning

Logical Reasoning :-
Logical reasoning measures your ability to:

• Understand
• Analyse
• & Evaluate Arguments

Each question is based on a short passage, graph, table or a set of conditions.

Strategies :

• Determine what has been specifically stated
• Draw inferences on the basis of the facts stated
• Determine the assumptions made by the author when jumping from evidence to conclusion 

Sample question :
Passage:

Some would have you believe that the economic problems of Western Europe in the 1980s were caused by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) oil cartel. This is nonsense. After all, Great Britain was not dependent on OPEC oil and yet Great Britain suffered from the same economic problems that affected France and West Germany. The author's point is made primarily by
A. Offering Great Britain as a counter example
B. Analysing the economic difficulties of France and West Germany
C. Pointing put a misconception of reasoning
D. Proposing an alternative explanation
E. Drawing an analogy between France and West Germany
Answer: A



Analytical Reasoning :-
Analysing Reasoning questions test your ability to:

• Understand a given structure of arbitrary relationships among fictitious persons, places, things, or events
• Deduce new information from the relationships given

Each analytical reasoning group consists of a set of about three to seven related statements or conditions and three or more questions based on these statements.

Strategies :

• Use short forms and symbols to express the problem statements
• Draw simple diagrams to show relationships
• Do not make any unnecessary assumptions
• Pay attention to words such as only, exactly, never, always, must be, cannot be

Sample question :

Exactly 7 persons - P, Q, R, S, T, U & V - participate in and finish all of a series of races. There are no ties for any position at the finish of the races. The following statements about the races are always true :

V finishes somewhere ahead of P
P finishes somewhere ahead of Q
Either R finishes first and T finishes last, or S finishes first and U or Q finishes last
If in a race S finishes sixth and Q finishes fifth, which of the following can be true?
A. V finishes first or fourth
B. R finishes second or third
C. P finishes second or fifth
D. U finishes third or fourth
E. T finishes fourth or fifth
Answer: D

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