Inequalities Questions for RBI GRADE B

Basic Inequality Symbols and Their Meanings

In exam questions, standard mathematical symbols are used to show relationships between elements. You must know what each symbol means instantly, as coded versions (where @ means greater than, for example) are also common. The logic is the same — just decode first, then apply.

• A > B means A is greater than B
• A < B means A is less than B
• A >= B means A is greater than or equal to B
• A <= B means A is less than or equal to B
• A = B means A is equal to B
• Coded inequalities: decode the symbol table given in the question first, then treat them as standard signs

How to Read a Combined Statement

Most questions give you one long chained statement like P > Q >= R = S <= T < U and ask you to evaluate two or three conclusions. The key is to identify the direction of each sign as you move left to right, and check if the chain flows in one consistent direction between the two elements being compared.

• Write down the chain exactly as given — do not rearrange
• To check if A > C, trace every symbol between A and C — all must point same way
• If all signs between two elements are > or >=, the greater-than conclusion holds
• If all signs are < or <=, the less-than conclusion holds
• If there is even one sign that breaks the flow (changes direction), no definite conclusion
• Equal sign (=) is neutral — it can be part of either direction chain

Either-Or Conclusions

Sometimes both conclusions are individually false but together they form a complementary pair. This is called an Either-Or case. RBI Grade B papers include this as a trap — aspirants often mark both false and miss the Either-Or answer.

• Either-Or applies when both conclusions are false individually
• The two conclusions must be complementary — together they cover all possibilities
• Example: A > C (false) and A < C (false) — but either one must be true, so Either-Or holds
• A = C and A > C together are NOT complementary (they overlap), so Either-Or does NOT apply
• Either-Or does NOT apply if one conclusion is already true
• Complementary pairs: (> and <=), (< and >=), (> and <) when = is not possible

Coded Inequalities — Step-by-Step Method

RBI Grade B frequently uses coded inequalities where symbols like #, @, $, % replace the standard signs. The question provides a decoding table. Aspirants who skip careful decoding lose all marks in the set. Always decode first before attempting any conclusion.

• Step 1 — Read the symbol legend carefully and write down translations
• Step 2 — Rewrite each statement using standard signs (>, <, >=, <=, =)
• Step 3 — Combine statements if elements are shared (linking chains)
• Step 4 — Evaluate each conclusion using the transitive and broken chain rules
• Step 5 — Check for Either-Or only if both conclusions are individually false
• Do not mix up symbols — # may mean >= in one question and <= in another

• Assuming A >= B and B <= C means A >= C — this is wrong. The chain breaks because directions conflict. No conclusion is possible.
• Forgetting to check Either-Or when both conclusions appear false — this is a very common trap in RBI Grade B sets where option D is Either-Or.
• In coded inequalities, hurrying through the symbol table and swapping two symbols — this makes every conclusion wrong. Spend 20 seconds verifying the table.
• Thinking A = B > C means A > C is false — it is actually true. Equal sign does not break the chain, it passes the relationship through.
• Confusing >= with > when checking strict conclusions — A >= B does NOT confirm A > B, it only confirms A > B OR A = B.

• SAME SIDE wins: If all arrows between two elements point the same direction (all right or all left), the conclusion is valid. If they clash, it fails. Think of a one-way street — if traffic flows one way the whole time, you reach your destination.
• BROKEN BRIDGE: When signs change direction in a chain (like > then <), imagine a bridge breaking in the middle — you cannot cross, meaning no conclusion is possible.
• Either-Or = Total opposites only: Remember the pair must be like heads vs tails — no overlap, no missing case. (> and <) works only when equality is already ruled out. (> and <=) always works as a complementary pair.
• DECODE FIRST always: Write D-F on top of coded inequality questions to remind yourself — Decode First, then solve. One wrong symbol ruins the whole set.

• RBI Grade B Phase 1 typically has 4-5 inequality questions in one set, making it a bulk-scoring opportunity. Solve the full set in under 2.5 minutes by decoding once and applying the chain method rapidly.
• Coded inequalities are more common than direct inequalities in recent RBI Grade B papers. Always expect a 5-symbol coding table — practice reading such tables fast.
• Either-Or questions appear in at least 1-2 questions per set in RBI papers. If you get two false conclusions, always check complementary pairing before marking both false.
• Phase 1 reasoning is moderate difficulty — inequalities is one of the easiest topics here. Aim for 100 percent accuracy on this topic since it costs the least time.
• Watch for trap conclusions like A > C when chain is A >= B = C — this is TRUE because >= and = together confirm A >= C, and since A > B, A is strictly greater than C. Work through each symbol carefully rather than scanning quickly.