Analogy & Classification • Topic 2 of 4

Letter Analogy

Letter analogies hinge on alphabet position (A=1 … Z=26). The common rules are a fixed forward/backward shift, opposite letters (A↔Z, summing to 27), or position arithmetic. Write the position numbers under the letters and the pattern jumps out.

Number the letters first

Convert letters to positions and the analogy becomes arithmetic. The two go-to rules:

  • Fixed shift: "CAT : DBU" is +1 on every letter.
  • Opposite letters: A↔Z, B↔Y, C↔X — each pair sums to 27.
Opposite-letter shortcut. To find the opposite of any letter, compute 27 − its position. So the opposite of D (4) is position 23 = W.

✅ Solved examples

1. AB : CD :: EF : ?
Each letter +2: E→G, F→H. Answer GH.
2. A : Z :: B : ?
Opposite letters (sum 27). B(2) → Y(25).
3. CAT : DBU :: DOG : ?
Each letter +1: D→E, O→P, G→H. Answer EPH.
4. Z : A :: Y : ?
Opposite letters. Y(25) → B(2).

✏️ Practice — try these, take hints as needed

1. PQ : RS :: TU : ?
+2 each.
T→V, U→W.
—
VW
2. C : X :: D : ?
Opposite, sum 27.
27 - 4 = 23.
—
W
3. BIG : CJH :: SUN : ?
+1 each.
S→T, U→V, N→O.
—
TVO
4. A : C :: J : ?
+2.
J→L.
—
L
5. M : N :: X : ?
+1.
X→Y.
—
Y

📝 Topic test — 8 questions

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