Visual Reasoning is one of the most important sections in MHCET and probably the section that students find the toughest. The visual reasoning section in MHCET has questions of many varieties and students have to make extensive use of logic to solve the questions. The section has been carrying a weightage of 30 marks since the past 5 years in the MHCET examination. The type of questions in visual reasoning can be clubbed into 8 different types. In a three part series, we try to find the optimal methods to approach the same.
The 8 types can be broadly classified as:
1. Odd man out
2. Analogy
3. Odd man out in series
4. Series (last figure missing)
5. Series (middle figure missing)
6. Similar pair
7. Dissimilar pair
8. Dissimilar pair without master pair
Odd man out: These are the easiest type of questions to solve in Visual reasoning. Sometimes the questions are as simple as geometric figures and a non-geometric figure. Aspirants who can keep their calm will be able to solve these questions with relative ease. Example 1.1 will give a good overview of odd man out questions. The odd man out questions can also have the following variations:
1. Questions which involve counting and calculations can be another variation in odd man out.
2. There can be questions on relative counting or variations in quantitative logic which can be asked too.
3. "Camouflaging" or a dummy object with no logical flow and has dissimilarities to the other figures have been a part of MHCET papers earlier.
1.1 Find the odd man out?
Analogy: These questions require students to be calm and have a basic understanding of the geometric figures (in order to choose the appropriate option). The students also have to be quick with calculations and avoid silly mistakes. A perfect example of the same is the question below. The possible variation in analogy can be the last figure incomplete variation which usually has objects like leafs or petals involved.
1.2 Please complete the following?
The triangle has 3 sides which when multiplied by 2 we have a hexagon (six sided figure) correspondingly when we have a square (4 sided figure) when the same logic is applied we get a octagon (8 sided figure). Alternately one can also apply the logic of (3+3) and (4+4) to arrive at the answer.
Odd man out series: This is an upgrade on the odd man out questions. Usually there are a set of two series of either numbers or shapes which follow a particular logic. However one among the options is not consistent with the logic and students are required to spot that figure. Students are required to spend some time to establish the underlying logic of the series. Once the logic is established the question will be easier to solve.
1.3 Please find the odd man out in the series?
If one closely follows the changes in the pattern of the arrows, in series 1 the arrows shift by approximately 45 degree anti clock wise. In series 2 they move a further 90 degree anti clock wise an extension of figure 1. In figure 3 the arrow moves a further 135 degree from figure 2. In figure 4 however the figure moves by 225 degree while it should have moved by 180 degree. This is not consistent with the series logic.
The second part will cover the remaining 5 types of Visual reasoning problems. In the third part of the series we look at the various logical sets used in Visual reasoning.
The author, Professor Nikunj Doshi will answer all student queries regarding MHCET 2012, Students can interact with him via email on
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