Odd One Out Tricks, Examples

 You must have in your mind that what does classification mean. In fact, in classification we take out an element out of some given elements and the element to be taken out is different from the rest of the elements in terms of common properties, shapes, sizes, types, nature, colours, traits etc. In this way the rest of the elements form a group and the element that has been taken out is not the member of that group as this single element does not possesses the common quality to be possessed by rest of the elements. For example, if we compare the elements like, lion, cow, tiger, panther, bear and wolf then we find that this is a group of animals. How do we classify them? To understand this let us see the presentation given below:

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Here, if we want to separate out one animal then definitely that animal will be cow because cow is the only animal in the group which is a domestic animal. Rest of the animals (Lion, Tiger, Panther, Bear and Wolf) are wild animals. Hence rest of the animals (Lion, Tiger, Panther, Bear & Wolf) form a group of wild animals separating out the domestic animal (Cow).

Similarly, out of 6 letters A, M, N, U, P & Q, we will take out A and form a group of 5 letters M, N, U, P & Q because out of given six letters only A is a vowel while rest of the letters form a group of consonants.

Types of Classification

Type 1. Word Classification

In this type of classification, different objects are classified on the basis of common features / properties – names, places, uses, situations, origin, etc.

Example 1: Four of the following five-are alike in a certain way and so form a group. Which is the one that does not belong to that group?

  1. Work : Leisure
  2. Day : Night
  3. Expedite : Procrastinate
  4. Frequently : Always
  5. Happy : Unhappy

Solution. (4): All others are the antonym of each other.

Example 2: Four of the following five are alike in a certain way and so form a group. Which is the one that does not belong to that group?

  1. March
  2. January
  3. July
  4. June
  5. May

Solution. (4): All other months have 31 days.

Type 2. Alphabet Classification

In this type, alphabet are classified in a group using a particular method or rule.

Rules or methods used for such classification are often simple and hence can easily be understood.

Example 3: Four of the following five-are alike in a certain way and so form a group. Which is the one that does not belong to that group?

  1. BY
  2. LO
  3. EW
  4. GT
  5. SH

Solution. (3): All others letter pairs are the combination of opposite places in alphabet.

Type 3. Number Classification

In this type, numbers are classification in a group using a particular method or rule. Rules or methods used for such classification may be based on mathematical operations.

Example 4: Four of the following five-are alike in a certain way and so form a group. Which is the one that does not belong to that group?

  1. 25—5
  2. 16—4
  3. 144—12
  4. 64—7
  5. 36—6

Solution. (4): In all other number pairs, the first number is the square of second number.

25 = 5², 16 = 4², 144 = 12², 64 ≠ 7², 36 = 6²

Example 5: Four of the following five-are alike in a certain way and so form a group. Which is the one that does not belong to that group?

  1. 28
  2. 42
  3. 35
  4. 21
  5. 65

Solution. (5): All other numbers are divisible by 7 while 65 is not divisible by 7.

Type 4. Number and Letter Classification

Example 6: Four of the following five-are alike in a certain way and so form a group. Which is the one that does not belong to that group?

  1. 25—E
  2. 16—D
  3. 144—L
  4. 64—G
  5. 36—F

Solution. (4): In all other number-letter pairs, the first number is the square of the position of second number.

25 = (E→5²), 16 = (D→4²), 144 = (L→12²), 64 ≠ (G→7²), 36 = (F→6²)

Type 5. Miscellaneous Classification

In this type of classification, any rule other than described above can be used for classification or grouping. Questions on such pattern do not necessarily use the alphabets and words. Here the numerics and other mathematical symbols can also be used.

Example 7: In each of the following five options each has a combination of three words group. In which, four groups are alike in a certain way and so form a group. Which is the one that does not belong to that group?

  1. Driver, passenger, vehicle
  2. Chair, table, bench
  3. Ship, boat, pilot
  4. Apple, orange, winter
  5. Mango, flower, orchard

Solution. (2): Chair, table and bench belong to a category of furniture.

Solved Examples

Example 8. Which one is different from the rest three?

  1. Door
  2. Gate
  3. Table
  4. Window

Solution. (3): All the rest are the parts of a building.

Example 9. In this question, there is four words with the letters jumbled up. Three of them are alike. Find the odd one out.

  1. CIRE
  2. NAIR
  3. LOUDSC
  4. RNUTHDE

Solution. (1): By arranging the letters of NAIR, LOUDSC and RNUTHDE we get RAIN, CLOUDS and THUNDER respectively which are all related with one other except CIRE i.e., RICE.

Example 10. Which one is different from the rest three?

  1. NMLK
  2. RQPO
  3. UTSR
  4. WXUV

Solution. (4): In all the other options, the letters are in reverse order of alphabet.

Example 11. Which one letter group differs from the other three?

  1. WRONG
  2. GREEN
  3. WHITE
  4. RIGHT

Solution. (2): In other options, no letter is repeated.

Example 12. Three of the following are alike in a certain way and form a group. Find the odd one out.

  1. Bird
  2. Insect
  3. Aeroplane
  4. Kite

Solution. (2): All except the insect fly in the sky.

Example 13. Find out the odd one out.

  1. 28
  2. 14
  3. 49
  4. 64

Solution. (4): Except 64, all the rest number 28, 14 and 49 are divisible by 7 while 64 is not divisible by 7. Therefore 64 is different from the rest.