Coded Inequality in Reasoning – Meaning, Symbols, Tricks & Examples
Coded Inequality is an important topic in logical reasoning that appears frequently in competitive exams. In these questions, inequality symbols like >, <, ≥, ≤, = are replaced with codes such as letters or symbols.
Your task is to decode the meaning of these symbols and determine the correct relationship between variables.
This topic tests your analytical thinking and logical interpretation skills, making it common in exams like banking, SSC, and other aptitude tests.
What is Coded Inequality?
In coded inequality reasoning questions, inequality signs are replaced with special symbols or letters.
You must first decode the meaning of each symbol and then evaluate the relationship between given variables.
For example:
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| A # B | A > B |
| A $ B | A < B |
| A % B | A = B |
If the statement is:
P # Q $ R
It means:
P > Q < R
Now you can evaluate the relationship between P and R.
Common Inequality Symbols
Understanding standard inequality symbols is the first step.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| > | Greater than |
| < | Less than |
| ≥ | Greater than or equal to |
| ≤ | Less than or equal to |
| = | Equal to |
In coded inequality questions, these symbols are replaced with different characters.
Example of a Coded Inequality Question
Statement
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| A @ B | A ≥ B |
| A & B | A < B |
| A * B | A = B |
Given Expression
P @ Q & R
Decode It
- P ≥ Q
- Q < R
From this we can conclude:
- P may be greater than R
- P may be equal to R
- Exact relation cannot be determined
So the correct conclusion is relationship between P and R cannot be determined.
Shortcut Tips to Solve Coded Inequality
Use these quick reasoning tricks to solve questions faster.
- Always decode the symbols first before solving.
- Write the actual inequality signs beside the coded ones.
- Solve the inequality step by step from left to right.
- Check whether the relation is definite or cannot be determined.
- Practice questions with mixed inequality symbols.
These tricks help save time in competitive exams.
Why Coded Inequality is Important in Competitive Exams
Coded inequality questions appear in many exams because they test logical reasoning ability.
Common exams where this topic appears:
- Banking Exams
- SSC Exams
- Insurance Exams
- MBA Entrance Tests
- Government Recruitment Exams
Usually 2–5 questions are asked from this topic.
Coded Inequality in Reasoning is a simple but scoring topic once you understand the symbol meanings and logical relationships. With regular practice and by applying decoding techniques, you can solve these questions quickly and accurately.
Focus on understanding inequality symbols, decoding methods, and practice problems to master this topic.