Puzzles: Reasoning Ability Notes for Assam Police Sub-Inspector (SI)

Puzzles – Reasoning Ability

(Assam Police Sub‑Inspector (SI) Exam – Reasoning Section)

1. Simple Explanation

What are Puzzles?
Puzzles are a group of reasoning problems that require you to find hidden patterns, deduce relationships, or fill in missing information.
Why are they important?
They test logical thinking, spatial awareness, and the ability to apply rules systematically—skills essential for police work.
Typical Formats
1. Number Puzzles – arithmetic patterns, series, or ordering.
2. Word Puzzles – word‑chain, analogy, or word‑placement.
3. Pattern/Seating Arrangement Puzzles – positions, directions, and constraints.
4. Riddles & Logical Deduction Puzzles – “who did what when?” type of questions.

2. Key Points & Strategies

Puzzle Type	What to Look For	Common Tricks	Tips for Speed
Number Series	Arithmetic progression, geometric progression, alternating patterns, digit manipulation.	- Check differences or ratios. - Look for odd/even, prime, square, or factorial clues.	- Compute the first few terms; the pattern usually repeats or follows a simple rule.
Word Puzzles	Synonyms/antonyms, word ladders, word‑placement in a grid.	- Identify the ‘letter’ that changes, or the rule that keeps one side constant.	- Write the words vertically to see hidden patterns.
Seating/Arrangement	Positions (first/last), directions (N/S/E/W), relative constraints.	- Draw a simple diagram or table. - Use “not” statements to eliminate possibilities.	- Start with the most fixed condition (e.g., “person X sits at the center”) and fill in.
Logical Deduction (Riddles)	Who did what when?	- Create a truth table or a grid of possibilities. - Apply “only one” and “none of” clues.	- Break the problem into “must‑be” and “cannot‑be” statements.
Riddle‑style	Often wordplay or lateral thinking.	- Read the question multiple times; sometimes the answer is in the wording itself.	- Think of multiple meanings of words.

General Rules for All Puzzles

Read the whole question carefully.
- Identify all constraints before starting.
Make a diagram/table.
- Visual aids reduce mental juggling.
Work from the most constrained to the least constrained.
- “Fixed” positions or numbers give you a solid base.
Check for contradictions.
- If two conditions clash, backtrack and try a different assumption.
Time‑management.
- Allocate 1–2 minutes per puzzle; if stuck, move on and return if time allows.

3. Worked Example – Seating Arrangement Puzzle

Problem
Six officers – A, B, C, D, E, F – are to be seated at a round table.

A sits opposite B.

C sits to the immediate right of A.

D sits between E and F.

E sits to the left of B.

F sits between B and C.
Find the seating order clockwise starting from A.

Step‑by‑Step Solution

Step	Reasoning	Diagram (simplified)
1. Place A and B	A opposite B → they are at positions 1 and 4 (if we number 1‑6).	`A _ _ _ B _`
2. Place C	C is right of A → A’s right side is position 2.	`A C _ _ B _`
3. Place F	F between B and C → B at 4, C at 2 → only seat between them is 3.	`A C F _ B _`
4. Place D	D between E and F → F at 3 → D must be at 2 or 4, but 2 already C, 4 B → impossible. Re‑evaluate: D between E and F means D sits somewhere such that E and F are on either side of D. So D must be adjacent to F with E on the other side. Since F is at 3, the only positions adjacent are 2 (C) and 4 (B). Both occupied → contradiction. Therefore our assumption about F’s position must be wrong.
5. Re‑check Step 3	Did we misinterpret “between B and C”? It could be not adjacent. In seating puzzles, “between” usually means adjacent. So F must be adjacent to both B and C. That only works if B and C are opposite each other with F in between, but with 6 seats that’s impossible. Mist. Let's re‑read the problem: “F sits between B and C” → F is adjacent to B and also adjacent to C. That means B and C are on either side of F. So B and C must be neighbors of F.	New layout: Put F at position 3. Then B at 4, C at 2 works.
6. Place E	E left of B → B at 4, left of B is position 3 (occupied by F) or 2 (occupied by C). But left of B in a circular table could mean the seat immediately counter‑clockwise. For B at