Input-Output in Reasoning For Government Exams

The Machine Input and Output is one of the most frequently asked questions in the various Government exams conducted in the country. The solution to such questions is lengthy, and candidates end up spending a lot of time on solving these questions.

Thus, to simplify the concept, we bring you the tips and tricks to solve the Input-Output reasoning questions and also to help you understand the concept better. 

Aspirants can check the latest notifications regarding the upcoming Government exams at the linked article.

Candidates must note that the machine input questions in the reasoning section may be asked in various forms. This includes:

1. Rearranging the data based on Order
2. Rearranging the data based on Interchanging the position of word and numbers
3. Rearranging the data based on mathematical calculations

What is Input-Output?

Similar to the computer concept of Input-Output, the reasoning questions based on this topic involves an Input which is given in the form of numbers and words and then gives out an Output following a certain format. 

In the questions asked in Government exams, one Input is given, followed by the steps used to get an Output and then the final Output. 

Once you solve questions based on this topic, the concept may become more understandable. For more questions based on this topic, candidates can visit the input-output questions page and get solved sample questions for better performance in the final examination. 

It must also be noted that mostly 3-4 questions are asked in the examination from this topic, and candidates can easily save themselves these marks if they find the Output efficiently at once.

Given below are other Logical Reasoning Related Topics for your reference:

Tips & Tricks to Solve the Input-Output Reasoning Questions

Given below are a few tips and tricks that may help you solve the input-output based questions faster, saving you some time in the final examination:

1. The first and the most important thing is to read the question carefully and analyse the steps based on which the Output is given. Once you carefully see the steps. You shall be able to apprehend the pattern that is being followed to get the Output.
2. At times, just looking at Step 1 and step 2 only candidates shall be able to understand the pattern followed.
3. Use tabular form while solving the question as the length of the Input may be longer and may make the solution even more confusing.
4. Do not try solving this type of question verbally as you may miss a few terms and steps and end up answering the questions wrongly.
5. Once you understand the pattern that is being followed in the question, then try applying the same to the Input given to be solved.

Aspirants who are looking forward to appearing in the upcoming Government exams can check the logical reasoning syllabus at the linked article.

Also, the syllabus for the various Government exams for the different subjects has been discussed in detail at the links mentioned below:

Sample Questions – Input Output Reasoning

Given further, are a few questions which may help you understand the concept even better.

Let’s start with a simple question. 

Example 1:

INPUT: Train Car Airplane Ship Bus Cycle Autorickshaw

Step 1: Train Ship Car Airplane Bus Cycle Autorickshaw

Step 2: Train Ship Cycle Car Airplane Bus Autorickshaw

Step 3: Train Ship Cycle Car Bus Airplane Autorickshaw

Step 4: Train Ship Cycle Car Bus Autorickshaw Airplane

Based on the above-mentioned Input, Find what should be the Output of the following Input?

INPUT: Diver Actor Astronaut Engineer Therapist Sportsperson Doctor

Solution: If we carefully examine the Input “Train Car Airplane Ship Bus Cycle Autorickshaw”, Step 4 is the final step and the Output clearly shows that all the words have been arranged in descending order of their appearance in the Alphabetic Series.

Thus, the Output for “Diver Actor Astronaut Engineer Therapist Sportsperson Doctor” shall be:

Step 1: Therapist Diver Actor Astronaut Engineer Sportsperson Doctor

Step 2: Therapist Sportsperson Diver Actor Astronaut Engineer Doctor

Step 3: Therapist Sportsperson Engineer Diver Actor Astronaut Doctor

Step 4: Therapist Sportsperson Engineer Doctor Diver Actor Astronaut

Step 5: Therapist Sportsperson Engineer Doctor Diver Astronaut Actor

Step 5, is the final step.

Now, based on the above example, given below are a few sample questions:

Q 1. How many steps does it take to get the final output?

Answer: 5 steps

Q 2. What is the 3rd word from the left in Step 4?

Answer: Engineer

Q 3. What will be Step 2?

Answer: Therapist Sportsperson Diver Actor Astronaut Engineer Doctor

Q 4. What is the position of the word “Astronaut” from left in Step 3?

Answer: 2nd from left

Other Related links which may help you prepare for the upcoming Government exams are given below:

Example 2:

Now, let’s take an example of an Input comprising numbers only.

