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In a class, 24 students have scored more marks than Vineet, whereas 19 students have scored lesser marks than Surbhi. Arti has scored more marks than Surbhi, but lesser marks than Vineeet. Arti has scored lesser marks than 29 students and more marks than 26 students. How many total students are there in the class ?

This question was previously asked in
SSC Stenographer 2019 Previous Year Paper (24-Dec-2020) (Shift 2)
The correct answer is

56

Solving the Class Ranking Problem to Find Total Students

This problem involves understanding the concept of ranking in a class based on students' marks. We are given information about the relative positions of three students: Vineet, Surbhi, and Arti, and we need to determine the total number of students in the class.

Analyzing the Given Ranking Information

Let's break down the information provided:

  • 24 students have scored more marks than Vineet. This means that Vineet is ranked just below these 24 students. If we consider the ranking from the top (highest marks first), Vineet's rank would be $24 + 1 = 25\text{th}$.
  • 19 students have scored lesser marks than Surbhi. This means that Surbhi is ranked just above these 19 students. If we consider the ranking from the bottom (lowest marks first), Surbhi's rank would be $19 + 1 = 20\text{th}$.
  • Arti has scored more marks than Surbhi, but lesser marks than Vineet. This indicates that Arti's rank is somewhere between Surbhi's rank and Vineet's rank (when considering ranks from the top). Since Vineet is 25th from the top, and Surbhi is 20th from the bottom (which is a lower rank than Arti from the top), this statement is consistent.
  • Arti has scored lesser marks than 29 students. This means 29 students are ranked higher than Arti. So, Arti's rank from the top is $29 + 1 = 30\text{th}$.
  • Arti has scored more marks than 26 students. This means 26 students are ranked lower than Arti. So, Arti's rank from the bottom is $26 + 1 = 27\text{th}$.

Using Arti's Rank to Calculate Total Students

We have now determined Arti's rank from both the top and the bottom of the class ranking:

  • Arti's rank from the top = 30th
  • Arti's rank from the bottom = 27th

In any linear ranking where there are no ties, if a person's rank from the top is $R_{top}$ and their rank from the bottom is $R_{bottom}$, the total number of people ($N$) in the list can be calculated using the formula:

$$N = R_{top} + R_{bottom} - 1$$

Applying this formula to Arti's ranks:

$$N = 30 + 27 - 1$$

$$N = 57 - 1$$

$$N = 56$$

Therefore, the total number of students in the class is 56.

Verifying the Information

Let's quickly check if the other information aligns with a class size of 56:

  • Vineet is 25th from the top. This means $56 - 25 = 31$ students scored less than Vineet. The problem states 24 students scored more than Vineet, which means $56 - 25 = 31$ students scored less than or equal to Vineet, and Vineet is one of them. If 24 scored *more*, then 24 + Vineet (1) = 25 students are at or above Vineet's rank. This aligns with Vineet being 25th from the top.
  • Surbhi is 20th from the bottom. This means $56 - 20 = 36$ students scored more than Surbhi. The problem states 19 students scored less than Surbhi. This aligns with Surbhi being 20th from the bottom ($56 - 20 = 36$ students above Surbhi, and Surbhi is one of the 56). The number of students below Surbhi is $56 - 36 - 1 = 19$. This matches the given information.
  • Arti is 30th from the top and 27th from the bottom. Vineet is 25th from the top. Surbhi is 20th from the bottom, which means Surbhi is $56 - 20 + 1 = 37\text{th}$ from the top. Arti (30th) is indeed ranked higher than Surbhi (37th) and lower than Vineet (25th) from the top. This also aligns.

All the given conditions are consistent with a class size of 56 students.

Student Given Info Inferred Rank/Count
Vineet 24 students scored more Rank 25th from top
Surbhi 19 students scored less Rank 20th from bottom
Arti Scored less than 29 students Rank 30th from top ($29+1$)
Scored more than 26 students Rank 27th from bottom ($26+1$)

Conclusion

By using the information about Arti's rank from both the top and the bottom of the class, we could determine the total number of students. The formula $N = R_{top} + R_{bottom} - 1$ is key here.

Revision Table: Understanding Ranks

Concept Explanation Formula (for N total students)
Rank from Top ($R_{top}$) Number of individuals scoring more + 1 $R_{top} = (\text{Number of individuals scoring more}) + 1$
Rank from Bottom ($R_{bottom}$) Number of individuals scoring less + 1 $R_{bottom} = (\text{Number of individuals scoring less}) + 1$
Total Individuals (N) Sum of ranks from top and bottom minus 1 $N = R_{top} + R_{bottom} - 1$

Additional Information: Ranking Problems

Ranking and order problems are common in aptitude tests. They require careful reading to distinguish between 'number of people scoring more/less than' and the actual 'rank'.

  • Understanding "More Than" and "Less Than": If X students scored more than a person, that person's rank from the top is X+1. If Y students scored less than a person, that person's rank from the bottom is Y+1.
  • Total Number Formula: The formula $N = R_{top} + R_{bottom} - 1$ is fundamental. The '- 1' is because the person whose rank is being considered is counted twice (once from the top and once from the bottom) in the sum $R_{top} + R_{bottom}$.
  • Handling Ties: Some problems might involve ties in ranks. In such cases, the approach needs to be adjusted based on how ties are defined (e.g., all tied students get the same rank, or they occupy a block of ranks). This specific problem implies distinct ranks as it refers to 'the' student at a certain position.
  • Visualizing: Drawing a simple diagram representing the ranked list can sometimes help visualize the positions and counts.
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Similar Questions

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  3. Ina class of 64 students, Komal’s rank is 6 positions lower (i.e. towards bottom) than her friend Shikha, who is at the 59 th position from the end. What is Komal’s rank from the top in the class?

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Important Questions from Ordering and Ranking

  1. A medical representative plans to visit each of six hospitals — A, B, C, D, E and F — exactly once during the course of one day. He is setting up his schedule for the day according to the following conditions:

    i. He must visit A before B and E.

    ii. He must visit B before D.

    iii. The third hospital he visits must be C.

    Which of the following could be the possible order in which the medical representative visits the six hospitals?
  2. Sonam is older than Renu. Komal is younger than Renu. Priya is older than Sonam. Who is the eldest of them?

  3. Five men P, Q, R, S and T are reading a newspaper. The one who reads it first, gives it to T. The one who reads it last, had taken it from R. Q is not the first or last one to read it. There were two readers between P and R. Who is the third one to have read the newspaper?

  4. P, Q, R, S, T and U are standing in a queue. Q is just ahead of P. S is just behind T. U is NOT near R, who is separated from Q by two persons. Who is standing at the front of the queue?

  5. Five students took part in a cycling competition. Robert finished before Monish but behind Gunjan. Anil finished before Sunil but behind Monish.

    Who won the competition?

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