Blood Relations

Family trees and coded relations.

45 solved questions · 15 easy · 20 medium · 10 hard

Take a 10-question quiz on Blood Relations, no login

Shortcuts & formulas

  • Mother's brother = maternal uncle; father's brother = paternal uncle (chacha); mother's sister = maternal aunt (mausi); father's sister = paternal aunt (bua).
  • Children of uncles and aunts are cousins. Sister's/brother's children are nieces and nephews.
  • Wife's or husband's brother/sister = brother-in-law/sister-in-law; spouse's parents = parents-in-law.
  • 'My mother's only son' (when speaker is male) is the speaker himself; 'my father's only son' likewise.
  • Coded relations: write each symbol's meaning, then resolve left to right, noting each person's gender.
  • Build a small family tree: draw generations top to bottom, a horizontal line for siblings and = for couples.
  • Minimum-members questions: one person can play two roles (e.g. mother and daughter at once).

Solved examples

Try each one first, then open the answer and the step-by-step solution.

Easy questions

Q1.

Pointing to a man, Asha said, "He is the son of my mother's only brother." How is the man related to Asha?

  1. ACousin
  2. BBrother
  3. CUncle
  4. DNephew
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. Cousin

Solution

Asha's mother's only brother = Asha's maternal uncle. The son of her maternal uncle = Asha's cousin. Answer: Cousin

Q2.

How is the wife of Ravi's mother's brother related to Ravi?

  1. AMother-in-law
  2. BPaternal aunt
  3. CSister
  4. DMaternal aunt
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. Maternal aunt

Solution

Ravi's mother's brother = maternal uncle. The wife of the maternal uncle = maternal aunt. Answer: Maternal aunt

Q3.

How is the only son of Meena's father's father related to Meena?

  1. ABrother
  2. BMaternal uncle
  3. CFather
  4. DGrandfather
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. Father

Solution

Meena's father's father = her paternal grandfather. His only son must be Meena's father himself. Answer: Father

Q4.

A is the sister of B. B is the mother of C. C is a boy. How is A related to C?

  1. AMother
  2. BMaternal aunt
  3. CSister
  4. DGrandmother
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. Maternal aunt

Solution

A is B's sister, and B is C's mother, so A is the sister of C's mother. The sister of one's mother is the maternal aunt. Answer: Maternal aunt

Q5.

Pointing to a girl, Vikram said, "She is the daughter of my mother's only child." How is the girl related to Vikram?

  1. ASister
  2. BDaughter
  3. CNiece
  4. DCousin
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. Daughter

Solution

Vikram's mother's only child is Vikram himself. So the girl is the daughter of Vikram. Answer: Daughter

Q6.

How is the husband of Kavita's father's sister related to Kavita?

  1. APaternal uncle
  2. BMaternal uncle
  3. CBrother-in-law
  4. DGrandfather
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. Paternal uncle

Solution

Kavita's father's sister = paternal aunt. Her husband = the husband of the paternal aunt = uncle (father's side). Answer: Paternal uncle

Q7.

A is the brother of B. B is the brother of C. C is the father of D. How is A related to D?

  1. AFather
  2. BBrother
  3. CGrandfather
  4. DUncle
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. Uncle

Solution

A and C are brothers (both are B's brothers). D is C's child, so D is A's brother's child. A is D's uncle. Answer: Uncle

Q8.

How is the husband of Rahul's mother's mother related to Rahul?

  1. APaternal grandfather
  2. BFather-in-law
  3. CMaternal grandfather
  4. DMaternal uncle
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. Maternal grandfather

Solution

Rahul's mother's mother = maternal grandmother. Her husband = maternal grandfather. Answer: Maternal grandfather

Q9.

Priya is the daughter of Mohan. Mohan is the son of Sunita. How is Sunita related to Priya?

  1. AMaternal grandmother
  2. BMother
  3. CPaternal grandmother
  4. DAunt
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. Paternal grandmother

Solution

Sunita is Mohan's mother and Mohan is Priya's father. So Sunita is Priya's father's mother = paternal grandmother. Answer: Paternal grandmother

Q10.

Pointing to a photograph, a man said, "His mother is the wife of my father's only son." How is the person in the photograph related to the man?

  1. ABrother
  2. BSon
  3. CNephew
  4. DFather
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. Son

Solution

The man's father's only son is the man himself. The wife of the man = the photograph person's mother. So the person is the man's son. Answer: Son

Q11.

How is the daughter of Ritu's brother related to Ritu?

  1. ANiece
  2. BCousin
  3. CSister
  4. DDaughter
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. Niece

Solution

Ritu's brother's daughter is Ritu's niece. Answer: Niece

Q12.

Sita is the wife of Ram. Ram's mother is Kaushalya. How is Kaushalya related to Sita?

