Analogy Reasoning: Understanding Analogy Reasoning
What is Analogy Reasoning?
Analogy reasoning is a cognitive process where one understands or solves a problem by drawing parallels or comparisons between the problem at hand and a similar situation or concept. Analogies involves identifying the underlying relationships and mapping them from one domain to another. This method of reasoning can be used in various fields, such as problem-solving, decision-making, learning, and communication.
In essence, analogy reasoning relies on the idea that if two things share certain similarities, they may also share other, unknown similarities. This process allows for the transfer of knowledge from one context to another, facilitating understanding and creative thinking. For example, if you want to explain how an electrical circuit works to someone unfamiliar with the concept, you might use the analogy of water flowing through pipes, as it shares some similarities in terms of flow, pressure, and resistance.
Analogy is one of the most crucially important topic which can be seen in almost every competitive exams such as CAT. In Analogy Logical Reasoning, Analogy depicts the “resemblance of one object to another in certain aspects.” The aim of analogies are to test the candidate’s ability to discover the relationship between the question pair, and then find the required pair of words, which is most similar to that relationship. The weightage of this topic varies from 1 mark to 5 marks.
Types of Analogy Reasoning Questions
As of now, we know what consists of the questions in the logical analogy reasoning section. Let us see the various types of questions that may come in your competitive exams.
1. Letter/Word Based Analogy
In these types of analogy reasoning questions, a pair of letters or words are given in a certain similarity between them. Another word or letter is also given with the same similarities. Candidates need to find out the similarities between the first two words and choose the word from the given alternatives, which carries the same similarities to the “?”, as the two first carry.
Various types of letter based analogies are Addition/ Subtraction/ Multiplication with the constant numbers, Reverse letter of the constant numbers and so on.
2. Letter and Number Based Analogy (Mixed Analogy)
In these type of logical analogy questions, a mixed pair of numbers and letters are given in a certain similarity between them. Another mixed pair of numbers and letters are also given with the same similarities. Candidates need to find out the similarities between the first two pairs and choose the pair from the given alternatives, which carries the same similarities to the “?”, as the two first carry.
Various types of letter and number-based analogies are Addition/Subtraction with a combination of Letters and Numbers, Operation of Place Value, and so on.
3. Image-Based Analogy
In this type of analogy reasoning, a pair of Images are given in a certain similarity between them. Another Image is also given with the same similarities. Candidates need to find out the similarities between the first two Images and choose the correct image from the given alternatives, which carries the same similarities to the “?”, as the first two.
4. General Knowledge Based Analogy
In general knowledge type analogy reasoning, a pair of words are there in a certain similarity between them. Another word is also given with the same similarities. Candidates need to find out the similarities between the first two words and choose the correct word from the given alternatives, which carries the same similarities to the “?”, as the two first carry.
Various types of general knowledge-based analogies are Country/State and Capital/Currency, Instrument and Measurement, Individual and Group, Word and Synonym/Antonym, and so on.
How to Solve Analogy Reasoning Questions – Know all Tips and Tricks
Candidates can find various tips and analogy reasoning tricks below for solving the questions related to the Analogy reasoning section.
Understand the relationship: Carefully examine the given pair of words, phrases, or objects to identify the underlying relationship. This relationship could be based on function, structure, similarity, or opposition, among others.
Look for patterns: Analogies often follow patterns, so look for commonalities in the first pair to apply to the other pair. This could involve synonyms, antonyms, part-to-whole relationships, or cause-and-effect relationships.
Analyze the answer choices:
Go through each answer choice and try to determine if it follows the same relationship as the given pair. Eliminate options that don’t fit the identified relationship.
Be cautious with superficial similarities:
Some answer choices may have superficial similarities but not share the same underlying relationship. Focus on the deeper connections between the elements rather than just their surface-level characteristics.
Apply the process of elimination: If you’re unsure of the correct answer in your analogy reasoning questions, eliminate the options that are clearly incorrect or don’t fit the relationship. This will increase your chances of selecting the correct answer among the remaining choices.
Practice regularly:
The more you practice analogy questions, the better you will become at identifying relationships and patterns. Use practice tests, quizzes, and exercises to sharpen your skills.
Expand your vocabulary:
A strong vocabulary can help you better understand the relationships in analogy reasoning questions. Read widely and use vocabulary-building tools to improve your language skills.
Be familiar with common analogy types:
Familiarize yourself with common analogy types, such as structural, functional, proportional, and metaphorical analogies. This will help you recognize patterns more easily and improve your problem-solving abilities.
Think creatively:
Sometimes, analogy questions require creative thinking to identify unusual or unexpected relationships. Keep an open mind and be willing to consider different possibilities.