100+ Puzzle MCQs for Competitive Exams
Practice these puzzle and logical reasoning questions for Railway, SSC, Banking, Police, Defence and other competitive examinations. The set includes arrangement, ranking, age, direction, number, coding, probability and analytical reasoning problems.
1. Five persons A, B, C, D and E stand in a line. A is to the left of B, B is to the left of C, C is to the left of D, and D is to the left of E. Who stands in the middle?
The order is A-B-C-D-E, so C occupies the third, or middle, position.
2. Five persons P, Q, R, S and T sit in a row. Q is immediately to the right of P, and R is immediately to the left of S. If T is at the extreme left, who can occupy the middle position?
With T at the left and the paired positions maintained, Q can occupy the middle position in the arrangement T-P-Q-R-S.
3. A, B, C and D have different heights. A is taller than B, B is taller than C, and C is taller than D. Who is the shortest?
The height order is A>B>C>D, so D is the shortest.
4. Ravi is older than Mohan but younger than Sohan. Who is the oldest?
Sohan is older than Ravi, and Ravi is older than Mohan. Therefore, Sohan is the oldest.
5. In a queue, Neha is 8th from the front and 12th from the back. How many people are in the queue?
Total people = front rank + back rank − 1 = 8+12−1 = 19.
6. A family has six members P, Q, R, S, T and U. P is the father of Q, Q is the mother of R, and R is the brother of S. How is P related to S?
P is Q’s father, and Q is S’s parent. Therefore, P is S’s grandfather.
7. If all roses are flowers and some flowers are red, which conclusion is definitely true?
The first statement directly establishes that every rose is a flower.
8. A clock shows 3:00. What is the angle between its hands?
At 3:00, the minute hand is at 12 and the hour hand is at 3, making a right angle of 90°.
9. A man walks 5 km north, then 3 km east, and then 5 km south. In which direction is he from his starting point?
The north and south movements cancel. He remains 3 km east of the starting point.
10. If MONDAY is coded as NPOEBZ by shifting every letter one step forward, how is FRIDAY coded?
Each letter moves one position forward: F→G, R→S, I→J, D→E, A→B, Y→Z.
11. A box contains 3 red, 4 blue and 5 green balls. What is the minimum number of balls to draw blindfolded to guarantee a blue ball?
In the worst case, all 8 non-blue balls may be drawn first. The next ball guarantees blue, so 9 are needed.
12. There are three boxes labelled Apples, Oranges and Mixed, but all labels are wrong. From which box should one fruit be picked first to identify all boxes?
Since every label is wrong, the box labelled Mixed cannot contain mixed fruit. One fruit from it reveals whether it contains only apples or only oranges.
13. A, B and C can complete a task in 12, 18 and 36 days respectively. How many days will they take together?
Their combined rate is 1/12+1/18+1/36 = 6/36 = 1/6, so they finish in 6 days.
14. A train travels 120 km in 2 hours. What is its average speed?
Average speed = distance/time = 120/2 = 60 km/h.
15. If 2+3=13, 3+4=25 and 4+5=41 according to a pattern, what is 5+6?
The pattern is a²+b²: 2²+3²=13, 3²+4²=25, 4²+5²=41; therefore 5²+6²=61.
16. Find the missing number: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?
The terms follow n(n+1): 1×2, 2×3, 3×4, 4×5, 5×6, so the next is 6×7=42.
17. A group has 5 men and 4 women. In how many ways can one man and one woman be selected?
Choose one man in 5 ways and one woman in 4 ways: 5×4=20.
18. If today is Wednesday, what day will it be after 45 days?
45 divided by 7 leaves remainder 3. Three days after Wednesday is Saturday.
19. A person faces east, turns right, then right again, and then left. Which direction is he facing?
East→South after the first right turn, →West after the second, and →South after the left turn.
20. In a row of students, Amit is 10th from the left and 15th from the right. How many students are there?
Total = 10+15−1 = 24.
21. A father is three times as old as his son. Their total age is 48 years. What is the son’s age?
Let the son’s age be x. Then 3x+x=48, so 4x=48 and x=12.
22. A number is increased by 20% and becomes 240. What was the original number?
Original number = 240/1.20 = 200.