  1. AAunt
  2. BGrandmother
  3. CSister-in-law
  4. DMother-in-law
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. Mother-in-law

Solution

Kaushalya is the mother of Sita's husband. The mother of one's husband is the mother-in-law. Answer: Mother-in-law

Q13.

How is the brother of Deepa's father's wife related to Deepa?

  1. APaternal uncle
  2. BFather
  3. CCousin
  4. DMaternal uncle
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. Maternal uncle

Solution

Deepa's father's wife = Deepa's mother. The brother of the mother = maternal uncle. Answer: Maternal uncle

Q14.

In a certain code, P + Q means P is the mother of Q, and P x Q means P is the brother of Q. In A + B x C, how is A related to C?

  1. ASister
  2. BAunt
  3. CMother
  4. DGrandmother
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. Mother

Solution

A + B: A is the mother of B. B x C: B is the brother of C, so B and C are siblings. A, the mother of B, is also the mother of C. Answer: Mother

Q15.

A man introduces a woman, "She is the wife of the only son of my mother." How is the woman related to the man?

  1. ASister
  2. BWife
  3. CSister-in-law
  4. DMother
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. Wife

Solution

The only son of the man's mother is the man himself. So the woman is the man's wife. Answer: Wife

Medium questions

Q16.

A is the sister of B. C is the mother of B. D is the father of C. How is A related to D?

  1. AGranddaughter
  2. BDaughter
  3. CNiece
  4. DGrandmother
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. Granddaughter

Solution

A and B are siblings; C is their mother. D is C's father, so D is the maternal grandfather of A. A is a girl (sister), so A is D's granddaughter. Answer: Granddaughter

Q17.

A is the sister of B. C is the mother of B. D is the father of C. E is the mother of D. How is E related to A?

  1. AGreat-grandmother
  2. BGrandmother
  3. CAunt
  4. DMother-in-law
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. Great-grandmother

Solution

A and B are siblings; C is their mother. D is C's father, so D is A's maternal grandfather. E is D's mother, so E is A's mother's father's mother, i.e. A's great-grandmother. Answer: Great-grandmother

Q18.

Pointing to a man, Kavita said, "His brother's father is the only son of my father's father." How is the man related to Kavita?

  1. ACousin
  2. BUncle
  3. CNephew
  4. DBrother
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. Brother

Solution

The only son of Kavita's father's father is Kavita's father. The man's brother's father is the man's own father. So the man's father is Kavita's father, which makes the man Kavita's brother. Answer: Brother

Q19.

Rohan said to Sneha, "Your mother's husband's sister is my mother." How is Sneha related to Rohan?

  1. ASister
  2. BNiece
  3. CCousin
  4. DAunt
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. Cousin

Solution

Sneha's mother's husband = Sneha's father. His sister is Rohan's mother, so Rohan's mother is Sneha's paternal aunt. Sneha and Rohan are children of a brother and a sister, so they are cousins. Answer: Cousin

Q20.

A and B are brothers. C and D are sisters. A's son is D's brother. How is B related to C?

  1. AFather
  2. BUncle
  3. CBrother
  4. DCousin
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. Uncle

Solution

A's son is D's brother, so A is the father of D's brother and hence of D and C. B is A's brother, so B is C's paternal uncle. Answer: Uncle

Q21.

P is the father of Q. Q is the sister of R. R is the mother of S. How is P related to S?

  1. APaternal grandfather
  2. BMaternal grandfather
  3. CFather
  4. DUncle
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. Maternal grandfather

Solution

P is the father of Q, and Q is R's sister, so P is also R's father. R is the mother of S, so P is S's mother's father. Answer: Maternal grandfather

Q22.

Anil is the brother of Bina. Bina is the daughter of Chitra. Chitra is the wife of Deepak. Deepak's mother is Esha. How is Anil related to Esha?

  1. AGrandson
  2. BSon
  3. CNephew
  4. DBrother
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. Grandson

Solution

Anil and Bina are siblings, children of Chitra and Deepak. Esha is Deepak's mother, so Esha is Anil's father's mother. Anil is a boy, so he is Esha's grandson. Answer: Grandson

Q23.

How is the only daughter of Naveen's mother's mother related to Naveen?

  1. AAunt
  2. BSister
  3. CGrandmother
  4. DMother
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. Mother

Solution

Naveen's mother's mother is his maternal grandmother. Her only daughter must be Naveen's mother herself. Answer: Mother

Q24.

In a certain code, A $ B means A is the father of B, A @ B means A is the sister of B, and A # B means A is the wife of B. In P $ Q @ R # S, how is P related to S?

  1. AFather
  2. BBrother-in-law
  3. CFather-in-law
  4. DUncle
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. Father-in-law

Solution

P $ Q: P is the father of Q. Q @ R: Q is the sister of R, so P is also R's father. R # S: R is the wife of S. P is the father of S's wife, so P is S's father-in-law. Answer: Father-in-law

Q25.

