In the following question, various terms of an alphabet series are given with…
2023
In the following question, various terms of an alphabet series are given with one or more missing terms as shown by (?). Choose the missing term out of the given alternatives.
H, I, K, N, R, ?
- A.
N
- B.
U
- C.
R
- D.
W
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
In an alphabet-series question with increasing gaps, each letter is first converted to its position in the alphabet (A = 1, B = 2, ... Z = 26). The gaps between consecutive terms follow their own pattern — often increasing by a fixed amount each step — and the missing term is found by extending that gap pattern to the last known term.
Convert each given letter to its alphabet position: H = 8, I = 9, K = 11, N = 14, R = 18.
Find the gap between each pair of consecutive terms: I minus H = 1, K minus I = 2, N minus K = 3, R minus N = 4.
The gaps 1, 2, 3, 4 increase by exactly 1 at each step, so the next gap in the pattern is 5.
Add this gap to the position of the last given term: 18 + 5 = 23.
Position 23 in the alphabet corresponds to the letter W.
Cross-check: counting back from Z = 26, Y = 25, X = 24, W = 23 confirms position 23 is W, and the full gap sequence 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 increases consistently at every step.
The missing term is W.