Alphanumeric Series – MBA CET questions with solutions

Approach: Alphanumeric series — letter jumps +2 and the number is the letter's alphabet position.

Solution:
Letters: D, F, H, J → +2 each → L, N.
Numbers: 4, 6, 8, 10 = positions of D, F, H, J.
L = 12, N = 14.
Next two terms: L-12, N-14.

Why the other options are wrong:
A, D: K is +1 from J, not +2; also M-13 breaks the position rule.
B: M is only +1 from L.
E: B-12 — B is not the 12th letter.

Cetking shortcut: The number always equals the letter's rank — only C keeps both letters and numbers consistent.

Answer: C

Approach: Alphanumeric series — letters step back by 1, numbers rise by 10.

Solution:
Letters: Z, Y, X, W → −1 each → V.
Numbers: 10, 20, 30, 40 → +10 → 50.
Next term: V50.

Why the other options are wrong:
A, D, E: U and T skip letters.
B: 60 skips a step of 10.

Answer: C

Approach: Alphanumeric series: track each part of the term separately.

Solution:
First number: 2 ×2 = 4, 4 ×3 = 12, 12 ×4 = 48.
Letter: A (+3) D (+3) G (+3) J.
Last number: 11 (+2) 13 (+4) 17 (+6) 23.
Next term: 48J23.

Why the other options are wrong:
A (36I19): wrong multiplier, letter and last number.
B (36J21): first number ×3 instead of ×4, last +4 instead of +6.
C (48J21): last number +4 instead of +6.
E (46K23): first number and letter wrong.

Cetking shortcut: Fix the easiest part first: the letter must be J (kills A, E), then the last number must be 23 (only D).

Answer: D

Approach: Alphanumeric series: constant letters, a falling number and a rising last letter.

Solution:
P and Q stay fixed in positions 1 and 3 (P _ Q _).
Number: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
Last letter: R, S, T, U, V.
Missing term: P2QU.

Why the other options are wrong:
A (PQW): number missing, wrong letter.
C (P2UQ): U and Q swapped.
D (PQ3U): wrong number and position.
E (PQV2): wrong letter and position.

Cetking shortcut: Keep the format P·number·Q·letter; only B keeps it.

Answer: B

Approach: Alphanumeric series: the subscript number rises by 1 and moves one letter to the right each time (cyclically).

Solution:
Term 1: B₂CD → number 2 on B.
Term 2: number 3 on C → BC₃D.
Term 3: BCD₄ → number 4 on D.
Term 4: B₅CD → back to B (cycle). Term 5: BC₆D.
Missing term: BC₃D.

Why the other options are wrong:
A, C: carry two subscripts; each term has only one.
D: number 7 is far ahead and on the wrong letter.
E: letters out of order and number on the wrong letter.

Cetking shortcut: Read the positions of the numbers B, ?, D, B, C → the cycle B, C, D gives C with number 3.

Answer: B

Approach: Split the term into first letter, number and last letter.

Solution:
Numbers: 2, 4, 7, ?, 16, 22 → differences +2, +3, +4, +5, +6 → missing = 7 + 4 = 11.
Last letters: Z, X, V, ?, R, P → each −2 → missing = T.
First letters alternate: odd terms J, I, H (−1); even terms K, ?, M (+1) → missing = L.
Missing term = L11T

Why the other options are wrong:
A I11T: first letter should be L (even-position sub-series).
B L11S, E L12S: last letter must be T.
C L12T: number must be 11, not 12.

Cetking shortcut: The number 11 and the letter T alone leave only A and D; the even-position letter K→?→M gives L.

Answer: D

Approach: Element-by-element scan of the series.

Solution:
Vowels in order: U(5), I(10), O(12), U(14), E(15), A(23), O(27).
Followed by a digit: U 8, I 6, E 1, A 9, O 2.
O(12) → Q and U(14) → E do not count.
Total = 5.

Cetking shortcut: Scan the digits instead: look at the element just before each digit — 5, 8, 6, 1, 4, 9, 2, 7, 3 → vowels before 8, 6, 1, 9, 2.

Answer: E

Approach: Delete, then count.

Solution:
Vowels up to Q: U(5), I(10), O(12) are removed.
New series from left: D 5 P K 8 Z M C 6 Q …
10th from left = Q.

