Banking Notes / Reasoning & Puzzles / Chapter 3
Chapter 3 of 24

Inequality

Combining and coded inequality symbols to derive definite relationships — plus the either/or case that trips up most candidates.

📖 ~9 min read 🧩 Banking Reasoning & Puzzles

Introduction

Inequality questions give a chain of relations between variables (using >, <, =, ≥, ≤ — or coded symbols standing in for them) and ask which conclusions definitely follow. Success depends on correctly chaining the relations in one continuous direction.

Combining Relations

CombinationResult
A > B, B > CA > C
A ≥ B, B > CA > C
A ≥ B, B ≥ CA ≥ C
A > B, B < CNo definite relation between A and C

Common Coding Pattern

Bank exams often replace symbols with letters/signs — e.g., "P @ Q" means P > Q, "P # Q" means P < Q, "P $ Q" means P ≥ Q. Always decode the key first, rewrite the entire statement in standard symbols, then solve.

Q. Statements: A > B ≥ C = D > E
Conclusions: I. A > D   II. B > E
Chain: A > B ≥ C = D > E.
For A vs D: A > B, B ≥ C, C = D → A > D. Conclusion I is true.
For B vs E: B ≥ C, C = D, D > E → B > E (since at least one strict ">" is in the chain). Conclusion II is true.
Answer: Both conclusions follow.
⚠️ Key Insight: A chain gives a ">" (strict) result only if at least one strict inequality exists somewhere in the linking chain; if the entire chain is made only of "≥" signs, the result must also be written as "≥", not ">".
💡 Exam Tip: For "either/or" inequality conclusions, check if the two conclusions are exact opposites of a possible equality case (like "A > B" and "A ≤ B") — that combination is the standard either/or trigger.
✅ Practice Focus: Chaining 3-5 term inequality statements · Decoding symbol-coded inequalities · Identifying when no definite relation can be established.

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