Series - help!

Advice on 11 Plus VR papers and problems

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justinm
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2008 3:25 pm

Series - help!

Post by justinm »

Hi, can anyone explain this series to me? I just can't figure it out and am beginning to think it is a mistake in a practice paper (but it's more likely that I just can't work it out!):

WQ RU AO QW FN QZ LN RD SO

possible answers are:
TI
TQ
NK
TT
TN

Thanks!
JJ
Ed's mum
Posts: 3310
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2007 11:47 am
Location: Warwickshire.

Post by Ed's mum »

It is TI
I am not so good at explanations. Here goes.
W to Q backwards through the alphabet 6.
A to O backwards 12
F to N backwards 18
L to N backwards 24
S to O backwards 30

So this series jumps 6 each time.

The other series goes forwards -
R to U forwards through the alphabet 3
Q to W forwards 6
Q toz forwards 9
R to d forwards 12

So this series increases by 3 each time.

so the next one in the series needs to go forwards 15 spaces from one letter to the other. The only one to do this is TI.
justinm
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2008 3:25 pm

Post by justinm »

wow, thanks Ed's mum!

I always thought there was no relationship between the pairs of letters, only between the sequences of first and second letters. I was looking at W - R - A - Q - etc and couldn't see anything working.

Thanks for this.
JJ
patricia
Posts: 2803
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2006 5:07 pm

Post by patricia »

Dear Justinm

Yes you should look at the letters individually not as pairs. This sequence is using alternative letters….

WQ RU AO QW FN QZ LN RD SO ??

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

R to Q = -1
Q to Q = +0
Q to R = +1
next in sequence +2
R +2 = T

U to W = +2
W to Z = +3
Z to D = +4
next in sequence + 5
D + 5 = I

Answer TI
justinm
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2008 3:25 pm

Post by justinm »

aha - that makes sense. Thanks again for your help Patricia.

JJ
Ed's mum
Posts: 3310
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2007 11:47 am
Location: Warwickshire.

Post by Ed's mum »

I am confused now how both systems lead to the same answer!! Obviously, Patricia is the expert, but I am really mystified now!!!!
patricia
Posts: 2803
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2006 5:07 pm

Post by patricia »

Dear Eds Mum

Perhaps its just a 'fluke' that your method worked, indeed I have seen other 'flukes.' However these questions [nfer style] can always be worked out by looking at the 1st letters as a sequence followed by the 2nd letter as a sequence.

Patricia
Road Runner
Posts: 410
Joined: Thu Sep 14, 2006 8:32 pm

Mel x

Post by Road Runner »

Hi Patricia

Sorry I am also confused what do we do about the other letters then

WQ AO FN IN SO

Mel
patricia
Posts: 2803
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2006 5:07 pm

Post by patricia »

Dear Mel

You would do nothing with the other letters, as we only need to know the next pair, not the next 2...

Patricia
Road Runner
Posts: 410
Joined: Thu Sep 14, 2006 8:32 pm

Mel x

Post by Road Runner »

Dear Patricia

Yes thank you was having a mental block then I think. So suffice to say first thing child needs to do is work out what pair is required.

Patricia whilst I'm on can you remind me of what score you feel a child should be getting at this stage in tuition. What do you really feel is agodo indicator. DD has just finished last Tutors paper and so we are just moving on to Bright Sparks.

regards

Mel
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