What Machine Input-Output Questions Test
- Alphabetical and numerical rearrangement rules
- One-element vs two-element shifts per step
- Counting steps to the final arrangement
- Arithmetic operations applied per step
Question bank coverage by sub-pattern
How Machine Input-Output Appears in IBPS PO
Machine Input-Output is part of the Reasoning Ability section (20% of the IBPS PO syllabus). See the full IBPS PO Prelims breakdown.
Machine Input-Output Solved Examples for IBPS PO
Exam-pattern questions from the practice bank, with full solutions.
How many elements are there between 'RTV' and 'NTS' in the step prior to the penultimate step?
- A.None
- B.One
- C.Two
- D.Three
- E.FourCorrect
Solution
Input: ETU 75 GTQ 14 RTV 22 NTS 32 MTW 67 FSN 19 CER Step 1: 75 ETU GTQ 14 RTV 22 NTS 32 MTW FSN 19 CER 67 Step 2: 32 75 ETU GTQ 14 RTV NTS MTW FSN 19 CER 67 22 Step 3: 19 32 75 ETU GTQ 14 RTV NTS MTW FSN CER 67 22 Step 4: 19 32 75 AETUU GTQ 14 RTV NTS MTW FSN CER 67 22 Step 5: 19 32 75 AETUU AGTQQ 14 RTV NTS MTW FSN CER 67 22 Step 6: 19 32 75 AETUU AGTQQ 14 RTV NTS MTW EFSNM CER 67 22 Step 7: 19 32 75 AETUU AGTQQ 14 RTV NTS MMTWW EFSNM CER 67 22 Step 8: 19 32 75 AETUU AGTQQ 14 ORTVV NTS MMTWW EFSNM CER 67 22 Step 9: 19 32 75 AETUU AGTQQ 14 ORTVV ONTSU MMTWW EFSNM CER 67 22 Step 10: 19 32 75 AETUU AGTQQ 14 ORTVV ONTSU MMTWW EFSNM BCERQ 67 22 Step 8 is the penultimate step. In step 7, there are four elements between RTV and NTS.
A machine rearranges words and numbers. Input: 'sun 25 moon 16 star 36 galaxy 49'. Step 1: 'galaxy 49 sun 25 moon 16 star 36'. Step 2: 'galaxy 49 star 36 sun 25 moon 16'. Step 3: 'galaxy49star sun25moon16 36'. Step 4: 'galaxy49star36 sun25moon16'. Step 5: 'galaxy49star36moon16 sun25'. If the input is 'sky 81 cloud 64 earth 100 space 36', what is Step 3?
- A.space81cloud64 earth100sky36
- B.space81sky cloud64earth100 36
- C.space81sky36 cloud64earth100Correct
- D.space81cloud64earth100 sky36
Solution
The machine arranges words alphabetically and numbers in descending order. Step 1 places the alphabetically first word and largest number at the beginning. Step 2 places the next alphabetically first word and next largest number after the first. Step 3 combines the first two word-number pairs. Applying this to 'sky 81 cloud 64 earth 100 space 36', Step 1: 'space 36 sky 81 cloud 64 earth 100'. Step 2: 'space 36 sky 81 cloud 64 earth 100'. Step 3: 'space81sky36 cloud64earth100'.
Input: 'tea 49 cup 36 plate 25'. Step 1: 'plate tea 49 cup 36 25'. Step 2: 'plate25 tea 49 cup 36'. Step 3: 'plate25cup tea 49 36'. What would be the final step for input 'sun 64 moon 81 star 49'?
- A.sun64moon81star49
- B.star49moon sun 64 81
- C.star49moon81sun 64
- D.star49moon81sun64Correct
Solution
The machine rearranges words alphabetically and numbers in descending order. Step 1 places the alphabetically first word and smallest number at the beginning. Step 2 combines the first word with the smallest number. Applying this to 'sun 64 moon 81 star 49', Step 1: 'moon sun 64 star 49 81'. Step 2: 'moon81 sun 64 star 49'. Step 3: 'moon81star sun 64 49'. Step 4: 'moon81star49 sun 64'. Step 5: 'moon81star49sun64'. Therefore, the correct answer is 'star49moon81sun64'.
Machine Input-Output — Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find the machine's rule quickly?
Compare only step 1 with the input, and step 2 with step 1: which element moved where? The rule is usually one sorted pick per step (smallest number left, alphabetical word right, or interleaved).
Can I skip to a later step without writing all steps?
Once the rule is confirmed, yes — each step fixes one or two elements, so step n is the input with the first n picks placed. Verify with one intermediate step before trusting the shortcut.
How many Machine Input-Output practice questions does Parikshala have for IBPS PO?
50 exam-pattern Machine Input-Output questions for IBPS PO Reasoning Ability, each with a step-by-step solution. Practice is free — no sign-up needed to start.