X $ Y means X is the son of Y
X * Y means X is the wife of Y
X @ Y means X is the daughter of Y
Y % X means X is the grand daughter of Y
Which of the following shows that E and K are siblings?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → E $ A $ U * J % K
Each symbol stands for one relation, read as “the left letter is the ... of the right letter”; only % is read the other way round. The codes are:
X $ Y: X is the son of Y
X * Y: X is the wife of Y
X @ Y: X is the daughter of Y
Y % X: X is the granddaughter of Y
Each expression is broken into pairs, and the pairs are joined to see how E and K are related.
Option (3) E $ A $ U * J % K — Correct.
E $ A: E is the son of A
A $ U: A is the son of U
U * J: U is the wife of J, so A is the son of J as well, and E is a grandson of J
J % K: K is the granddaughter of J
E and K are both grandchildren of J and U, the same generation of the same family, so this is the only option in which they can be brother and sister
Why the other options are incorrect
Option (1) E % A $ U * J $ K — Incorrect. E % A makes A a granddaughter of E, but A $ U makes A a son, so the code contradicts itself.
Option (2) E $ A * U @ J % K — Incorrect. A * U makes A the wife of U, but U @ J makes U a daughter, so the code does not describe a married couple.
Option (4) E $ A $ U % J * K — Incorrect. E and J are grandchildren of U, and J * K makes K the husband of J, so K is not E’s sibling.
Note: Option (3) shows that E and K are both grandchildren of J and U, but it does not say who K’s parent is. If K is A’s daughter, E and K are brother and sister; if K is the child of another son or daughter of J and U, they are cousins. Option (3) is still the only option in which E and K can be siblings, which is why it is the most appropriate answer.