General Intelligence & Reasoning

Chapter- 13

BLOOD RELATION (Social Intelligence)

13.1 Introduction

❖ Relation as we know is the connection between any two things or between any two
persons. So when speaking of blood relation, it means the connection between two people
by blood or basically by birth.

❖ In addition to this, two people or two families get connected by marriage, hence the
relations which are created by marriage are also considered as blood relations.

❖ Blood Relations is one of the most important topics in logical reasoning. Click on the
below Download button to view more information about Blood relations and real-time
problems related to blood relations.

❖ Blood relations means persons connected by some relation like mother-father, daughter-
son, sister-brother, aunt-uncle, niece-nephew, sister in law-brother in law etc. Blood
relations questions are based on the family tree concept. Questions are asked based on the
variety of relationships in the family. To remember easily, we classify them as paternal
side relations and maternal side relations.

13.2 What is Family Tree?

✓ A tree as we know has roots firmly grounded and then it has its stem which branches out
and gets leaves in it.

✓ The same is the case with a family tree, wherein we can imagine our ancestors as the
roots and then their children and grandchildren and so on act as branches and leaves.

✓ Family Tree a pictorial or visual representation of our lineage. With the help of a family
tree, it not only gives us a better understanding of our lineage but also helps us understand
our relationship with different people who have common ancestors.

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 Hierarchy
Grandfather, Grandmother,
1st Stage: GRAND PARENTS
Granduncle, Grandaunt

Father, Mother, Uncle,Aunt

2nd Stage: PARENTS & IN LAWS Father –in –law, Mother –in- law

SIBLINGS , SPOUSE & Brother, Sister, Cousin, Wife, Husband

3rd Stage: IN- LAWS Brother-in-law, Sister-in-law

4th Stage: CHILDREN & IN - LAWS Son, Daughter, Niece, Nephew,

Son-in-law, Daughter – in- law

5th Stage: GRANDCHILDREN Grandson, Granddaughter

Fig 13.1 Hierachy

13.3 Basic Terms used in Blood Relations

❖ Parents: Mother and father.
❖ Children: Son or Daughter
❖ Siblings: Brother or Sister( of the same parents)
❖ Spouse: Husband or wife.
❖ Aunt: Aunt means father’s sister, mother’s sister, father’s brother’s wife, or mother’s
brother’s wife.
❖ Uncle: Uncle means father’s brother, Mother’s brother, Father's sister’s husband,
mother’s sister’s husband.
❖ Niece: Brother’s and sister’s daughter.
❖ Nephew: Brother’s and sister’s son.
❖ Cousin: Children of aunt and uncle.
❖ Father-in-law: Father of the spouse.
❖ Mother-in-law: Mother of Spouse

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 ❖ Sister-in-law: Sister of the spouse, wife of brother
❖ Co-sister: Wife of spouse’s brother
❖ Brother-in-law: Brother of the spouse, husband of the sister
❖ Co- brother: husband of spouse’s sister.
❖ Maternal: Relations or family members who are from the mother’s side.

❖ Paternal: Relations or family members who are from the father’s side

13.3.1 Paternal & Maternal Side Relations

Father’s father Grandfather
Father’s mother Grandmother
Father’s brother Uncle
Father’s sister Aunt
Father’s daughter Sister
Father’s son Brother
Father’s only son Himself
Father’s only daughter Herself
Uncle’s wife Aunt
Aunt’s husband Uncle
Uncle’s children Cousin
Aunt’s children Cousin
Brother’s wife Sister – in- law
Sister’s husband Brother – in – law
Brother’s daughter Niece
Brother’s son Nephew
Son’s wife Daughter –in - law
Daughter’s husband Son – in – law
Grandson or Granddaughter’s daughter Great Granddaughter
Mother’s father (Maternal) grandfather
Mother’s mother (Maternal) grandmother
Mother’s brother (Maternal) uncle
Mother’s sister (Maternal) aunt
Children of maternal uncle Cousin
Wife of maternal uncle (Maternal) aunt
Tab 13.1

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13.4 Tips for solving Questions on Relations
❖ Drawing family tree
❖ Properly indicate the nature of relationships between the persons
❖ Understanding the relationship between which two persons is exactly required to be found

