Identify the wrong term in the series. AH, DL, GP, JS, MX

2025

Identify the wrong term in the series.

AH, DL, GP, JS, MX

  1. A.

    JS

  2. B.

    MX

  3. C.

    AH

  4. D.

    DL

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A

Concept: In a two-letter alphabetical series, track the two letter positions (first letter of each pair, second letter of each pair) separately. If a track advances by a fixed step size (say +k) every term, then the n-th term's letter equals the first term's letter plus (n - 1) x k. A term is wrong when either of its letters departs from this formula for its position.

  1. First-letter track: A, D, G, J, M - position values 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, each exactly 3 more than the last (step = +3). This matches every term (positions 1-5), so the first letters never deviate.

  2. Second-letter track expected values (step +4 from H = 8): position 1 -> 8 (H), 2 -> 12 (L), 3 -> 16 (P), 4 -> 20 (T), 5 -> 24 (X).

  3. Comparing to the actual second letters given - H, L, P, S, X - position 4 shows S (19) where the formula demands T (20); every other position matches exactly.

Cross-check: Re-checking position 5 independently - M = 1 + 4x3 = 13 and X = 8 + 4x4 = 24 - both match the actual term MX exactly, confirming the +3/+4 steps are correct and the mismatch is isolated to position 4.

So the term at position 4, JS, is the wrong term in the series - it should read JT.

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