J, K, L, M, N and O are six colleagues working in an NGO. J earns more than L but less than M. K earns more than J but less than N. N earns less than O but more than M. K earns less than M. Who among the six earns the most?
O
Solving the NGO Colleagues Earning Comparison
This question asks us to determine which of the six colleagues in an NGO earns the most based on a series of comparative statements about their earnings. We need to carefully analyze each statement and combine them to establish the relative earning order of J, K, L, M, N, and O.
Analyzing the Earning Statements
Let's represent "earns more than" with the symbol > and "earns less than" with <.
- J earns more than L but less than M: This gives us two relationships: J > L and J < M (or M > J).
- K earns more than J but less than N: This gives us K > J and K < N (or N > K).
- N earns less than O but more than M: This gives us N < O (or O > N) and N > M.
- K earns less than M: This gives us K < M (or M > K).
Synthesizing the Earning Relationships
Now, let's combine these individual relationships to form a clearer picture of the earning hierarchy among the NGO colleagues.
- From the first statement, we know M > J > L.
- From the second statement, we know N > K > J.
- Combining N > M (from the third statement) and M > J (from the first), we get N > M > J.
- We also have K > J and M > J. The explicit statement "K earns less than M" (K < M or M > K) clarifies the relationship between M and K. So, M > K and K > J, which means M > K > J.
- Now, let's integrate N into the sequence involving M and K. We know N > M and M > K. This gives us N > M > K.
- We also know K > J and J > L. Combining this with N > M > K, the sequence so far is N > M > K > J > L.
- Finally, the third statement also says N < O, which means O > N.
Putting it all together, the complete order of earnings from highest to lowest is:
O > N > M > K > J > L
Identifying the Highest Earner
From the synthesized earning order O > N > M > K > J > L, it is clear that O earns more than everyone else in the group of six NGO colleagues.
| Colleague | Relative Earning Position |
|---|---|
| O | Highest earner |
| N | Earns less than O, more than M |
| M | Earns less than N, more than K and J |
| K | Earns less than M and N, more than J |
| J | Earns less than K, M, and N, more than L |
| L | Lowest earner |
Therefore, the colleague who earns the most is O.
Revision Table: Earning Comparison Logic
Understanding the logic of comparisons is key. Let's summarize the deductions:
- Statement 1: M > J > L
- Statement 2: N > K > J
- Statement 3: O > N and N > M
- Statement 4: M > K
- Combining N > M and M > K and K > J and J > L gives N > M > K > J > L.
- Adding O > N to the chain gives O > N > M > K > J > L.
Additional Information: Ranking and Ordering Puzzles
Earning comparison questions are a type of logic puzzle that involves ranking or ordering individuals or items based on given comparative statements. These puzzles test your ability to synthesize multiple pieces of information to determine a complete or partial order.
Key strategies for solving such puzzles include:
- Representing relationships using symbols (>, <, =).
- Drawing diagrams or creating a linear arrangement to visualize the order.
- Combining pairs of statements that share a common element.
- Eliminating possibilities based on the given constraints.
Practice with different types of comparison statements (e.g., "not more than", "at least", "as much as") helps in mastering these puzzles.
Important Questions from Ordering and Ranking
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?Sonam is older than Renu. Komal is younger than Renu. Priya is older than Sonam. Who is the eldest of them?
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?
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?
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?
