SBI Clerk Reasoning: Inequality Questions with Direct and Coded Worked Examples

Solve SBI Clerk inequality questions accurately: chain rules, either or cases, coded symbols, worked examples, common traps and a 14 day mock practice plan.

Why inequality questions deserve a fixed method

Inequality questions usually appear in the reasoning section of bank clerk prelims. They look easy, which is exactly why candidates lose marks on them: one misread symbol or a careless "either-or" decision turns a guaranteed mark into negative marking. A fixed reading method makes these questions fast and safe.

The examples below are original practice questions, not reproduced previous-year papers. Always confirm the current pattern, sections and marking scheme in the official notification on the SBI Careers page. Scholareum does not guarantee how many inequality questions will appear in any shift.

The only chain rule you need

Two elements can be compared only when every symbol on the path between them points the same way (or is "="). Then:

  • If all symbols on the path are "≥" or "=", and at least one is "≥", the result is "≥".
  • If at least one symbol on the path is ">" (with the rest ">", "≥" or "="), the result is ">".
  • If the path contains both an opening (">"/"≥") and a closing ("<"/"≤") symbol, there is no definite relation.

"Same direction" is the whole rule. Do not try to estimate values.

Worked example 1: direct inequality

Statement: A ≥ B > C = D < E

  • Conclusion I: A > C. Path A ≥ B > C has one ">" and one "≥" in the same direction, so A > C. True.
  • Conclusion II: B > D. Path B > C = D gives B > D. True.
  • Conclusion III: A > E. Path A ≥ B > C = D < E changes direction at D < E. No definite relation, so it does not follow.

Worked example 2: the either-or case

Statement: P ≥ Q = R

  • Conclusion I: P > R
  • Conclusion II: P = R

From the chain, P ≥ R. Neither conclusion is definitely true alone, but together they cover every possibility of "≥" between the same two elements. Answer: either I or II follows.

Use either-or only when all three conditions hold: both conclusions use the same two elements, each conclusion alone is not definite, and together they make up the true combined relation (> with =, or < with =). If P and R had no relation at all, either-or would be wrong.

Coded inequalities

Some questions replace symbols with codes, for example:

  • P @ Q means P > Q
  • P # Q means P < Q
  • P $ Q means P = Q
  • P % Q means P ≥ Q
  • P & Q means P ≤ Q

Worked example 3

Statement: M % N, N @ K, K $ T

Decode first and write the chain once: M ≥ N > K = T.

  • Conclusion I: M @ T, meaning M > T. Path contains ">", same direction. True.
  • Conclusion II: N $ T, meaning N = T. Actually N > T. False.

Decoding inside your head while comparing causes most coded-question errors. Write the decoded chain on rough paper, then never look at the codes again.

Common mistakes

  1. Treating "≥" as ">". A ≥ B ≥ C gives A ≥ C, not A > C.
  2. Comparing through a direction change. A > B < C tells you nothing about A and C.
  3. Using either-or for different pairs. "A > B" and "A = C" can never form an either-or pair.
  4. Ignoring combined statements. When two statements share an element (A > B and B ≥ C), merge them into one chain before checking conclusions.
  5. Guessing under time pressure. If you cannot build a single-direction path, the answer is "does not follow", not a guess.

A 14-day practice plan

  • Days 1–4: 20 direct inequality questions daily with no timer. Write every path explicitly.
  • Days 5–8: Add coded and combined-statement questions. Track how many errors come from decoding versus chain logic.
  • Days 9–12: Timed sets of 10 questions in 6 minutes. Note every either-or mistake separately.
  • Days 13–14: Attempt sectional and full-length SBI Clerk mocks and check whether inequality accuracy holds under full-paper pressure.

Use the analytics after each mock to see whether inequality is a strength you can attempt first or a section to leave for the end. For broader practice, browse all mock tests and similar banking packs such as the IBPS RRB test series.

Frequently asked questions

How long should one inequality question take? With a fixed method, many candidates aim for under 40 seconds per question. Build accuracy first; speed follows.

Should I attempt inequality first in the reasoning section? If your mock data shows high accuracy, yes, because these questions are short. If your accuracy is below about 85%, practise more before treating them as safe marks.

Where can I check exam dates? See the exam calendar and confirm every date on the official SBI website.

Related reading: IBPS Clerk simplification and approximation methods and IBPS RRB quadratic equations worked examples. Ready for full practice? See Scholareum Pro.