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Inequality practice questions for bank exams

By the PrepMatic team · Updated 9 Oct 2026 · 4 min read

An inequality question links letters with symbols such as greater than and less than or equal to, then asks which conclusions must be true. It is a standard bank-exam Reasoning topic, quick when you know the chaining rules, and it appears in two forms: direct (with the symbols) and coded (where a symbol such as @ stands for a relation). The five questions below cover both.

Chaining rules

A relation holds only if it appears in a chain pointing one way. Two complementary conclusions, such as X > Y and X ≤ Y, give "either I or II" when neither holds alone.

Coded symbols

Questions 4 and 5 use this key.

Five practice questions

Each question has the five standard options.

Question 1

Statements: A ≥ B > C = D; E < D

Conclusions: I. A > E II. B > E

• A. Only I follows
• B. Only II follows
• C. Either I or II follows
• D. Neither follows
• E. Both follow

Question 2

Statements: W ≥ X < Y = Z; V > X

Conclusions: I. Y > X II. W ≥ Z

• A. Only I follows
• B. Only II follows
• C. Either I or II follows
• D. Neither follows
• E. Both follow

Question 3

Statements: K > L ≥ M; N ≥ M

Conclusions: I. L > N II. L ≤ N

• A. Only I follows
• B. Only II follows
• C. Either I or II follows
• D. Neither follows
• E. Both follow

Question 4

Statements: M $ N; N # O; O % P

Conclusions: I. M # O II. P @ N

• A. Only I follows
• B. Only II follows
• C. Either I or II follows
• D. Neither follows
• E. Both follow

Question 5

Statements: R © S; S @ T; T % U

Conclusions: I. R @ U II. U © R

• A. Only I follows
• B. Only II follows
• C. Either I or II follows
• D. Neither follows
• E. Both follow

Answers and explanations

1. E. The statements chain as A ≥ B > C = D > E. So A > E (the chain has a strict step), and B > E. Both conclusions follow.
2. A. X < Y directly gives Y > X, so I follows. For II, W and Z are both above X, so they cannot be compared. II does not follow.
3. C. We have L ≥ M and N ≥ M, so both L and N are above M, and L and N cannot be compared. But "L > N" and "L ≤ N" cover all cases, so one of them must be true. Either I or II follows.
4. B. Decode the statements as M ≥ N < O ≤ P. From N < O ≤ P we get N < P, which is P @ N. So II follows. For I, M and O are both above N, so no relation between them, and I does not follow.
5. D. Decode the statements as R = S > T ≤ U. Both R and U are above T, so R and U cannot be compared. So I (R > U) does not follow, and II (U = R) does not follow. These are not a complementary pair, since U > R is also possible, so the answer is neither.

How to prepare inequality

• Decode first, then chain. Rewrite coded statements using the key before you look at the conclusions.
• Look for a single chain from one letter to the other. If you can walk from X to Y in one direction without turning back, the relation holds.
• A turn kills the chain. Patterns like > then < (a "valley") or < then > (a "peak") give no relation.
• Remember the strict step. One ">" in a chain of "≥" makes the final relation strict, so "A ≥ B > C" gives A > C.
• Check the either-or case last. Look for conclusions that cover all possibilities between the same two letters.
• Practise speed. Aim for 30 seconds per question, since symbols reward rehearsal more than thought.

For the same "must follow" logic in words, try syllogism.

The full inequality topic test is on PrepMatic (about 15 questions, 30 minutes). The Reasoning Ability guide and the bank exam hub show where this topic sits.

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