23. A shopkeeper marks an item at ₹800 and gives a 10% discount. What is the selling price?
Discount = 10% of 800 = 80. Selling price = 800−80 = ₹720.
24. If 8 workers complete a job in 15 days, how many days will 12 workers take at the same rate?
Total work = 8×15=120 worker-days. For 12 workers, time = 120/12=10 days.
25. A bag has 5 white and 7 black balls. What is the probability of drawing a white ball?
There are 5 favourable balls out of 12 total balls, so probability = 5/12.
26. A and B have a total of 50 books. A has 8 more books than B. How many books does A have?
Let B=x and A=x+8. Then 2x+8=50, so x=21 and A=29.
27. A person buys an article for ₹500 and sells it for ₹575. Find the profit percentage.
Profit = 575−500=75. Profit percentage = 75/500×100 = 15%.
28. A tank is filled by a pipe in 8 hours. What part of the tank is filled in 3 hours?
The pipe fills 1/8 of the tank per hour, so in 3 hours it fills 3/8.
29. A person travels half a distance at 40 km/h and the other half at 60 km/h. What is the average speed?
For equal distances, average speed = 2ab/(a+b) = 2×40×60/100 = 48 km/h.
30. If 5 machines make 5 items in 5 minutes, how many items will 10 machines make in 10 minutes?
Each machine makes one item in 5 minutes. In 10 minutes, 10 machines make 10×2=20 items.
31. A man has 4 shirts and 3 trousers. How many different shirt-trouser combinations can he make?
Each of the 4 shirts can be paired with any of the 3 trousers: 4×3=12.
32. Find the next term: AZ, BY, CX, DW, ?
The first letters move forward A, B, C, D, E, while the second letters move backward Z, Y, X, W, V.
33. If SOUTH is written as HTUOS, how is NORTH written?
The word NORTH written in reverse order is HTRON.
34. A person is facing north. He turns 90° clockwise and then 180° anticlockwise. Which direction does he face?
North→East after 90° clockwise; turning 180° anticlockwise from East leads to West.
35. A class has 40 students. Ravi ranks 12th from the top. What is his rank from the bottom?
Rank from bottom = total−rank from top+1 = 40−12+1 = 29.
36. A sum doubles itself in 8 years at simple interest. What is the rate of interest?
The interest equals the principal in 8 years. Rate = 100/8 = 12.5% per year.
37. A mixture contains milk and water in the ratio 3:2. If the total mixture is 25 litres, how much water is present?
Total parts = 5. Water = 2/5×25 = 10 litres.
38. A person can row 12 km downstream in 2 hours and the same distance upstream in 3 hours. What is the speed of the stream?
Downstream speed=6 and upstream speed=4 km/h. Stream speed=(6−4)/2=1 km/h.
39. If 7 pencils cost ₹42, what is the cost of 12 pencils?
One pencil costs 42/7=₹6. Therefore, 12 pencils cost 12×6=₹72.
40. A number when divided by 7 leaves remainder 3. What remainder will twice the number leave when divided by 7?
If the number is 7k+3, twice it is 14k+6, leaving remainder 6.
41. The average of five numbers is 24. If four numbers total 86, what is the fifth number?
Total of five numbers=5×24=120. Fifth number=120−86=34.
42. A sum of money is divided among A, B and C in the ratio 2:3:5. If the total is ₹2,000, what is C’s share?
Total parts=10. C’s share=5/10×2000=₹1,000.
43. A cube has how many edges?
A cube has 12 edges, 8 vertices and 6 faces.
44. A clock gains 5 minutes every hour. How many minutes will it gain in 6 hours?
Gain = 5×6 = 30 minutes.
45. If 15% of a number is 45, what is the number?
Number = 45×100/15 = 300.
46. A person walks 4 km west and then 4 km north. What is the shortest distance from the starting point?
The movements form a right triangle. Distance = √(4²+4²)=√32=4√2 km.
47. A, B and C sit around a circular table. If A sits between B and C, who are A’s immediate neighbours?
By definition, the two people immediately beside A are B and C.