INPUT: 56 72 33 98 12 15 29 49

Step 1: 12 56 72 33 98 15 29 49

Step 2: 12 15 56 72 33 98 29 49

Step 3: 12 15 29 56 72 33 98 49

Step 4: 12 15 29 33 56 72 98 49

Step 5: 12 15 29 33 49 56 72 98

Step 5 is the last step.

Based on the above-mentioned Input, what shall be the Output of the following Input?

INPUT: 74 32 45 90 21 77 80 82

Solution: Based on the input given in the question, it is clear that in the final step, the numbers are arranged in ascending order. So, the answer to the input “74 32 45 90 21 77 80 82” will be as follows:

Step 1: 21 74 32 45 90 77 80 82

Step 2: 21 31 74 45 90 77 80 82

Step 3: 21 31 45 74 90 77 80 82

Step 4: 21 31 45 74 77 90 80 82

Step 5: 21 31 45 74 77 80 90 82

Step 6: 21 31 45 74 77 80 82 90

Step 6, being the final step.

Example 3:

Now, moving to a bit complex input-output question, comprising both numbers and words.

INPUT: Herb 30 Shrub 10 Grass 20 40 Tree Planter 50

Step 1: 10 Herb 30 Shrub 20 40 Tree Planter 50 Grass

Step 2: 10 20 30 Shrub 40 Tree Planter 50 Grass Herb

Step 3: 10 20 30 40 Shrub Tree 50 Grass Herb Planter

Step 4: 10 20 30 40 50 Tree Grass Herb Planter Shrub

Step 5: 10 20 30 40 50 Grass Herb Planter Shrub Tree

Step 5, is the last step.

Based on the above Input, what will be the Output of the following information?

INPUT: 11 55 Green Blue Red 33 Orange 22 44 Pink

Solution: If we analyse the input “Herb 30 Shrub 10 Grass 20 40 Tree Planter 50” and then each step carefully, we will observe that the change in order is happening both from the left corner and from the right corner.

In step 1, the smallest number “10” is placed at the 1st position from the left and “Grass” which begins with “G” and alphabetically comes first in comparison to the first alphabet of other words moved to the last.

Then, in step 2, the second smallest number, “20”, follows 10 and the alphabetical “H”, i.e. “Herb” is placed after Grass and so on.

In the final step, all the numbers are arranged in ascending order, followed by the words which are arranged in the Dictionary-order, i.e., alphabetically.

So, the output for “11 55 Green Blue Red 33 Orange 22 44 Pink” is as follows:

Step 1: 11 22 55 Green Red 33 Orange 44 Pink Blue

Step 2: 11 22 33 55 Red Orange 44 Pink Blue Green 

Step 3: 11 22 33 44 55 Red Pink Blue Green Orange

Step 4: 11 22 33 44 55 Red Blue Green Orange Pink

Step 5: 11 22 33 44 55 Blue Green Orange Pink Red

Step 5, being the final step.

Given below are a set of questions, with respect to example 3, which have been framed in a similar manner as may be asked in the final exam. Candidates can refer to these:

Q 1. How many steps does it take to get the final Output?

1. Four
2. Six
3. Eight
4. Seven
5. Five

Answer: (5) Five

Q 2. What is the second last word/number in Step 2?

1. Pink
2. 44
3. Blue
4. Green
5. 55

Answer: (3) Blue

Q 3. What will be the second step of the Output?

1. 11 22 33 55 Red Orange 44 Pink Blue Green
2. 11 22 55 Green Red 33 Orange 44 Pink Blue
3. 11 33 22 Green Red 33 Orange 44 Pink Blue
4. 11 22 33 44 Red Orange 55 Pink Blue Green
5. None of the above

Answer: (1) 11 22 33 55 Red Orange 44 Pink Blue Green

Q 4. What is the third number/word from left in Step 3?

1. 44
2. 33
3. Blue
4. Red
5. Pink

Answer: (3) Blue

The questions mentioned above will help candidates understand the concept better and also analyse as to how more time can be saved while solving these questions.

Other Preparation Links:

For better preparation and performance in the reasoning section, candidates can solve more questions from the various logical reasoning topics at the logical reasoning questions page.

Aspirants willing to know more about the various Government exams, looking for study material or online/offline assistance, can turn to BYJU’S.