Reasoning Ability

Inequality questions with solutions

Inequality questions come as a set of 3–5 in almost every bank prelims and are among the fastest marks in Reasoning. The whole topic rests on reading a chain of signs correctly.

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Prepared by the CBTAdda content team · Updated 28 October 2026 · How we check our content

How to solve inequality questions

Walk along the chain from one letter to the other. If every sign between them points the same way (ignoring =), a relation exists.
If any sign between them is strict (> or <), the relation is strict. If all are ≥ or ≤ (with =), it is ≥ or ≤.
If two signs point in opposite directions, no relation can be fixed.
When the chain gives P ≥ Q and the conclusions are “P > Q” and “P = Q”, the answer is “either I or II”.

Common trap: A single sign in the opposite direction anywhere between the two letters breaks the relation, even if all others agree.

12 practice questions

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Statement: P < R ≥ H = M < E. Conclusions: I. R > H II. R = H
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Answer: (C) Either I or II follows. From the chain, R ≥ H. Exactly one of “R > H” and “R = H” must be true, so either I or II follows.
Statement: S = H ≤ F = W = P. Conclusions: I. W > P II. F ≥ W
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Answer: (B) Only II follows. I. W > P: the chain gives W = P, so it does not follow. II. F ≥ W: the chain gives F = W, so it follows.
Statement: P ≤ H = G > V ≤ N. Conclusions: I. G > N II. P ≥ G
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Answer: (D) Neither I nor II follows. I. G > N: the signs between them point in opposite directions, so no relation can be fixed and it does not follow. II. P ≥ G: the chain gives P ≤ G, so it does not follow.
Statement: C > E ≥ B ≤ D ≥ H. Conclusions: I. D > H II. D = H
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Answer: (C) Either I or II follows. From the chain, D ≥ H. Exactly one of “D > H” and “D = H” must be true, so either I or II follows.
Statement: N = H < B = D > P. Conclusions: I. H < B II. D < P
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Answer: (A) Only I follows. I. H < B: the chain gives H < B, so it follows. II. D < P: the chain gives D > P, so it does not follow.
Statement: C > F = N < B > T. Conclusions: I. N > T II. B ≥ T
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Answer: (B) Only II follows. I. N > T: the signs between them point in opposite directions, so no relation can be fixed and it does not follow. II. B ≥ T: the chain gives B > T, so it follows.
Statement: R ≥ S < B ≥ C ≤ W. Conclusions: I. B < W II. S ≥ W
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Answer: (D) Neither I nor II follows. I. B < W: the signs between them point in opposite directions, so no relation can be fixed and it does not follow. II. S ≥ W: the signs between them point in opposite directions, so no relation can be fixed and it does not follow.
Statement: T > M > N ≥ C ≥ B. Conclusions: I. M < N II. T < N
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Answer: (D) Neither I nor II follows. I. M < N: the chain gives M > N, so it does not follow. II. T < N: the chain gives T > N, so it does not follow.
Statement: R ≤ A < C = J > H. Conclusions: I. A < H II. J ≥ H
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Answer: (B) Only II follows. I. A < H: the signs between them point in opposite directions, so no relation can be fixed and it does not follow. II. J ≥ H: the chain gives J > H, so it follows.
Statement: H ≤ C ≤ T ≥ W > M. Conclusions: I. H < W II. H ≤ C
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Answer: (B) Only II follows. I. H < W: the signs between them point in opposite directions, so no relation can be fixed and it does not follow. II. H ≤ C: the chain gives H ≤ C, so it follows.
Statement: S < C ≤ Q ≥ N ≤ E. Conclusions: I. N < E II. N = E
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Answer: (C) Either I or II follows. From the chain, N ≤ E. Exactly one of “N < E” and “N = E” must be true, so either I or II follows.
Statement: F ≥ U > C ≤ K = B. Conclusions: I. C < K II. C = K
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Answer: (C) Either I or II follows. From the chain, C ≤ K. Exactly one of “C < K” and “C = K” must be true, so either I or II follows.