Blood Relations: Coded Relations and Family Trees

Drawing a family tree

Use standard symbols: + for male, − for female, a horizontal line for siblings, a vertical line for generations and a double line (=) for married couples. Draw first, answer later.

Coded relations

Questions define symbols like: A + B means A is the father of B; A × B means A is the wife of B. Decode one symbol at a time from left to right and add each link to the tree.

Pointing / puzzle type

"Pointing to a photo, Ravi said, 'He is the son of my father's only son.'" My father's only son = Ravi himself, so the person is Ravi's son. Always resolve the innermost phrase first.

Generation counting

Grandfather (−2), father (−1), self (0), son (+1), grandson (+2). Counting levels avoids mixing up uncle/nephew.

Exam tips

1. Gender cannot be assumed from names unless given.
2. "Only son/only daughter" usually points back to the speaker.

Analogy

Solving blood relations is like reading a map with a compass. 'Father's side' and 'mother's side' are directions, generations are floors of a building. Draw the map and you never get lost.