Tips and Tricks: Odd Man Out | SSC CGL Tier 2 - Study Material, Online Tests, Previous Year PDF Download

1. Odd Man out Tips and Tricks and Shortcuts: Alphabet Classification
In this type, a collection of out of orders letters containing three letters is kept together. To solve this firstly we have to analyse the pattern in which these letters are grouped. And after that we need to check the option which is different from the rest of the options. The option which doesn’t follow the pattern followed by others will be the right answer.

Q1: Find the odd man out.
(a) RO
(b) KH
(c) IF
(d) NL
Ans: (d)
R^-3O, K^-3H I^-3F, N^-2L, G^-3D
So the answer will be NL, which is choice (D).

2. Tips and Tricks and Shortcuts for Odd Man out: Word Classification
In this category, various things which are related to common properties such as part of speech, places, livings, etc. are present. The odd one will be the one which is different from the above said.

Q2: Find the odd one among the following.
(a) Snooty
(b) Restrained
(c) Sociable
(d) Stand-offish
Ans: (c)
Here, choices (a), (b), and (d) belong to one group which signifies people who do not mix with society. The answer therefore, is option (c).

3. Odd one out Tips and Tricks- Number Classification
In number classification method a collection of numbers is there which follows the same arrangement. In this type we need to analyze the odd arrangement from the group of numbers.
These numbers may be related to a certain set i.e. they may be odd, even, coded binary digits etc. the one option which is not in a line with above rule, will be our answer. The subsequent tips are essential to examine the question.

• Keep in mind the simple logic first
• To check the linking among the given numbers?
• Connection among the numbers?
• Grouping of presumed numbers
• Go to step 2 if you don’t find the odd one in the first step.

There are also various categories of numbers which comes under number series problems but not in odd man out problems so be clear and specific while solving these types of problems

Q4: Find the odd among the following.
(a) 2011
(b) 1101
(c) 2111
(d) 212
Ans: (d)
These numbers follow the binary coding. Let’s convert them into decimal.
2011 = 2 × 23 + 0 × 22 + 1 × 21 + 1 × 20
= 16 + 0 + 2 + 1= 19
1101 = 1 × 23 + 1 × 22 + 0 × 21 + 1 × 20
= 8 + 4 + 0 + 1= 13
2111 = 2 × 23 + 1 × 22 + 1 × 21 + 1 × 20
= 16 + 4 + 2 + 1= 23
212 = 2 × 22 + 1 × 21 + 2 × 20
= 8 + 2 + 2= 12
Option E, because 12 is not a prime number but all others are prime numbers.

Q4: Find the odd one out
(a) 121
(b) 253
(c) 286
(d)  372
Ans: (d)
In all other numbers, the sum of the first and last digit equals the middle digit. 1+1 =2, 2+3=5, and so on, except for 372 where 3 + 2 = 6 and not 7.
Option D as it does not follows the pattern.

Q5: Find the odd one out
(a) 111
(b) 263
(c) 2126
(d) 392
Ans: (d)
In all other numbers, the product of the first and last digit equals the middle digit.
1 * 1 = 1, 2 * 3 = 6, 2 * 6
= 12, and so on, except for 392 where, 3 * 2 = 6, and not 9.
Option D is Correct