Analyzing the Exam Marks Ranking Problem

This problem involves determining the relative scores of five friends based on the given clues. We need to figure out their ranking from the highest marks to the lowest marks to identify who got the fourth highest score.

Step-by-Step Ranking Deduction

Let's break down the information provided and deduce the ranking of the five friends: P, Q, R, S, and T.

• Clue 1: Q scored the highest marks.

  This immediately places Q at the top position in the ranking of 5 friends.

  Ranking so far: Q > _ > _ > _ > _

• Clue 2: Only two people scored more than P but less than S.

  This is a crucial clue. It tells us that S scored more than P, and there are exactly two people whose scores fall between S and P. Let's represent the positions from 1st (highest) to 5th (lowest). Since Q is 1st, S cannot be 1st.

  If S is 2nd, then the two people scoring less than S but more than P must be the 3rd and 4th ranked individuals. This would mean P is ranked 5th.

  Let's test this possibility: Q (1st) > S (2nd) > Person A (3rd) > Person B (4th) > P (5th). The people scoring more than P (5th) are Q, S, A, B. The people scoring less than S (2nd) are A, B, P. The people scoring *both* more than P *and* less than S are A and B. There are exactly two such people, which fits the clue.

  This confirms the relative positioning: Q is 1st, S is 2nd, and P is 5th.

  Ranking so far: Q (1st) > S (2nd) > _ (3rd) > _ (4th) > P (5th)

• Clue 3: T scored more marks than R.

  The remaining friends are T and R, and the remaining positions are 3rd and 4th. To satisfy the condition that T scored more marks than R, T must take the 3rd position and R must take the 4th position.

  Ranking fully determined: Q (1st) > S (2nd) > T (3rd) > R (4th) > P (5th)

Final Ranking and Fourth Highest Score

Based on the analysis of all clues, the final ranking of the five friends from highest marks to lowest marks is:

1. Q (Highest)
2. S
3. T
4. R
5. P (Lowest)

We are asked to find who got the fourth highest marks. Looking at the ranking, the person in the fourth position is R.

Conclusion on Fourth Highest Marks

Therefore, R got the fourth highest marks in the examination.

Revision Table: Marks Ranking Clues

Additional Information: Logical Reasoning in Ranking Problems

Ranking problems are common in logical reasoning. They require careful reading and step-by-step deduction to establish the correct order based on relative comparisons. Key strategies include:

• Identify the highest or lowest position if given directly.
• Use inequalities (>, <) to represent score relationships (e.g., T > R).
• Look for clues that specify the number of people between two individuals.
• Use process of elimination to fill in remaining positions with remaining individuals.
• Always re-check the final ranking against all the original clues to ensure consistency.

Solving these types of problems systematically helps avoid errors and confidently arrive at the correct answer.