Reasoning : Analogy Meaning, Types, Tips and Tricks

Hello Aspirants, Analogy is an important topic under reasoning, from which many questions are asked in various competitive exams.

In this chapter, we will deal with Analogy Meaning, Types of Analogy, Analogy Examples and Tips and Tricks to be used to solve any questions based on it.

Analogy mainly refers to any kind of similarity or common properties between two or more objects.

Questions on Analogy are asked in various competitive exams to test the ability of a candidate to understand the relationship or similarity between two or more given objects.

Now let's discuss about various types of analogy which can occur in this world or can be asked in various competitive examination :

1. Word Analogy
2. Alphabet Analogy
3. Number Analogy

Word Analogy : Under Word Analogy, two or more words having similar properties are given and then obtain the same for the word asked in question.

Some basic types of word analogy asked in exams are as follows :

• State and Capital : In this type of analogy first word is the name of the state and second word is the capital of required state or vice - versa. 

Some examples are as follows :

Example 1 : Bihar : Patna :: Maharashtra : ? 

Here we can see capital of Bihar is Patna then we have to write capital of Maharashtra in place of Question Mark ( ? )

We can write as Bihar : Patna :: Maharashtra : Mumbai

Example 2 : Lucknow : Uttar Pradesh :: Hyderabad : ?

Here we can see Lucknow is the capital of Uttar Pradesh then we have to write the name of the state whose capital is Hyderabad in place of Question Mark ( ? )

We can write as Lucknow : Uttar Pradesh :: Hyderabad : Andhra Pradesh

• Country and Capital : In this type of analogy first word is the name of the Country and second word is the capital of required country or vice - versa.

Some examples are as follows :

Example 1 : India : New Delhi :: Nepal : ?

Here we can see capital of India is New Delhi then we have to write capital of Nepal in place of Question Mark ( ? )

We can write as India : New Delhi :: Nepal : Kathmandu

Example 2 : Islamabad : Pakistan :: Beijing : ?

Here we can see Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan then we have to write the name of the country whose capital is Beijing in place of Question Mark ( ? )

We can write as Islamabad : Pakistan :: Beijing : China

• Synonyms : In this type of analogy two words with same meaning are used

Let's see with an example :

Example : Big : Large :: Thin : ?

Here we can see that Big and Large are having same meaning then we have to write a word in Question Mark ( ? ) which has same meaning as Thin.

We can write as  Big : Large :: Thin : Slim

• Antonyms : In this type of analogy two words with opposite meaning are used

Let's see with an example :

Example : Big : Small :: Light : ?

Here we can see that Big and Small are having opposite meaning then we have to write a word in Question Mark ( ? ) which has opposite meaning as Light.

We can write as Big : Small :: Light : Dark

• Gender : In this type of analogy one word is masculine and another word is feminine or we can say a male and female relationship.

Let's see with an example :

Example : Bull : Cow :: Dog : ?

Here we can see Bull is masculine and Cow is feminine then Dog is masculine so we have to write feminine of Dog in place of Question Mark ( ? )

We can write as Bull : Cow :: Dog : Bitch

• Quantity and Unit : In this type of analogy first word is the quantity and the second word is the unit of required quantity or vice - versa.

Let's see with an example :

Example : Length : Meter :: Mass : ?

Here we can see Length is a quantity and unit of Length is Meter then Mass is a quantity so we have to write unit of Mass in place of Question Mark ( ? )

We can write as Length : Meter :: Mass : Kilogram

Above we have discussed the common word analogy. You will see more when you solve practice papers based on Word Analogy.

Alphabet Analogy : Under Alphabet Analogy, two or more alphabets with similar relations are given and you have to obtain the same for the other alphabets asked in question.

Some basic types of Alphabet Analogy are as follows :

• Alphabets arranged in forward sequence

Let's see with an example :

Example : CD : EF :: AB : ?

Here we can see that CD is in forward alphabetical sequence and EF comes in forward alphabetical sequence after CD

Then, we can write CD : EF :: AB : CD

• Alphabets arranged in reversed sequence

Let's see with an example :

Example : BA : ED :: TS : ?

Here we can see that BA is in reverse alphabetical sequence and C is skipped and again ED is in reverse alphabetical sequence.

Then we can write BA : ED :: TS : WV

 

Above we have discussed the common alphabet analogy. You will see more when you solve practice papers based on Alphabet Analogy.

Number Analogy : Under Number Analogy, two or more numbers with similar relations are given and you have to obtain the same for the other numbers asked in question.

Some basic types of Number Analogy are as follows :

• Numbers arranged in increasing order

Let's see with an example :

2 : 5 : 8 :: 3 : 6 : ?

Here we can see when we add 3 to 2 it becomes 5 and again adding 3 to 5 becomes 8, Similarly adding 3 to 3 becomes 6 and again adding 3 to 6 becomes 9.

So, we can write as 2 : 5 : 8 :: 3 : 6 : 9

• Numbers arranged in decreasing order

Let's see with an example :

21 : 11 : 1 :: 101 : 91 : ?

Here we can see when we subtract 10 from 21 it becomes 11 and again subtracting 10 from 11 gives 1, Similarly subtracting 10 from 101 is 91 and again subtracting 10 from 91 gives 81.

So, we can write as 21 : 11 : 1 :: 101 : 91 : 81

Above we have discussed the common Number analogy. You will see more when you solve practice papers based on Number Analogy.

At last, Go through the Practice Papers based on Analogy and try to solve it by yourself. We have attached answers with all questions.