48. A number is divisible by both 6 and 8. Which of the following must divide the number?
The least common multiple of 6 and 8 is 24, so every number divisible by both is divisible by 24.
49. A person spends 70% of income. If savings are ₹9,000, what is the income?
Savings are 30% of income. Income=9000/0.30=₹30,000.
50. A can do a job in 10 days and B in 15 days. How long will they take together?
Combined rate=1/10+1/15=1/6, so they complete the job in 6 days.
51. If 3x+5=20, find x.
3x=20−5=15, so x=5.
52. A rectangle has length 12 cm and breadth 8 cm. What is its perimeter?
Perimeter=2(length+breadth)=2(12+8)=40 cm.
53. A square has an area of 81 cm². What is the length of one side?
Side of a square = √area = √81 = 9 cm.
54. If 1 January is Monday, what day is 15 January in the same year?
The difference is 14 days, exactly two weeks, so the day remains Monday.
55. A group of 6 people shake hands with each other once. How many handshakes occur?
Number of handshakes = n(n−1)/2 = 6×5/2 = 15.
56. A bag contains cards numbered 1 to 10. What is the probability of selecting an even number?
There are 5 even numbers among 10 cards, so probability=5/10=1/2.
57. If the letters of the word COMPUTER are arranged alphabetically, which letter comes first?
Among the letters C, O, M, P, U, T, E and R, C is alphabetically first.
58. A person faces west and turns left. Which direction is he facing?
When facing west, a left turn points toward south.
59. A shop gives two successive discounts of 10% and 20%. What is the net discount?
After 10% discount, 90% remains. Applying 20% leaves 72%, so net discount is 28%.
60. A number is increased from 80 to 100. What is the percentage increase?
Increase=20. Percentage increase=20/80×100=25%.
61. If 4 pens cost ₹60, how many pens can be bought for ₹150?
One pen costs ₹15. For ₹150, the number of pens is 150/15=10.
62. A person is 7th from the left and 9th from the right in a row. How many people are there?
Total=7+9−1=15.
63. A father is 24 years older than his son. In 6 years, he will be twice the son’s age. What is the son’s present age?
Let son’s age be x. In 6 years, x+30=2(x+6), giving x=18.
64. The ratio of boys to girls is 3:2. If there are 25 students, how many are girls?
Total parts=5. Girls=2/5×25=10.
65. A pipe fills a tank in 6 hours and another in 3 hours. How long do they take together?
Combined rate=1/6+1/3=1/2 tank per hour, so time=2 hours.
66. A car covers 240 km in 4 hours. If its speed increases by 20%, what is the new speed?
Original speed=240/4=60 km/h. New speed=60×1.2=72 km/h.
67. If 12% of a number is 36, what is 25% of that number?
The number is 36/0.12=300. Its 25% is 75.
68. A person buys 3 items for ₹120 each and receives a total discount of ₹60. What is the amount paid?
Total marked amount=3×120=360. After ₹60 discount, payment=₹300.
69. Find the missing term: 3, 9, 27, 81, ?
Each term is multiplied by 3: 81×3=243.
70. Find the missing term: 100, 90, 81, 72.9, ?
Each term is multiplied by 0.9: 72.9×0.9=65.61.
71. If CAT is coded as DBU, how is DOG coded using the same rule?
Each letter is shifted one step forward: D→E, O→P and G→H.
72. A man is facing south. He turns right and then left. Which direction is he facing?
Facing south, a right turn gives west and a left turn returns him to south.
73. A team wins 8 matches out of 20. What percentage of matches did it win?
Winning percentage=8/20×100=40%.
74. If the cost price is ₹800 and the loss is 12.5%, find the selling price.
Loss=12.5% of 800=100. Selling price=800−100=₹700.
75. A sum becomes ₹1,320 at 10% simple interest in 2 years. Find the principal.
At 10% for 2 years, interest is 20% of principal. 1.2P=1320, so P=1100.
76. A boat travels 30 km downstream in 3 hours. If stream speed is 2 km/h, find the boat’s speed in still water.
Downstream speed=30/3=10 km/h. Still-water speed=10−2=8 km/h.
77. A class has 60 students. 35 play cricket, 28 play football and 15 play both. How many play at least one game?
Union=35+28−15=48 students.
