2 Reversing Letters - Alphabetical Reasoning

2 Reversing Letters - Alphabetical Reasoning

 In Alphabetical Reasoning, specifically within Reversing Letters problems, there are typically three distinct types of questions that can be asked. These problems involve manipulating the letters of the alphabet, often by reversing their order or positions, and the types of questions are based on how the reversal is applied and what is being asked.

1. Reversing the Entire Alphabet

• Description: The entire alphabet (A to Z) is reversed, so A becomes Z, B becomes Y, C becomes X, and so on (i.e., the nth letter from the start becomes the nth letter from the end). Questions ask for the new letter that corresponds to a given letter in the reversed alphabet or vice versa.
• Example Question: If the alphabet is reversed, what is the letter that replaces 'D'?
  • Solution: In the reversed alphabet (Z, Y, X, ..., A), D (4th letter forward) becomes W (4th letter backward), since Z-A, Y-B, X-C, W-D.
• Key Focus: Mapping letters based on their positions in the reversed alphabet (position 1 → 26, 2 → 25, ..., 26 → 1).
• Common Variants:
  • Find the letter in the reversed alphabet for a given letter.
  • Find the original letter given a letter in the reversed alphabet.
  • Identify patterns or sequences in the reversed alphabet.

2. Reversing a Specific Word or String

• Description: A given word or sequence of letters (e.g., "CAT") is reversed, and questions ask about the resulting word, specific letter positions, or properties of the reversed string.
• Example Question: If the word "APPLE" is reversed, what is the 3rd letter in the new word?
  • Solution: Reversing "APPLE" gives "ELPPA". The 3rd letter is P.
• Key Focus: Manipulating the order of letters within a specific word or substring, focusing on positional changes.
• Common Variants:
  • Find the entire reversed word.
  • Identify a specific letter at a given position in the reversed word.
  • Compare properties (e.g., vowels, consonants) before and after reversal.
  • Reverse only a portion of the word (e.g., first 3 letters).

3. Reversing Letter Positions in a Sequence or Pattern

• Description: A sequence of letters (often following a pattern, like A, C, E or positions in the alphabet) is given, and the positions of the letters are reversed. Questions ask about the new sequence, specific letters, or properties of the resulting sequence.
• Example Question: A sequence A, D, G (1st, 4th, 7th letters of the alphabet) has its positions reversed. What is the new sequence?
  • Solution: Reversing the positions (1st, 2nd, 3rd → 3rd, 2nd, 1st) gives G, D, A.
• Key Focus: Reordering a sequence of letters based on their positional indices rather than reversing the alphabet or word itself.
• Common Variants:
  • Find the new sequence after reversing the order of positions.
  • Identify the letter at a specific position in the reversed sequence.
  • Combine with other operations (e.g., shift each letter forward after reversing positions). 

1. Reversing the Entire Alphabet - Practice Problems

2. Reversing a Specific Word or String - Practice Problems

3. Reversing Letter Positions in a Sequence or Pattern - Practice Problems