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Question

Five friends took a test. Payal scored more than Komal. Reena scored less than Payal. Simi scored more than Tanu but less than Komal. Who among them scored the highest?

This question was previously asked in
SSC Stenographer 2020-21 Previous Year Paper (15-Nov-2021) (Shift 2)
The correct answer is

Payal

Analyzing Test Scores Ranking

This question asks us to determine who scored the highest among five friends based on given conditions about their test scores. We need to carefully analyze each piece of information to establish the relative ranking of the friends' scores.

Understanding the Test Score Conditions

Let's break down the statements provided about the friends' scores:

  • Payal scored more than Komal. We can write this as: Payal > Komal.
  • Reena scored less than Payal. This means: Payal > Reena.
  • Simi scored more than Tanu but less than Komal. This gives us two relationships: Simi > Tanu and Simi < Komal. Combining these, we get: Komal > Simi > Tanu.

Combining the Test Score Relationships

Now, let's combine all the relationships we've identified:

  1. Payal > Komal
  2. Payal > Reena
  3. Komal > Simi
  4. Simi > Tanu

From relationships 1, 3, and 4, we can form a chain: Payal > Komal > Simi > Tanu.

Relationship 2 tells us Payal > Reena. However, the relationships do not specify where Reena stands in comparison to Komal, Simi, or Tanu. Reena could be higher or lower than them, but definitely lower than Payal.

Identifying the Highest Scorer

We are looking for the person with the highest score. Let's examine our combined chain and the separate relationship involving Reena:

  • The chain Payal > Komal > Simi > Tanu clearly shows that Payal has a higher score than Komal, Simi, and Tanu.
  • The separate relationship Payal > Reena shows that Payal also has a higher score than Reena.

Since Payal scored more than Komal, Simi, Tanu, and Reena, Payal must have the highest score among all five friends.

Based on the logical deduction from the given conditions, Payal scored the highest.

Revision Table: Test Score Ranking

Relationship Inequality
Payal scored more than Komal Payal > Komal
Reena scored less than Payal Payal > Reena
Simi scored more than Tanu Simi > Tanu
Simi scored less than Komal Komal > Simi
Combined chain Payal > Komal > Simi > Tanu
Position of Reena Reena < Payal (position relative to others is not fixed)

Additional Information: Logical Deduction and Ranking Puzzles

This question is an example of a ranking or ordering puzzle, which falls under logical reasoning. These puzzles require you to deduce the relative positions or order of items (in this case, people based on test scores) using a series of comparative statements.

Key strategies for solving ranking puzzles include:

  • Translating statements into inequalities or symbolic representations (like >, <).
  • Combining related inequalities to form longer chains or sequences.
  • Identifying items whose positions are not fully determined relative to all others, while still being able to answer the specific question asked (like identifying the highest or lowest).
  • Using a visual aid like drawing a vertical line or list to place items in order as relationships are confirmed.

Solving such puzzles improves analytical thinking and deductive reasoning skills.

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Important Questions from Ordering and Ranking

  1. Three persons A, Band Care standing in a queue not necessarily in the same order. There are 4 persons between Aand B, and 7 persons between Band C. If there are 11 persons ahead of Cand 13 behind A, what could be the minimum number of persons in the queue?

  2. In a class of 60 students, where the number of girls is twice that of boys, Kamal, a boy, ranked seventeenth from the top. If there are 9 girls ahead of Kamal, the number of boys in rank after him is:

  3. Examine the information given in the following paragraph and answer the items that follow: Guest lectures on five subjects viz., Economics, History, Statistics, English and Mathematics have to be arranged in a week from Monday to Friday. Only one lecture can be arranged on each day. Economics cannot be scheduled on Tuesday. Guest faculty for History is available only on Tuesday. Mathematics lecture has to be scheduled immediately after the day of Economics lecture. English lecture has to be scheduled immediately before the day of Economics lecture. Which lecture is scheduled on Monday?

  4. Examine the information given in the following paragraph and answer the items that follow: Guest lectures on five subjects viz., Economics, History, Statistics, English and Mathematics have to be arranged in a week from Monday to Friday. Only one lecture can be arranged on each day. Economics cannot be scheduled on Tuesday. Guest faculty for History is available only on Tuesday. Mathematics lecture has to be scheduled immediately after the day of Economics lecture. English lecture has to be scheduled immediately before the day of Economics lecture. Which lecture is scheduled between Statistics and English?

  5. Examine the information given in the following paragraph and answer the items that follow: Guest lectures on five subjects viz., Economics, History, Statistics, English and Mathematics have to be arranged in a week from Monday to Friday. Only one lecture can be arranged on each day. Economics cannot be scheduled on Tuesday. Guest faculty for History is available only on Tuesday. Mathematics lecture has to be scheduled immediately after the day of Economics lecture. English lecture has to be scheduled immediately before the day of Economics lecture. Which lecture is the last one in the week?

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