Cetking shortcut: Original position 13 (Q) minus 3 vowels before it = 10.

Answer: D

Approach: Position arithmetic.

Solution:
Positions: 1 D, 2 5, 3 P, 4 K, 5 U, 6 8, 7 Z, 8 M, 9 C, 10 I, 11 6, 12 O, 13 Q, 14 U, 15 E, 16 1, 17 T, 18 N, 19 R, 20 4, 21 G, 22 B, 23 A, 24 9, 25 F, 26 S, 27 O, 28 2, 29 H, 30 J, 31 V, 32 7, 33 Y, 34 X, 35 3 (35 elements).
13th from right = 35 − 13 + 1 = 23rd from left = A.
7th to the right of it = 23 + 7 = 30th from left = J.

Why the other options are wrong:
E 2 – result of starting at G (21st) by miscounting from the right.
B Q, C 6, D E – lie to the left, not the right.

Cetking shortcut: 7th to the right of 13th from right = (13 − 7) = 6th from right = J.

Answer: A

Approach: Scan for the pattern consonant–CONSONANT–vowel.

Solution:
P K U → K ✓
M C I → C ✓
G B A → B ✓
F S O → S ✓
No other consonant is followed by a vowel with a consonant before it (Q in O Q U has a vowel before it).
Total = 4.

Cetking shortcut: Start from each vowel and look at the two elements to its left — both must be consonants: U(5), I(10), A(23), O(27) qualify.

Answer: C

Approach: Filter and add.

Solution:
Digits: 5, 8, 6, 1, 4, 9, 2, 7, 3.
Even digits: 8, 6, 4, 2.
Sum = 8 + 6 + 4 + 2 = 20.

Answer: E

Approach: Letter positions in the outer triangles add up to the number in the adjoining inner region.

Solution:
Top-left: E(5) + J(10) = 15 ✓
Bottom-left: J(10) + N(14) = 24 ✓
Top-right: E(5) + L(12) = 17 ✓
Bottom-right: ? + C(3) = 29 → ? = 26 = Z.

Why the other options are wrong: M(13), L(12), R(18), Q(17) do not make the total 29.

Cetking shortcut: Number next to two letters in a figure → try the sum of their alphabet positions first.

Answer: C

Approach: Rewrite the series without even numbers, then locate the two markers.

Solution:
Remove 8, 6, 4, 2:
H & 5 T O 9 # V P $ 7 W F * 1 N L ? 3 / C Q U ! A > J
Vowels from the right: A (1st), U (2nd).
Between $ and U: 7 W F * 1 N L ? 3 / C Q → numbers 7, 1, 3.
Product = 7 × 1 × 3 = 21.

Why the other options are wrong: 24/40/32 keep even numbers or use the wrong vowel; 22 is an arithmetic slip.

Answer: C

Approach: Map each option to its positions in the series (X, X+3, X–1).

Solution:
Positions: U=3, 4=4, )=5, 6=6, &=7, Y=9, P=22, 7=23, ~=26, H=27, 9=28, E=31, 1=32, 5=34.
A: 4(4), &(7), U(3) → X, X+3, X–1 ✓
B: 6(6), Y(9), )(5) ✓
C: 7(23), ~(26), P(22) ✓
D: 9(28), E(31), H(27) ✓
E: 1(32), 5(34), E(31) → 2nd element is X+2, not X+3 ✗

Answer: E

Approach: Alphanumeric series with three independent parts.

Solution:
First number: 2, 7, 14, 23, 34 → differences +5, +7, +9, +11 → next +13 = 47.
Letter: Z, Y, X, W, V → next U.
Last number: 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 → next 15.
Next term = 47 U 15.

Why the other options are wrong:

• A 37 Y 16, C 40 H 12, E 43 X 14 – wrong letter.
• D 45 U 17 – letter fits but 45 and 17 do not.

Cetking shortcut: The letter alone (U) leaves only B and D; the last number 15 then picks B.

Answer: B

Approach: Two interleaved series – letters and numbers.

Solution:
Letters: B(2), F(6), J(10) → +4 each → next N(14).
Numbers: 50, 210, 380, 460 → differences 160, 170 | 80, 90 – in each pair the second gap is 10 more than the first.
So the series continues N, then 460 + 90 = 550.
Next pair: N, 550.

