Sheet 12 of 14 · Verbal Reasoning
Verbal reasoning number and logic puzzles
Letters as numbers, number connections and logic questions. 10 rules, each with a worked example.
Letters as numbers
Letter sums
Swap each letter for its number, work it out (BODMAS), then give the answer as a letter
ExampleA = 2, B = 3, C = 6, D = 9: A × B + B = 6 + 3 = 9 = DWord values
Add up the alphabet positions of the letters
ExampleCAB = 3 + 1 + 2 = 6Tip: EJOTY: E = 5, J = 10, O = 15, T = 20, Y = 25
Letter codes
Start with repeated letters and repeated digits: they match up first
ExampleSEE = 377, so S = 3 and E = 7, and SEES = 3773
Number connections
Missing number in brackets
The middle number is made from the outside two in the same way on every row
- Try +, −, × and ÷, then mixes like (a + b) × 2
Example6 (18) 3 · 4 (12) 3 · 5 (?) 2 → 5 × 2 = 10Number rules
Find the rule from the first pairs, then use it on the last one
Example3 → 9, 5 → 25, 7 → ? (square it) → 49Series tricks
Gaps not steady? Try these patterns
- Add the two before (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13) · square numbers · ×2 or halving · two series taking turns
Example1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, ? → 13 (5 + 8)
Logic
What must be true
Use only what you are told, not what you know or guess
ExampleAll cats have tails. Tom is a cat. → Tom has a tailDays and dates
Every 7 days on, it's the same day of the week again
Example3 May is a Monday, so 17 May (14 days on) is a Monday tooTip: 30 days has September, April, June and November.
Ages
Find each age now first; everyone gets older by the same amount
ExampleSam is 4 years older than Ali. In 3 years Ali will be 10, so Ali is 7 and Sam is 11Seating and order
Draw the seats or a line, then fill in the surest clue first
Example5 seats in a row: the middle seat is seat 3, with 2 seats each side
Want the full explanation?
The study guide goes through each rule step by step, with more examples.