In a family code, ‘A + B’ stands for ‘A is the father of B’, ‘A – B’ stands for ‘A is the sister of B’ and ‘A × B’ stands for ‘A is the son of B’. Four members of a family are described by M + N – P × Q. What is Q to N?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Mother
A child has one father and one mother, and a brother and a sister have the same parents.
M + N: M is the father of N
N – P: N is the sister of P, so M is also P’s father
P × Q: P is the son of Q; P’s father is M, so Q, the other parent, is P’s mother
N and P have the same parents, so Q is also the mother of N
Why the other options are incorrect
Option (1) Father — Incorrect. N’s father is M; Q is a different person, P’s other parent.
Option (3) Sister — Incorrect. Q is a parent of P, one generation above N.
Option (4) Grandmother — Incorrect. Q is the mother of N’s brother P, so Q is N’s own mother, one generation above N, not two.