Question

Pointing to a man, a woman says, ``He is the son of my grandfather's only son." How is the man related to the woman?

• A. Brother
• B. Cousin
• C. Father
• D. Son

Hint:

For blood relation problems, break down the statement into individual relationships (e.g., grandfather, son). Draw a family tree starting from the speaker, and trace the connections step-by-step. Clarify terms like “only son” to avoid ambiguity, and test each option against the tree to confirm the relationship.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

The relationship is determined by dissecting the statement.

• Step 1: Statement Interpretation. The woman states, "He is the son of my grandfather’s only son."
  • My grandfather: Refers to the woman's grandfather.
  • Grandfather’s only son: The grandfather has a single son. This individual is either the woman’s father or her uncle. Given the exclusivity of "only son," this person is identified as the woman’s father, assuming she is the daughter of her grandfather's son.
  • Son of the only son: The man in question is the offspring of the woman’s father.
• Step 2: Relationship Determination. If the woman's father is indeed the grandfather's sole son, and the man is the son of the woman's father, then the man is the woman's brother, as they share the same paternal lineage.
• Step 3: Alternative Interpretations. The possibility exists that the "only son" refers to someone other than the woman's father. If the grandfather's only son was an uncle, the woman would be a cousin's daughter. However, the term "only son" typically implies no other male siblings, rendering this scenario improbable. The most direct interpretation is that the grandfather's only son is the woman’s father.
• Step 4: Option Evaluation.
  • (1) Brother: This aligns with the man being the son of the woman’s father.
  • (2) Cousin: This scenario is only feasible if the grandfather's son is an uncle, contradicting the implication of "only son" pointing to the father.
  • (3) Father: The man cannot be the father, as he is the son of the grandfather's son.
  • (4) Son: The man cannot be the woman’s son, as he is the son of her father.
• Step 5: Family Tree Construction. Grandfather $\rightarrow$ Only son (Father) $\rightarrow$ Woman and Man (siblings). This visual representation confirms the man's relationship as the woman’s brother.

Consequently, the man is the woman’s brother.