Analogy
Say the relation in one sentence ('a doctor works in a hospital') and apply the same sentence to the second pair.
Why this topic matters
Doctor is to hospital as teacher is to ? School. An analogy asks you to find the relation in the first pair and repeat it.
Word, number and letter analogies test one skill: say the relationship in a sentence, then apply the same sentence.
Say the relationship as a sentence
'A doctor works in a hospital.' Now: 'A teacher works in a school.' If the sentence fits more than one option, make it more specific.
Common relations: worker-place, tool-worker, part-whole, cause-effect, opposite, young one (dog : puppy), group (fish : shoal).
- 'A writer uses a pen.'Tool - user.
- A surgeon uses a scalpel.
Number and letter analogies
Numbers: look for square, cube, x 2 + 1, sum of digits. 4 : 64 :: 5 : 125 (cube).
Letters: compare positions. ACE : BDF means each letter +1.
- 72 + 1 = 50.Try squares first.
- 92 + 1 = 82.
- Each letter +1.
- EPH.
Formula summary
Shortcuts and tricks
Number-pair check
Use it when: 3 : 10 :: 5 : ?
- Test n2 + 1: 9 + 1 = 10.
- 5 → 26.
- n2 + 1.
Before you move on, you should be able to...
- say the relation as a sentence
- test squares and cubes for number pairs
- compare letter positions
Practice questions (6)
Try each one before opening the solution. Or practise them one by one so your score is saved.
easy Doctor : Hospital :: Teacher : ?
- Where they work.
Answer: School
easy 7 : 50 :: 9 : ?
- n2 + 1.
Answer: 82
easy Cow : Calf :: Dog : ?
- Young one.
Answer: Puppy
easy ACE : BDF :: GIK : ?
- +1 each.
Answer: HJL
medium 11 : 1331 :: 13 : ?
- Cube.
Answer: 2197
medium BCD : YXW :: FGH : ?
- Reverse letters.
Answer: UTS
Class plan (2 hours, for trainers)
A tested order for teaching this topic in one 2-hour session. Present mode follows the same order.
| 10 min | Warm-up. |
| 30 min | Word relations: 10 pairs, say the sentence. |
| 25 min | Number analogies. |
| 15 min | Letter analogies. |
| 35 min | Practice set. |
| 5 min | Recap. |