One of the most important components of every competitive exam is logical reasoning. Gaining proficiency in logical reasoning can significantly improve your overall score on aptitude examinations, such as the SSC, UPSC, Banking, and Railway Exams, among others.
This section assesses your capacity for information analysis, interpretation, and logical deduction—skills essential for solving problems in practical situations.
To help you practice and improve your reasoning abilities, we’ve put together a list of the best 50 logical thinking questions along with explanations and solutions.
Logical Reasoning Questions and Answers
1. If A is the father of B, but B is not the son of A, how is B related to A?
Answer: Daughter
2. Find the odd one out: 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11
Answer: 9 (Not a prime number)
3. A is 3 years older than B, and B is twice as old as C. If C is 4, what is A’s age?
Answer: A = 11 years
4. Choose the correct series: 2, 6, 12, 20,?
Answer: 30 (Pattern: +4, +6, +8, +10)
5. Which word does not belong: Apple, Mango, Banana, Carrot
Answer: Carrot (It’s a vegetable)
6. If ‘CAT’ is coded as 3120, what is the code for ‘DOG’?
Answer: 4157 (Based on position in alphabet)
7. If 5 pencils cost ₹25, how many pencils can you buy with ₹100?
Answer: 20 pencils
8. Find the missing number: 4, 16, 36, 64,?
Answer: 100 (Squares of even numbers: 2², 4², 6², 8², 10²)
9. If in a certain code, A = 1, B = 2, …, Z = 26, what is the sum of the letters in “LOGIC”?
Answer: 12 + 15 + 7 + 9 + 3 = 46
10. Which of the following is the odd one: Circle, Triangle, Square, Rectangle
Answer: Circle (No sides)
11. If RAM = 36, what is the code for FAN?
Answer: 27 (F=6, A=1, N=14 → 6+1+14=21; pattern: 21+6=27)
12. If CLOCK = 25, then WATCH = ?
Answer: 30 (Letters count × 5)
13. If 9 × 3 = 36, 8 × 4 = 48, then 7 × 5 = ?
Answer: 35 (Pattern: actual multiplication)
14. Choose the odd one: 8, 27, 64, 100, 125
Answer: 100 (Not a cube number)
15. If SOUTH is coded as 12345 and NORTH as 67845, what is the code for SNOW?
Answer: 1678
16. Pointing to a man, Rita said, “He is the brother of my mother’s only son.” Who is that man to Rita?
Answer: Her uncle
17. If 3 cats can catch 3 rats in 3 minutes, how many rats can 6 cats catch in 6 minutes?
Answer: 12 rats
18. Choose the odd one: 121, 144, 169, 225, 256
Answer: 225 (15², not fitting the even-square pattern)
19. If TABLE = 40, CHAIR = 35, what is DESK = ?
Answer: 40 (Each letter’s position in the alphabet added together)
20. If in a code, DOG = 4157 and CAT = 3120, what is BAT = ?
Answer: 2120
21. A man facing north turns 90° clockwise, then 180° anticlockwise. Which direction is he facing now?
Answer: West
22. If A + B = 10, B + C = 15, and A + C = 20, find A, B, and C.
Answer: A=7.5, B=2.5, C=12.5
23. If 2 = 6, 3 = 12, 4 = 20, then 5 = ?
Answer: 30 (Pattern: n × (n+1))
24. Find the next term: 1, 2, 6, 24, 120,?
Answer: 720 (Factorial pattern: n!)
25. Choose the odd one: Rose, Lily, Lotus, Mango
Answer: Mango (It’s a fruit, others are flowers)
26. In a certain code, “ROAD” = 6821 and “DOVE” = 2134. What is the code for “OVER”?
Answer: 1346
27. If ‘FISH’ is coded as ‘GJTI’, what is the code for ‘BOOK’?
Answer: CPPL (Each letter +1)
28. If all BLOOD is LIQUID and all LIQUID is WATER, then what is true?
Answer: All BLOOD is WATER.
29. Find the missing number: 3, 9, 27, ?, 243
Answer: 81 (×3 pattern)
30. Complete the series: 8, 16, 32, 64,?
Answer: 128
31. Which number does not belong: 11, 13, 17, 19, 21
Answer: 21 (Not a prime number)
32. If TODAY = UPEBZ, what is SCHOOL = ?
Answer: TIDPOM (Each letter shifted by +1)
33. Find the missing number: 7, 14, 28, 56,?
Answer: 112
34. A is B’s brother, B is C’s sister, and C is D’s father. How is D related to A?
Answer: Nephew/Niece
35. Rearrange the letters to form a meaningful word: “RAEHT”
Answer: EARTH
36. Find the odd one: Pen, Pencil, Eraser, Chalk, Knife
Answer: Knife (Not a stationery item)
37. If 6 men can complete a work in 12 days, how many days will 4 men take?
Answer: 18 days
38. Which one is different? 2, 4, 8, 10, 16, 32
Answer: 10 (Not a power of 2)
39. If 1 → 3, 2 → 6, 3 → 9, 4 → 12, what does 10 → ?
Answer: 30
40. Find the missing number: 4, 9, 16, 25,?
Answer: 36
41. A is the father of B but not the husband of C. How is C related to B?
Answer: Mother
42. If ALL = 18, BALL = 24, then CALL = ?
Answer: 30 (Each letter adds +6 per new word)
43. Arrange logically: Morning, Night, Afternoon, Evening
Answer: Morning → Afternoon → Evening → Night
44. Choose the correct analogy: Tree : Leaf :: Book : ?
Answer: Page
45. 2, 5, 10, 17, 26,?
Answer: 37 (Pattern: +3, +5, +7, +9, +11)
46. Statements: All cats are animals. Some animals are dogs.
Conclusion: Some cats are dogs.
Answer: False
47. If A walks 2 km north, then 2 km east, how far is he from the start point?
Answer: √(2² + 2²) = 2.83 km
48. Find the missing term: AB, BC, CD, DE,?
Answer: EF
49. If MONDAY is written as NPOEBZ, how is FRIDAY written?
Answer: GSJEBZ (Each letter shifted by +1)
50. Which number will complete the series: 1, 4, 9, 16, 25,?
Answer: 36
Conclusion
Logical reasoning is more than just solving puzzles; it’s also about developing critical thinking skills, identifying trends, and making informed decisions. You may increase your speed and accuracy for any competitive exam by practising these questions every day.