Drawing Family Tree:

➢ If A is male: A+
➢ If B is female: B-
➢ If A and B are siblings: A B
➢ If A and B are married to each other : A=B
B
➢ If A is the only child of B:
A
C

➢ If A and B children of C :
A B

A
➢ If A is uncle/aunt of B

13.5 Types of Questions on Blood Relation:

Over the years, the standard and type of Questions which are being asked from the blood
relation topic have seen a slight turn. Initially, the Questions used to be less complex and statement
or dialogue-based, but with the increased competition, the variety of Questions being asked have
also changed.

Being one of the most common concepts from which Questions are asked in exams, given
below are the different ways in which the blood relation Questions may be asked in the competitive
exams, for the assistance of candidates:

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 Dialogue/ Based on Coding and
Conversation Puzzles decoding
Based

Fig 13.2 Types of Blood relations

• Dialogue/ Conversation Based – In such Questions, one person describes his/her

relation with another person (this may or may not be related to the person with whom the
conversation is being made).
• Based on Puzzles – To make the Questions complex, blood relation Questions are also
being asked in the form of a puzzle. A piece of brief information about multiple people
being interrelated is given and sub-Questions based on the same may be asked.
• Coding-Decoding – The relationship between two people may be denoted using
symbols. This has become a common method of asking blood relation Questions in
competitive exams, nowadays.

Example 1:
A family consists of five members B, C, E, F, and G. C is the son of G but G is not the
mother of C, E and G are a married couple. B is the brother of G. F is the daughter of E. Who is
the brother-in-law of E?
A) F B) G C) B D) None of these
Solution:
With the given information we will draw the family tree.

E (Wife of G) G (Centre person) ---------B(brother of G)

F (daughter of G) C (Son of G)

From the family tree drawn, we get to know that the brother-in-law of E is B.
Ans:(C) B

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Example 2:
A + B means B is the brother of A.
A × B means B is the husband of A.
A – B means A is the mother of B.
A % B means A is the father of B.
How is Q related to T from the expression "Q-P+R%T"?
A) Grandmother B) Mother C) Aunt D) Niece
Solution:
From the given information we simplify the expression "Q-P+R%T"
Q is the mother of P
P is the brother of R
R is the father of T

E(wife of G) B (brother of G) G(Centre person)

F (daughter of E & G) C (Son of G)

From the family tree drawn, we can say that the Q is the grandmother of T.
Ans:(A) Grandmother

Example 3:
Pointing to a man, a woman said, "His mother is the only daughter of my mother". How
is the woman related to the man?
A) Aunt B) Sister C) Cousin D) Mother
Solution:
We trace the given statement backward; Woman’s mother has only one daughter, which means the
woman herself. So the man’s mother is the woman herself and hence the correct answer is option
D.
Ans:(D) Mother

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Example 4:
A is the father of B but is not his son. C is the daughter of B. D is the spouse of A. E is the
brother of B. F is the son of E. G is the spouse of E. H is the father of G. Who is the granddaughter
of A?
Solution:
A (+) = D(-)

B (-) E (+) = G (-)

C- F+
From the above diagram, C is the daughter of B and A is father of B. so,
C is Granddaughter of A.
Ans: C is Granddaughter of A.

Example 5:
A ‘s mother is sister of B and daughter of X. C is the daughter of B and Sister of Y. How
is X related to Y
Solution:

X
Mother (-) B

A Y C (-)

Y is either son or daughter of B. 9-

So, Y is the granddaughter/grandson of X )
Ans: Y is the granddaughter/grandson of X

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Example 6:
Pointing to a paragraph, Kiran said,’she is the daughter of my grandmother’s only son’.
How is Kiran related to the girl in the photograph?
Solution:

Grandmother (-)

Father (+)

She (-) Kiran (+)

My grandmother’s only son = My father.
) ) Kiran is the brother of the girl in the
Given that, the girl is daughter of Kiran’s father. It means
photograph.
Ans: Kiran is the brother of the girl in the photograph.

