Puzzles: Reasoning Ability Notes for SSC MTS

SSC MTS – Reasoning Ability

Topic: Puzzles

Puzzles are a popular section in the SSC MTS Reasoning Ability paper.
They test your ability to decipher patterns, relationships, and hidden rules from a set of given clues.
In the exam, a puzzle usually appears as a short paragraph or a diagram followed by one or more questions.

1. Simple Explanation

Term	What it Means	Example
Clue	A piece of information that helps you deduce the final arrangement or order.	“The person in seat 3 is older than the person in seat 5.”
Conditional	A clue that applies only when a certain condition is met.	“If person A sits next to person B, then person C sits opposite person A.”
Relative	A clue that compares two or more entities.	“The tallest person is not in the first row.”
Absolute	A clue that states a fixed position or attribute.	“Person D sits in seat 4.”

Goal:
Using the clues, determine the exact arrangement of people, objects, or events.

2. Key Points

#	Key Point	Why It Matters
1	Read the puzzle twice – first for a quick scan, second for detailed analysis.	Avoid missing hidden relationships.
2	List all entities (people, seats, colors, etc.) and their possible attributes.	Helps keep track of options.
3	Create a matrix or a table – each row = entity, each column = attribute.	Easy to cross‑reference clues.
4	Apply “If‑then” logic systematically.	Prevents contradictory placements.
5	Use elimination – mark impossible combinations with an “X”.	Reduces complexity.
6	Check consistency – after each deduction, verify against all clues.	Avoids mistakes that propagate.
7	Look for “must‑be” clues – those that leave no other option.	Gives the first solid anchor.
8	Work backward – sometimes it’s easier to start from the conclusion and trace back.	Useful when the final answer is known.
9	Time‑management – practice solving a puzzle in ≤ 30 sec.	Crucial for the exam.
10	Re‑read clues after solving – ensure no clue was ignored.	Final sanity check.

3. Worked Example (Typical SSC MTS Style)

Puzzle Statement
In a room, five men (A, B, C, D, E) are seated in a row from left to right.

A sits immediately to the right of the man who owns the blue car.

The man who owns the red car sits next to B.

C owns the green car.

The man who owns the yellow car sits at one end.

E sits next to the man who owns the blue car.
Question: Who owns the blue car?

Step‑by‑Step Solution

Step	Action	Result
1	Identify fixed positions – “yellow car at one end.”	Seat 1 or Seat 5 → Yellow.
2	Place C – owns green car.	Green car not at an end (can be 2,3,4).
3	Consider red car next to B.	Red car cannot be at an end (since it must be next to B).
4	Blue car adjacency – A sits right of blue car; E sits next to blue car.	Blue car cannot be at end (needs two neighbors).
5	Test possibilities for blue car – If blue at Seat 2 → A at Seat 3, E at Seat 1 or 3. But Seat 3 already A, so E cannot be at 3 → E at 1.	Works: E at 1 (blue adjacency).
6	Check B and red car – red car must be next to B. B cannot be at Seat 1 or 5 (ends).	B at Seat 4 → red car at Seat 5 or 3. Seat 5 is yellow, so red car at Seat 3.
7	Assign remaining – Seat 4 is B; Seat 3 red; Seat 5 yellow; Seat 2 blue; Seat 1 E.	Remaining man C must be at Seat 4? Wait B already at 4. Re‑evaluate: B at 4; Seat 3 red car (owner unknown). Seat 2 blue car (owner unknown). Seat 1 E. Seat 5 yellow (owner unknown). Seat 4 B. Seat 3 cannot be B. So Seat 3 owner = C? But C owns green. So Seat 3 cannot be green. Contradiction.

We need to backtrack. Let's try blue car at Seat 3.

Step	Action	Result
1	Blue at Seat 3 → A at Seat 4; E at Seat 2 or 4. Seat 4 already A, so E at 2.	E at 2.
2	Yellow at an end: Seat 1 or 5.	TBD.
3	Red car next to B. B cannot be at an end.	B at 3? No (blue). B at 4? No (A). B at 5? Possible. Then red at 4 or 6 (no 6). So red at 4? Seat 4 is A. So B cannot be 5. B must be 1? But 1 is end; red car next to B → seat 2 or 0. Seat 2 is E. So red car at seat 2.
4	Seat 2 has red car (E).	E owns red car.
5	C owns green car.	C cannot be at