Which of the given letter-number clusters will replace the question mark (?)…

2025

Which of the given letter-number clusters will replace the question mark (?) in the following series to make it logically complete?

MPJ19, NQK31, ORL43, PSM55, ?

  1. A.

    QTN67

  2. B.

    QTN68

  3. C.

    QTM67

  4. D.

    QTM68

Attempted by 4 students.

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A

Concept: In an alphanumeric series built from fixed-position letter-number clusters, each column of the cluster follows its own consistent rule from one term to the next — every letter position generally advances by a constant number of alphabet steps, and the trailing number generally forms an arithmetic progression with a constant common difference. The missing term is found by extending each column's own rule independently and then recombining the results.

Applying this to the given series MPJ19, NQK31, ORL43, PSM55, ?:

  1. First letter across the terms: M(13), N(14), O(15), P(16) — each term advances the first letter by one alphabet position, so the next first letter is Q(17).

  2. Second letter across the terms: P(16), Q(17), R(18), S(19) — again a step of one alphabet position each time, so the next second letter is T(20).

  3. Third letter across the terms: J(10), K(11), L(12), M(13) — the same step of one alphabet position, so the next third letter is N(14).

  4. Trailing number across the terms: 19, 31, 43, 55 — the difference between consecutive numbers is 12 each time (31−19=12, 43−31=12, 55−43=12), so the next number is 55+12=67.

  5. Combining the extended columns Q, T, N, and 67 gives the next cluster.

Cross-check: Checking the numeric progression independently confirms a constant gap of 12 throughout the series (12, 12, 12) rather than a widening gap, and re-checking each letter's alphabet index (Q=17, T=20, N=14) confirms every column advanced by exactly one letter from the previous term, consistent with the pattern shown across all four given terms.

The cluster that logically completes the series is QTN67.

Explore the full course: Rssb Senior Computer Instructor

Loading lesson…