If A + B means A is the brother of B, A - B means A is the mother of B, and A x B means A is the father of B, what does P + Q - R mean?

  1. AP is the father of R
  2. BP is the paternal uncle of R
  3. CP is the maternal uncle of R
  4. DP is the brother of R
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. P is the maternal uncle of R

Solution

P + Q: P is the brother of Q. Q - R: Q is the mother of R. P is the brother of R's mother, so P is R's maternal uncle. Answer: P is the maternal uncle of R

Q26.

M is the sister of N. O is the mother of N. P is the father of O. Q is the son of P. How is Q related to M?

  1. APaternal uncle
  2. BMaternal uncle
  3. CBrother
  4. DGrandfather
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. Maternal uncle

Solution

O is the mother of N and M (M and N are siblings). P is O's father, and Q is P's son, so Q is O's brother. Q is the brother of M's mother, i.e. M's maternal uncle. Answer: Maternal uncle

Q27.

Introducing a boy, Rita said, "He is the son of the only daughter of my father's father." How is the boy related to Rita?

  1. ACousin
  2. BBrother
  3. CNephew
  4. DMaternal uncle
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. Cousin

Solution

Rita's father's father is her paternal grandfather. His only daughter is Rita's father's sister, i.e. Rita's paternal aunt (a son's sister cannot be Rita's mother). The aunt's son is Rita's cousin. Answer: Cousin

Q28.

How is the only son of Sunil's wife's father related to Sunil?

  1. ABrother
  2. BFather-in-law
  3. CSon
  4. DBrother-in-law
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. Brother-in-law

Solution

Sunil's wife's father's son is the brother of Sunil's wife. The wife's brother is Sunil's brother-in-law. Answer: Brother-in-law

Q29.

Pointing to Manoj, Latha said, "He is the brother of the father of my son." How is Manoj related to Latha?

  1. ABrother
  2. BFather
  3. CUncle
  4. DBrother-in-law
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. Brother-in-law

Solution

The father of Latha's son is Latha's husband. Manoj is the brother of Latha's husband. The husband's brother is the brother-in-law. Answer: Brother-in-law

Q30.

Lalit is the son of Meera's husband's mother's only son. How is Lalit related to Meera?

  1. ABrother-in-law
  2. BNephew
  3. CSon
  4. DHusband
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. Son

Solution

Meera's husband's mother's only son = Meera's husband. Lalit is the son of Meera's husband, so Lalit is Meera's son. Answer: Son

Q31.

A is the son of B. C is the daughter of B. D is the husband of C. E is the son of C and D. How is A related to E?

  1. APaternal uncle
  2. BMaternal uncle
  3. CFather
  4. DBrother
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. Maternal uncle

Solution

A and C are both children of B, so A is C's brother. E is C's son, so A is the brother of E's mother. Answer: Maternal uncle

Q32.

In a certain code, A x B means A is the sister of B, A / B means A is the father of B, and A + B means A is the brother of B. In P x Q / R + S, how is P related to S?

  1. APaternal aunt
  2. BMaternal aunt
  3. CMother
  4. DSister
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. Paternal aunt

Solution

P x Q: P is the sister of Q. Q / R: Q is the father of R. R + S: R is the brother of S, so Q is also S's father. P is the sister of S's father, i.e. S's paternal aunt. Answer: Paternal aunt

Q33.

In a certain code, A % B means A is the wife of B and A @ B means A is the son of B. In P % Q @ R, how is P related to R?

  1. ADaughter-in-law
  2. BDaughter
  3. CMother-in-law
  4. DSister-in-law
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. Daughter-in-law

Solution

P % Q: P is the wife of Q. Q @ R: Q is the son of R. P is the wife of R's son, so P is R's daughter-in-law. Answer: Daughter-in-law

Q34.

Neha is Rakesh's sister. Seema is Rakesh's wife. How is Neha related to Seema?

  1. ASister
  2. BMother-in-law
  3. CCousin
  4. DSister-in-law
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. Sister-in-law

Solution

Seema is the wife of Neha's brother. The brother's wife is the sister-in-law (Neha is also her husband's sister). Answer: Sister-in-law

Q35.

Rahul's father is the only son of Sita. Rahul's sister is Priya. How is Sita related to Priya?

  1. AMaternal grandmother
  2. BMother
  3. CPaternal grandmother
  4. DAunt
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. Paternal grandmother

Solution

Sita's only son is Rahul's father, so Sita is Rahul's father's mother. Priya is Rahul's sister, so she shares the same father. Sita is Priya's paternal grandmother. Answer: Paternal grandmother

Hard questions

Q36.

