Trace family links

Follow the stated parent links, then read the relationship in the direction the question asks.

Start with the given links

1 of 4

MayaRobin
Read downward: Maya is the parent of Robin.

These exercises describe a small fictional family using parent links. Use only the relationships stated in the question. Do not guess age or gender from a name.

An arrow in the lesson diagram points from parent to child. Maya is Robin's parent, so Robin is Maya's child. The same link gives different answers when you reverse the question.

The practice gives the facts in words and asks you to choose one of four relationships. Its review draws the connecting path.

Lesson help

Trace the stated links, then check whose relationship to whom the question asks about.

About this lesson

Try the method in a practice when you are ready.

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Start with the given links

These exercises describe a small fictional family using parent links. Use only the relationships stated in the question. Do not guess age or gender from a name.

An arrow in the lesson diagram points from parent to child. Maya is Robin's parent, so Robin is Maya's child. The same link gives different answers when you reverse the question.

The practice gives the facts in words and asks you to choose one of four relationships. Its review draws the connecting path.

MayaRobin
Read downward: Maya is the parent of Robin.

Follow two parent links

Maya is Robin's parent, and Robin is Ellis's parent. Following both links shows that Maya is Ellis's grandparent.

Now reverse the question: what is Ellis's relationship to Maya? Ellis is Maya's grandchild, not grandparent. Identify whose relationship is being asked before choosing.

Other questions can branch: people with the same stated parent are siblings. Follow the supplied links rather than the order in which the names appear.

MayaRobinEllis
Two links: Maya is the parent of Robin, and Robin is the parent of Ellis.

Check the question's direction

Noor is Alex's parent. Alex is Sam's parent. What is Sam's relationship to Noor?

Trace the two links, then check which person the question names first. This checkpoint offers two choices; the practice offers four.

The three levels describe four, six and eight people. Each round has six questions. These are simplified family-link puzzles, not complete family histories.

NoorAlexSam
New family: Noor is the parent of Alex, and Alex is the parent of Sam.

Try it

What is Sam's relationship to Noor?

  1. Grandparent
  2. Grandchild
Show the answer

Grandchild

Correct. Sam is Alex's child, and Alex is Noor's child. That makes Sam the grandchild of Noor. Reversing the question would give grandparent.

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Practice Family relations