Why the other options are wrong:

• A H, 510 / B Q, 500 / C V, 480 / E U, 525 – none has the letter N (+4 from J).

Cetking shortcut: Only one option contains N – the letter series alone settles it.

Answer: D

Approach: Digit rearrangement: compare each position before and after sorting.

Solution:
Original: 6 9 4 1 2 8 5 7 3
Ascending: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Position-wise: 6/1, 9/2, 4/3, 1/4, 2/5, 8/6, 5/7, 7/8, 3/9 – no position matches.
Digits unchanged in position = 0.

Cetking shortcut: Since the digits are exactly 1–9, the sorted number is 123456789 – digit d stays only if it already sits at position d; none does.

Answer: A

Approach: Alphanumeric series: delete the stated elements, renumber, then use position arithmetic.

Solution:
After removing symbols (%, #, @, $, *, $): 6 R 0 T 4 A 8 B F 1 E W 9 H I M N 3 2 V 5 G P 7 Q → 25 elements.
10th from right = 25 − 10 + 1 = 16th from left = M.
5th to the right of M = 16 + 5 = 21st from left = 5.

Why the other options are wrong:
B (V) is 20th, C (4) 5th, D (A) 6th, E (G) 22nd from left — none is the 21st.

Cetking shortcut: Convert everything to "position from left": 10th from right → (n − 10 + 1); moving right adds.

Answer: A

Approach: Apply the swap rule pair by pair, then count from the left.

Solution:
Symbols immediately followed by a consonant: % R, $ T, & V, # X, @ Z → each pair swaps.
New series: P 3 Q R % 5 S T $ 7 U V & 9 W X # 2 Y Z @
Count from left: P(1) 3(2) Q(3) R(4) %(5) 5(6).
6th from left = 5.

Why the other options are wrong:
A (S) is 7th, B ($) 9th, C (U) 11th, E (@) 21st.

Cetking shortcut: Only the first six positions matter: swaps after position 6 cannot affect the answer — just fix % R.

Answer: D

Approach: Each adjacent pair is interchanged; rewrite and count.

Solution:
Original: A 7 B % C 3 D & E 9 F $ G 2 H #
After all swaps: 7 A % B 3 C & D 9 E $ F 2 G # H
Count: 7(1) A(2) %(3) B(4) 3(5) C(6) &(7) D(8) 9(9) E(10) $(11) F(12).
12th from left = F.

Why the other options are wrong:
A (E) is 10th, B (D) 8th, C ($) 11th, E (C) 6th.

Cetking shortcut: When every pair (1,2), (3,4)… swaps, an even position 2k takes the element originally at 2k − 1: 12th ← original 11th = F.

Answer: D

Approach: Position arithmetic in a series of n elements.

Solution:
Series has 27 elements: W 1 R % 4 J E # 7 M 2 I 9 B H 3 A $ 9 F Q 5 G 6 U S P.
18th from right = 27 − 18 + 1 = 10th from left = M.
8th to the right of it = 10 + 8 = 18th from left = $.

Why the other options are wrong:
A (A) is 17th, B (E) 7th, D (#) 8th, E (U) 25th from left.

Cetking shortcut: 8th to the right of 18th from right = (18 − 8) = 10th from right = 27 − 10 + 1 = 18th from left.

Answer: C

Approach: Delete the stated elements, then count from the left.

Solution:
Original: 7 A M 4 E 9 U B 6 T A 3 C E 8 M U 5 B A 2 E T 9 C M U
Drop vowels (A, E, U) and even numbers (4, 6, 8, 2).
Remaining: 7 M 9 B T 3 C M 5 B T 9 C M
Count: 7(1) M(2) 9(3) B(4) T(5) 3(6) C(7) M(8) 5(9) B(10).
10th from left = B.

Why the other options are wrong:
B (C) is 7th/13th, C (M) 8th, D (T) 11th, E (5) 9th.

Cetking shortcut: Only scan until you have 10 survivors — no need to clean the full series.

Answer: A

Approach: Track the number part and the letter part separately.

Solution:
Numbers: 3, 7, 13, 21 → differences +4, +6, +8 → next +10 → 31.
Letters: X(24), V(22), T(20), R(18) → −2 each → P(16).
Next term = 31P.

