Which letter-cluster will replace the question mark (?) to complete the given series?
SPIN, RQJM, ?, PSLK, OTMJ
- AQRLK
- BQPKL
- CQRKL
- DRQLK
Solution & Step-by-step Explanation
Let us analyze the pattern position by position for each letter cluster:
1st position: S → R → ? → P → O
Pattern: −1 each time.
S−1=R
R−1=Q
Q−1=P
P−1=O
2nd position: P → Q → ? → S → T
Pattern: +1 each time.
P+1=Q
Q+1=R
R+1=S
S+1=T
3rd position: I → J → ? → L → M
Pattern: +1 each time.
I+1=J
J+1=K
K+1=L
L+1=M
4th position: N → M → ? → K → J
Pattern: −1 each time.
N−1=M
M−1=L
L−1=K
K−1=J
Combining all the characters, the missing cluster is QRKL.
1st position: S → R → ? → P → O
Pattern: −1 each time.
S−1=R
R−1=Q
Q−1=P
P−1=O
2nd position: P → Q → ? → S → T
Pattern: +1 each time.
P+1=Q
Q+1=R
R+1=S
S+1=T
3rd position: I → J → ? → L → M
Pattern: +1 each time.
I+1=J
J+1=K
K+1=L
L+1=M
4th position: N → M → ? → K → J
Pattern: −1 each time.
N−1=M
M−1=L
L−1=K
K−1=J
Combining all the characters, the missing cluster is QRKL.