In a family of five: A and B are a married couple, A being the male. D is the only son of C, who is the brother of A. E is the sister of D. B is the sister-in-law of C. How is E related to A?

  1. ADaughter
  2. BNiece
  3. CSister
  4. DCousin
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. Niece

Solution

C is A's brother, and D is C's only son. E is D's sister, so E is C's daughter. C's daughter is the daughter of A's brother, i.e. A's niece. Answer: Niece

Q37.

J is the father of K. K is the sister of L. L is the brother of M. M's son is N. J's wife is O. How is O related to N?

  1. AMother
  2. BGrandmother
  3. CAunt
  4. DGreat-grandmother
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. Grandmother

Solution

K, L and M are siblings (children of J and O). N is M's son, so N is O's grandson (or granddaughter). O is N's grandmother. Answer: Grandmother

Q38.

In a certain code, A + B means A is the brother of B, A - B means A is the mother of B, A x B means A is the father of B and A / B means A is the sister of B. Which expression means that P is the maternal uncle of Q?

  1. AP + M - Q
  2. BP - M + Q
  3. CP x M - Q
  4. DP / M - Q
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. P + M - Q

Solution

P is the maternal uncle of Q if P is the brother of Q's mother M. M is the mother of Q: M - Q. P is the brother of M: P + M. Combined: P + M - Q. Check others: P - M + Q = P is the mother of Q's brother; P x M - Q = grandfather; P / M - Q = maternal aunt. Answer: P + M - Q

Q39.

In a certain code, A # B means A is the brother of B, A $ B means A is the mother of B and A @ B means A is the daughter of B. In P # Q $ R @ S, how is P related to S?

  1. ABrother
  2. BSon
  3. CUncle
  4. DBrother-in-law
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. Brother-in-law

Solution

P # Q: P is the brother of Q. Q $ R: Q is the mother of R. R @ S: R is the daughter of S, so S is R's father (Q is the mother). S is the husband of Q. P is the brother of S's wife Q, so P is S's brother-in-law. Answer: Brother-in-law

Q40.

In a family: A is the mother of B. B is the wife of C. C's brother is D. D's wife is E. F is the son of D and E. G is the sister of F. How is B related to G?

  1. AMaternal aunt
  2. BMother
  3. CPaternal aunt
  4. DSister-in-law
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. Paternal aunt

Solution

D and E are the parents of F and G. C is D's brother, so C is G's paternal uncle. B is the wife of C, so B is G's paternal uncle's wife = paternal aunt. Answer: Paternal aunt

Q41.

In a group of relatives, there are two mothers and two daughters. What is the minimum number of women present?

  1. A2
  2. B4
  3. C3
  4. D5
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. 3

Solution

A grandmother is a mother, her daughter is both a daughter and a mother, and the granddaughter is a daughter. That gives 2 mothers (grandmother, mother) and 2 daughters (mother, granddaughter) with just 3 women. Answer: 3

Shortcut: The middle person plays two roles, so 3 people are enough.

Q42.

P is the husband of Q. R is the son of Q. S is the wife of R. T is the daughter of R and S. How is P related to T?

  1. AMaternal grandfather
  2. BPaternal grandfather
  3. CFather
  4. DUncle
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. Paternal grandfather

Solution

P is Q's husband and R is Q's son, so P is R's father. T is R's daughter, so P is T's father's father. Answer: Paternal grandfather

Q43.

Pointing to Anita, Rajan said, "Her mother is the only daughter of my mother." How is Anita related to Rajan?

  1. ANiece
  2. BDaughter
  3. CSister
  4. DCousin
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. Niece

Solution

Rajan's mother's only daughter is Rajan's sister (Rajan is a male, so it is not himself). Anita's mother is Rajan's sister, so Anita is the daughter of Rajan's sister. Anita is Rajan's niece. Answer: Niece

Q44.

A is the mother of B and C. C is the wife of D. D's sister is E. How is A related to D?

  1. AMother
  2. BSister-in-law
  3. CAunt
  4. DMother-in-law
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. Mother-in-law

Solution

C is A's daughter and C is the wife of D. The mother of one's wife is the mother-in-law. So A is D's mother-in-law. Answer: Mother-in-law

Q45.

P is the mother of Q and R. R is the husband of S. S is the daughter of T. T is a man whose sister is U. How is U related to R?

  1. AMother-in-law
  2. BSister-in-law
  3. CAunt
  4. DAunt-in-law
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. Aunt-in-law

Solution

S is the wife of R and the daughter of T. U is T's sister, so U is S's paternal aunt. S's aunt is R's wife's aunt, which makes U an aunt-in-law to R. Answer: Aunt-in-law

Ready to test yourself? 10 fresh Blood Relations questions, timed, with solutions at the end.

Start the quiz

Related topics

Practise this with Sam

A real mock interview, out loud, with an honest scorecard. Free to start.

Start free