Why the other options are wrong: 31Q – letter step broken; 27N, 29P, 37P – number differences do not continue +10.

Answer: A

Approach: Check every letter for the pattern Symbol – Letter – Number.

Solution:
Series: B @ C 7 N R % 5 $ G 6 K M & 4 S # P U 5
@ C 7 → symbol, letter, number ✓
$ G 6 → symbol, letter, number ✓
# P U → P is followed by a letter ✗
Other letters (B, N, R, K, M, S, U) are not preceded by a symbol.
Count = 2.

Cetking shortcut: Start from each symbol and look only at the next two items — there are just 5 symbols to check.

Answer: E

Approach: Digit rearrangement — compare each position before and after sorting.

Solution:
Original: 3 5 1 4 6 2 9 8 7.
Ascending: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9.
Position 4: 4 → 4 (same). Position 8: 8 → 8 (same).
All other positions change. Unchanged digits = 2 (4 and 8).

Why the other options are wrong:
A One: misses one of the two matches.
B Four, D Three: count digits that only moved slightly.
C Zero: overlooks 4 and 8.

Cetking shortcut: With digits 1–9 sorted, a digit stays only if digit = its position number: check 'is the 4th digit 4?' etc.

Answer: E

Approach: Scan each odd digit and test both neighbours.

Solution:
7 2 8 9 1 3 4 5 7 5 8 9 6 9 1 8 2 4 9 2 6
Odd digits preceded by an even digit: 9 (after 8), 5 (after 4), 9 (after 8), 9 (after 6), 9 (after 4).
Now 'not followed by odd': 8-9-1 ✗, 4-5-7 ✗, 8-9-6 ✓, 6-9-1 ✗, 4-9-2 ✓.
Count = 2.

Cetking shortcut: Look only for the pattern even–odd–even.

Answer: B

Approach: Apply the odd/even-position changes, sort, then count from the right.

Solution:
546839271 → odd positions +1: 5→6, 6→7, 3→4, 2→3, 1→2; even positions −1: 4→3, 8→7, 9→8, 7→6.
New digits: 6 3 7 7 4 8 3 6 2.
Descending: 8 7 7 6 6 4 3 3 2.
4th from right: 2, 3, 3, 4 → 4.

Answer: D

Approach: Alphanumeric matrix: read columns – numbers follow power rules, letters A, B, C appear once per column.

Solution: Column 1: 3, 27, 9 → 3, 3³, 3². Column 3: 4, 64, 16 → 4, 4³, 4².
So column 2: 2, ?, 4 → middle = 2³ = 8.
Letters: each column has A, B and C once. Column 2 has B and A → missing letter C.
Missing term = 8C.

Why the other options are wrong:
A 12B, E 16B – number is not a power of 2 in the right order and B repeats.
C 18C – 18 is not 2³.
D 16C – 16 = 2⁴, not 2³.

Cetking shortcut: Spot the 27 and 64 – cubes – then the middle row is the cube row.

Answer: B

Approach: Three independent series inside each term: first number, letter, last number.

Solution:
First numbers: 2, 7, 14, 23, 34 → differences 5, 7, 9, 11 → next +13 = 47.
Letters: Z, Y, X, W, V → next U.
Last numbers: 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 → next 15.
Missing term = 47U15.

Why the other options are wrong:
A 27U24 and B 45U15: wrong first number.
D 47V14: letter should move to U and last number to 15.
E 23X7: repeats earlier parts.

Cetking shortcut: Check the easiest part first: the letter must be U and the last number 15 — only B and C survive; then 34 + 13 = 47 picks C.

Answer: C

Approach: Treat the three parts (first letter, number, last letter) as separate series.

Solution:
First letters: Q, S, U, W (+2) → Y.
Numbers: 1 × 1 + 1 = 2, 2 × 2 + 2 = 6, 6 × 3 + 3 = 21, 21 × 4 + 4 = 88.
Last letters: F, E, D, C (−1) → B.
Next term = Y88B.

Why the other options are wrong: Z88B / Z44A get the first letter wrong (W + 2 = Y); Y66B and Y44B get the number wrong; Z44A also gets the last letter wrong.

Cetking shortcut: Letters alone leave Y66B, Y88B, Y44B; the number rule (×n + n) settles 88.

Answer: B