In each of the following questions, the second word is formed by rearranging the letters of the first word according to a specific pattern. Identify that pattern and apply the same to the third word to find the correct answer from the given alternatives. NUMERAL : UEALRMN :: ALGEBRA : ?

Correct — D. Number the letters of NUMERAL 1 to 7 and write UEALRMN as the positions it takes.

Rule: 2, 4, 6, 7, 5, 3, 1 — the even positions left to right, then the odd positions right to left.

NUMERAL → U(2) E(4) A(6) L(7) R(5) M(3) N(1) = UEALRMN.

ALGEBRA = A1 L2 G3 E4 B5 R6 A7.
Even positions: L, E, R.
Odd positions backwards: A, B, G, A.
That spells LERABGA, option (d).

Why the others are wrong

• (a)
  LRBAGEA — R sits second here, but the rule's second pick is position 4, the E of ALGEBRA. The answer must open L, E, not L, R.
• (b)
  BARLAGE — B opens this word, and B is ALGEBRA's 5th letter. The rule starts with position 2, so the answer must begin with L.
• (c)
  LERAGBA — LERAGBA reads the odd positions forwards, 1, 3, 5, 7. UEALRMN runs them backwards, R(5) before M(3) before N(1), so ALGEBRA must end A, B, G, A.

A rearrangement analogy moves letters without changing them, so the tool is position numbers, not alphabet values. Number the first word 1 to 7, then write the second word as the list of positions it uses.

Here that list is 2, 4, 6, 7, 5, 3, 1. Split it and a simple shape appears: evens forwards, odds backwards. Apply the same list to ALGEBRA, one position at a time.

Key facts

• NUMERAL → UEALRMN takes positions 2, 4, 6, 7, 5, 3, 1.
• ALGEBRA numbered: A1 L2 G3 E4 B5 R6 A7.
• All four options are anagrams of ALGEBRA.

Common traps

• Taking the odd positions forwards after the evens, which gives LERAGBA, option (c).
• Deciding on the opening letters: options (c) and (d) both begin LERA, so they part only at the fifth letter.

No directly related past PYQ was found.