78. In a group of 50 people, 32 speak Hindi, 25 speak English and 12 speak both. How many speak neither?
At least one=32+25−12=45. Neither=50−45=5.
79. If the day before yesterday was Friday, what day will it be tomorrow?
If the day before yesterday was Friday, yesterday was Saturday and today is Sunday. Tomorrow is Monday.
80. A man has three daughters. Each daughter has one brother. How many children does the man have?
The three daughters share the same one brother, so there are 4 children in total.
81. A farmer has 10 animals consisting of chickens and cows. There are 28 legs in total. How many cows are there?
Let cows=x. Legs: 4x+2(10−x)=28, so 2x=8 and x=4.
82. There are 5 consecutive integers whose sum is 85. What is the middle integer?
For five consecutive integers, the middle number equals the average: 85/5=17.
83. If the average of 8 numbers is 15, what is their total?
Total=sum of average×number of values=15×8=120.
84. A person travels 60 km at 30 km/h and returns at 60 km/h. What is the average speed for the whole journey?
Total distance=120 km; total time=2+1=3 hours. Average speed=120/3=40 km/h.
85. If 6 men or 8 women can complete a job in 12 days, the efficiency ratio of one man to one woman is:
Equal work gives 6 men=8 women, so one man/one woman=8/6=4:3.
86. A number leaves remainder 4 when divided by 9. What remainder will it leave when 5 is added to it?
The new number has remainder 4+5=9, which is equivalent to remainder 0.
87. A person has ₹500 in denominations of ₹10 and ₹20, with 30 notes in total. How many ₹20 notes are there?
Let x be ₹20 notes. 20x+10(30−x)=500, so 10x=200 and x=20.
88. A rectangle and a square have the same perimeter. The rectangle is 12 cm long and 8 cm wide. What is the side of the square?
Rectangle perimeter=2(12+8)=40 cm. Square side=40/4=10 cm.
89. A clock is 15 minutes fast. If it shows 4:00, what is the correct time?
The clock is 15 minutes ahead, so subtract 15 minutes from 4:00 to get 3:45.
90. If 2/5 of a number is 24, find 3/4 of the number.
The number=24×5/2=60. Three-fourths of 60 is 45.
91. A, B, C, D and E are arranged alphabetically. Which letter is second from the right?
The alphabetical order is A-B-C-D-E; D is second from the right.
92. A person invests ₹4,000 at 5% simple interest for 3 years. Find the interest.
Simple interest=P×R×T/100=4000×5×3/100=₹600.
93. A shopkeeper gains 20% by selling an article for ₹600. Find its cost price.
Selling price=120% of cost price. Cost price=600/1.2=₹500.
94. A group of 4 people can be arranged in a row in how many ways?
The number of arrangements of 4 distinct people is 4!=4×3×2×1=24.
95. If today is Sunday, what day was it 100 days ago?
100 divided by 7 leaves remainder 2. Two days before Sunday is Friday.
96. A number is first decreased by 10% and then increased by 10%. What is the net effect?
Starting with 100, after 10% decrease it becomes 90; increasing 90 by 10% gives 99, a 1% decrease.
97. A and B invest ₹5,000 and ₹8,000 respectively for the same period. If total profit is ₹2,600, what is B’s share?
Profit ratio=5000:8000=5:8. B’s share=8/13×2600=₹1600.
98. A box has 6 identical pairs of socks in different colours. What is the minimum number of socks to pick to guarantee a matching pair?
There are 6 colours. In the worst case, 6 socks can be of different colours; the 7th must match one.
99. A person walks 10 m north, 10 m east, 10 m south and 10 m west. Where does he finish?
The north-south and east-west movements cancel, bringing him back to the start.
100. If all pens are stationery items and some stationery items are costly, which statement is certain?
Only the first statement is guaranteed by the given information.
To solve puzzle questions efficiently, read every condition carefully, arrange the information step by step, and use formulas wherever required. Regular practice improves accuracy, logical thinking and speed in competitive examinations.
Reasoning MCQs
Practice important Topic wise Reasoning Questions with Answers for competitive exams.