Example 7:
Pointing to a gentleman, Ravi Said, ‘his only brother is the father of my daughter’s father’.
How is the gentleman related to Ravi?
Solution:
Gentleman (+) Father (+)

Uncle Ravi (+)

Daughter(-)

Father of Ravi’s daughter’s father = Father of Ravi.

The gentleman’s only brother is Ravi’s father.
It means the gentleman is Ravi’s Uncle.
Ans: Gentleman is Ravi’s Uncle.

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Example 8:
A woman said to a man,” your father’s wife’s sister is my aunt’’. How is the man related
to the woman?
Solution:
Father (+) = Wife (-) Sister (-)
aunt
Man (+) Woman (-)
Father’s wife = Mother
Father’s wife’s sister = Mother’s sister = Aunt.
Man’s aunt = Woman’s aunt
Man is brother/cousin of woman.
Ans: Man is brother/cousin of woman.

Example 9:
Pointing to a photograph, Manish said,’’that man’s father is my father’s son”. How is the
man in the photograph is related to Manish?
Solution:

Father (+)
Son

Father (+) Manish (+)

Man (+)

Father’s son = Brother. Father of the man in the photograph is brother of Manish.
Man in the photograph is nephew of Manish.
Ans: Man in the photograph is nephew of Manish.

Example 10:
Pointing to a girl, Laxmi says,’’she is the only daughter of the only sister of my brother’’.
How is the girl related to Laxmi?

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Solution:
Laxmi (-) My Brother(+)

Daughter (Girl) (-)

Only sister of my brother = herself laxmi
The girl is the only daughter of Laxmi.
Ans: girl is the only daughter of Laxmi

Example 11:
A +B means A is the son of B.
A - B means A is the daughter of B.
A × B means A is the father of B.
A ÷ B means A is the mother of B.
If M × N + O – P ÷ Q , then how is M related to Q?
Solution:
P

Mother
M O Q
Wife Sister
Father

M × N + O – P ÷ Q means M is the father of N, N is the son of O, O is the daughter of P, P is the

mother of Q.

M is the father of N and N is the son of O means M is the husband of O.

O is the daughter of P and P is the mother of Q means O is the sister of Q.

M is the husband of O and is the sister of Q means M is the brother –in – law of Q.

Ans: M is the brother –in – law of Q

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Directions 12 to 15:
S * T means S is sister of T.
S + T means S is the brother of T
S – T means S is the son of T.
S ÷ T means S is the daughter of T.
S = T means S is the father of T.
S × T means S is the mother of T.
Example 12:
Which of the following means A is the uncle of B?
A) B+D×A B) A+C = B C) B+D÷A D) A+D÷B E) A÷D+B
Solution:

A Brother of C Father of B

A is the uncle of B.
Ans: A+C = B

Example 13:
Which of the following means X is the grand-father of Y?
A) X=Z=Y B) X=Z×Y C) X*Z=Y
D) Both (1) & (2) E) None of these
Solution:
X=Z=Y means
X father of Z father of Y

So, X is the grandfather of Y and X = Z×Y means

X father of Z mother of Y

X is the grandfather of Y.
Ans: Both (1) & (2)

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Example 14:
Which of the following means P is the mother of Q and R?
A) Q*R÷ P B) Q÷P×R C) Q+P=R
D) P=R+Q E) None of these
Solution:

Q daughter of P mother of R

Implies P is the mother of Q and R.

Ans: Q÷P×R

Example 15:
Which of the following means D is the Son of A?
A) E=D+ A B) D-E+A C) E×D-A
D) D=E+A E) D÷E+A
Solution:

E mother of D Son of A

D is the son of A.
Ans: E×D-A

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 SOLVED QUESTIONS
Question 1:
Pointing to a photograph of a boy Suresh said, "He is the son of the only son of my mother."
How is Suresh related to that boy?
A) Brother
B) Uncle
C) Cousin
D) Father

Solution:
The boy in the photograph is the only son of the son of Suresh's mother i.e., the son of
Suresh. Hence, Suresh is the father of boy.
Ans: (D) Father

Question 2:
If A + B means A is the mother of B; A - B means A is the brother B; A % B means A is
the father of B and A x B means A is the sister of B, which of the following shows that P is the
maternal uncle of Q?
A) Q – N + M x P
B) P + S x N x Q
C) P – M + N x Q
D) Q – S % P

