Question

What should come in place of question mark (?) in the following number/alphabetic series?
X U S P N K ?

• A. I
• B. M
• C. L
• D. Q

Hint:

For alphabetic series, quickly converting letters to their numerical positions often reveals a simple arithmetic or geometric pattern that is otherwise hard to spot.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
We need to identify the pattern in the given series of alphabets and find the next letter that follows the pattern.
Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
The best approach is to find the numerical position of each letter in the alphabet and then determine the mathematical relationship (difference, sum, etc.) between consecutive terms.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
Let's write down the letters and their corresponding positions in the English alphabet (A=1, B=2, ... Z=26).

• X is the 24th letter.
• U is the 21st letter.
• S is the 19th letter.
• P is the 16th letter.
• N is the 14th letter.
• K is the 11th letter.

Now let's find the difference between the positions of consecutive letters: \[ 24 \xrightarrow{-3} 21 \xrightarrow{-2} 19 \xrightarrow{-3} 16 \xrightarrow{-2} 14 \xrightarrow{-3} 11 \] The pattern is a repeating sequence of subtractions: -3, -2, -3, -2, -3, ... The last operation was -3 (from N to K). Therefore, the next operation should be -2. \[ 11 - 2 = 9 \] The 9th letter of the alphabet is I.
Step 4: Final Answer:
The next letter in the series is I.