IBM Sample Odd Man Out Series

Dear Reader,
Below are four problems on odd man out series with calculations on digits of the given
numbers.
Question 1
891, 583, 176, 462, 154, 342, 330
a)176 b)462 c)342 d)891
Answer : c)342
Solution :
Each number except 342 the middle digit is the sum of other two digits
Let abc be a number in the given series then b = a + c
Here in 891, 9 = 8 + 1
583, 8 = 5 + 3
And so on.
342, 4 is not equal to 3 + 2 = 5
Hence 342 is the answer
Question 2
930, 282, 435, 616, 714, 192, 570
a)570 b)930 c)616 d)192
Answer : c)616
Solution :
Sum of the digits in each number except 616 is 12.
Let abc be a given number in the series then a + b + c = 12.
i.e., 930 = 9 + 3 + 0 = 12
282 = 2 + 8 + 2 = 12
435 = 4 + 3 + 5 = 12
and so on.
But in 616 = 6 + 1 + 6 is not equal to 12
Hence 616 is the odd one.
Question 3
182, 723, 643, 318, 960, 295, 539
a)318 b)182 c)295 d)539

Answer : a)318
Solution :
Sum of the digits of numbers in the given series are 11, 12, 13, 14,...
i.e.,
182 = 1 + 8 + 2 = 11
723 = 7 + 2 + 3 = 12
643 = 6 + 4 + 3 = 13
318 = 3 + 1 + 8 = 12 which is odd one
960 = 9 + 6 + 0 = 15
295 = 2 + 9 + 5 = 16
539 = 5 + 3 + 9 = 17
Hence the answer is 318.
Question 4
311, 284, 260, 239, 220, 206, 194
a)194 b)206 c)220 d)284
Answer : c)220
Solution :
Go on subtracting 27, 24, 21, 18, 15, 12, 9 from the given number to obtain the next number.
i.e.,
311 - 27 = 284
284 - 24 = 260
260 - 21 = 239
239 - 18 = 221, but there is 220 which is odd one
221 - 15 = 206
And 206 - 12 = 194
Hence the answer is 220.