Solution:
P - M → P is the brother of M
M + N → M is the mother of N
N x Q → N is the sister of Q
Therefore, P is the maternal uncle of Q.
Ans: (c) P – M + N x Q

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Question 3:
If A is the brother of B; B is the sister of C; and C is the father of D, how D is related to
A?
A) Brother
B) Sister
C) Nephew
D) Cannot be determined

Solution:
If D is Male, the answer is Nephew.
If D is Female, the answer is Niece.
As the sex of D is not known, hence, the relation between D and A cannot be determined.
Note: Niece - A daughter of one's brother or sister, or of one's brother-in-law or sister-in-
law. Nephew - A son of one's brother or sister, or of one's brother-in-law or sister-in-law.
Ans: (D) Cannot be determined

Question 4:
If A + B means A is the brother of B; A-B means A is the sister of B and A x B means A
is the father of B. Which of the following means that C is the son of M?
A) M – N x C + F
B) F – C + N x M
C) N + M – F x C
D) M x N – C + F

Solution:
M x N → M is the father of N
N - C → N is the sister of C
and C + F → C is the brother of F.
Hence, M is the father of C or C is the son of M.
Ans: (D) M x N - C + F

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Question 5:
Introducing a boy, a girl said, “He is the son of the daughter of the father of my uncle.
“How is the boy related to the girl?
A) Brother
B) Nephew
C) Uncle
D) Son-in-law

Solution:
The father of the boy's uncle → the grandfather of the boy and daughter of the
grandfather → sister of father.
Ans: (A) Brother

Question 6:
Pointing to a photograph Lata says, "He is the son of the only son of my grandfather." How
is the man in the photograph related to Lata?
A) Brother
B) Uncle
C) Cousin
D) Data is inadequate

Solution:
The man in the photograph is the son of the only son of lata's grandfather i.e., the man is
the son of lata's father. Hence, the man is the brother of lata.
Ans: (a) brother

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Question 7:
If A + B means A is the brother of B; A x B means A is the son of B; and A % B means
B is the daughter of A then which of the following means M is the maternal uncle of N?
A) M + O x N
B) M % O x N + P
C) M + O % N
D) None of these

Solution:
Because the sex of O is not known.
Ans: (D) None of these

Question 8:
If D is the brother of B, how B is related to C? To answer this Question which of the
statements is/are necessary?
The son of D is the grandson of C.
B is the sister of D.
A) Only 1
B) Only 2
C) Either 1 or 2
D) 1 and 2 both are required

Solution:
Given: D is the brother of B.
From statement 1, we can detect that D is son of C (son of D is the grandson of C).
From statement 2, we can detect that B is 'Female' (sister of D).
Therefore, B is daughter of C.
Ans:(D) 1 and 2 both are required

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Question 9:
If A + B means A is the father of B; A - B means A is the brother B; A % B means A is the
wife of B and A x B means A is the mother of B, which of the following shows that M is the
maternal grandmother of T?
A) M x N % S + T
B) M x N – S % T
C) M x S – N % T
D) M x N x S % T

Solution:
M x N → M is the mother of N
N % S → N is the wife of S
and S + T → is the father of T.
Hence, M is the maternal grandmother of T.
Ans: (A) M x N % S + T

Question 10:
Pointing to a photograph. Bajpai said, "He is the son of the only daughter of the father of
my brother." How Bajpai is related to the man in the photograph?
A) Nephew
B) Brother
C) Father
D) Maternal Uncle

Solution:
The man in the photo is the son of the sister of Bajpai. Hence, Bajpai is the maternal
uncle of the man in the photograph.
Ans: Maternal Uncle

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Question 11:
Deepak said to Nitin, "That boy playing with the football is the younger of the two brothers
of the daughter of my father's wife." How is the boy playing football related to Deepak?
A) Son
B) Brother
C) Cousin
D) Brother-in-law

Solution:
Father's wife → mother. Hence, the daughter of the mother means sister and sister's
younger brother means brother. Therefore, the boy is the brother of Deepak.
Ans: (B) Brother

Question 12:
Pointing a photograph X said to his friend Y, "She is the only daughter of the father of
my mother." How X is related to the person of photograph?

A) Daughter
B) Son
C) Nephew
D) Cannot be decided

Solution:
The only daughter of the father of X's mother' means mother of X.
Hence X is the son of the lady in the photograph.
Ans: (B) Son

Question 13:
Veena who is the sister-in-law of Ashok, is the daughter-in-law of Kalyani. Dheeraj is the
father of Sudeep who is the only brother of Ashok. How Kalyani is related to Ashok?
A) Mother-in-law
B) Aunt
C) Wife
D) None of these

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Solution:
Ashok is the only brother of Sudeep and Veena is the sister-in-law of Ashok. Hence
Veena is the wife of Sudeep. Kalyani is the mother-in-law of Veena. Kalyani is the mother of
Ashok.
Ans: (D) None of these

Question 14:
If A + B means A is the sister of B; A x B means A is the wife of B, A % B means A is the
father of B and A - B means A is the brother of B. Which of the following means T is the daughter
of P?
A) P x Q % R + S – T
B) P x Q % R – T + S
C) P x Q % R + T – S
D) P x Q % R + S + T

Solution:
P x Q → P is the wife of Q
Q % R → Q is the father of R
R - T → R is the brother of T
T + S → T is the sister of S.
Therefore, T is the daughter of P.
Ans: (B) P x Q % R - T + S

Question 15:
Pointing to a woman, Abhijit said, "Her granddaughter is the only daughter of my brother."
How is the woman related to Abhijit?
A) Sister
B) Grandmother
C) Mother-in-law
D) Mother

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Solution:
Daughter of Abhijit's brother → niece of Abhijit. Thus the granddaughter of the woman is
Abhijit's niece.
Hence, the woman is the mother of Abhijit.
Ans: (D) Mother

Question 16:
A woman said to a man,’your brother’s son is my husband’s brother. How is the man
related to woman?
A) Brother
B) Brother-in-law
C) Father – in - law
D) Uncle – in - law
Solution:
Man (+) Brother (+)

Woman(-) = Husband (+) Son (+)

Husband’s Brother = brother-in-law

Man’s brother son is brother – in-law of the woman.

Man’s brother is father – in- law of the woman.

Then man will become uncle-in-law of the woman.

Ans: (D) Uncle – in – law

Question 17:
Pointing to Mahesh, Avinash said, ‘His mother’s brother is the father of my son Vikram’’.
How is Avinash related to Mahesh?
A) Cousin
B) Grandfather
C) Son – in - law
D) Uncle

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Solution:
Mother (-) Brother (Avinash) (+)

Mahesh (+) Vikram (+)

Father of Avinash son Vikram = Avinash

Avinash is Mahesh’s mother’s brother
Avinash is uncle of Mahesh.
Ans: (D) Uncle

Question 18:
A man pointing to a photograph says, ‘’the lady in the photograph is my nephew’s maternal
grandmother’’. How it he lady In the photograph related to the man’s father’s only daughter?
A) Cousin
B) Sister – in - law
C) Mother
D) Mother – in - law
Solution:
My nephew’s maternal grandmother = My mother.
Man ‘ s father’s only daughter = Man’s sister
So, the lady in the photograph is mother of man’s sister.
Ans: (C) Mother

Question 19:

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 Pointing to Vamsi, Priya says, ”I am daughter of the only son of his grandmother’’. How
priya is related to vamsi?
A) Niece
B) Daughter
C) Sister
D) Mother
Solution:
Only son of vamsi’s grandmother = Vamsi’s father.
Priya is daughter of Vamsi’s father.
It is clear that Priya is the sister of Vamsi.
Ans: (C) Sister

Question 20:
E is the son of A. D is the Son of B. e is married to C. C is sister of D, how is B related to
E?
Solution:
A B

E(+) C(+) D(+)

C is B’s daughter and D is B’s son. So, D is the brother of C. E is a male married to C. so, E is the
husband of C, whose brother is D. Thus, D is the brother - in – law of E.

Ans: D is the brother - in – law of E

------------------------------- All the best------------------------------

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