Practice logical reasoning puzzles involving seating arrangements, blood relations, coding-decoding, series and patterns, and analytical deduction. Improve your problem-solving skills for placement tests, banking exams, SSC and other competitive examinations.
Question 1
G, H, J, K, L and M live on six different floors of a building. The lowermost floor is numbered 6, the floor above it is numbered 5, and so on up to the topmost floor, which is numbered 1.
H lives on an even-numbered floor, but not on floor 4.
H does not live on the lowermost floor.
Neither J nor L lives on the topmost floor.
K lives on an even-numbered floor and immediately above J.
M lives on floor number 3.
Who lives on floor number 5?
H lives on an even-numbered floor, but not on floor 4.
H does not live on the lowermost floor.
Neither J nor L lives on the topmost floor.
K lives on an even-numbered floor and immediately above J.
M lives on floor number 3.
Who lives on floor number 5?
Explanation
Floor 1 is the top and floor 6 is the lowermost. H is on an even floor other than 4 and not on the lowermost floor 6, so H is on floor 2. M is on floor 3. K is on an even floor with J immediately below it, so J's floor number is one more than K's. K cannot be on floor 2 (H) or floor 6 (nothing below it), so K is on floor 4 and J on floor 5. Floors 1 and 6 remain for G and L; L is not on the topmost floor, so L is on floor 6 and G on floor 1. So J lives on floor 5.
Question 2
P, Q, R, S, T and U live on six different floors of a building. The ground floor is numbered 1, the floor above it is numbered 2, and so on up to the topmost floor, which is numbered 6.
R lives on an odd-numbered floor, but not on floor 5.
Neither P nor T lives on the topmost floor.
U lives on an even-numbered floor and immediately below P.
S lives on floor number 3.
Who lives on the floor immediately above S?
R lives on an odd-numbered floor, but not on floor 5.
Neither P nor T lives on the topmost floor.
U lives on an even-numbered floor and immediately below P.
S lives on floor number 3.
Who lives on the floor immediately above S?
Explanation
S is on floor 3, so R (odd floor, not 5) is on floor 1. U is on an even floor with P immediately above it, and P is not on the top floor. U on floor 2 would put P on floor 3, which is S's floor, and U on floor 6 leaves no floor for P, so U is on floor 4 and P on floor 5. Floors 2 and 6 remain for Q and T; T is not on the top floor, so T is on floor 2 and Q on floor 6. The floor immediately above S is floor 4, where U lives.
Question 3
Seven boxes A, B, C, D, E, F and G are kept one over the other, but not necessarily in the same order.
Only C is kept below E.
Only one box is kept between E and G.
Only B is kept above F.
D is kept immediately above G.
How many boxes are kept between A and F?
Only C is kept below E.
Only one box is kept between E and G.
Only B is kept above F.
D is kept immediately above G.
How many boxes are kept between A and F?
Explanation
Counting from the bottom: only C is below E, so C is 1st and E 2nd. Only B is above F, so B is 7th and F 6th. One box is between E and G, so G is 4th, and D, immediately above G, is 5th. A takes the remaining place, 3rd. Order from the bottom: C, E, A, G, D, F, B. Between A and F are G and D, so two boxes.
Question 4
Seven boxes H, I, J, K, L, M and N are kept one over the other, but not necessarily in the same order.
Only two boxes are kept above J.
Only one box is kept between J and L, and L is kept below J.
Only H is kept below N.
K is kept immediately above J.
I is not kept at the top.
Which box is kept immediately below L?
Only two boxes are kept above J.
Only one box is kept between J and L, and L is kept below J.
Only H is kept below N.
K is kept immediately above J.
I is not kept at the top.
Which box is kept immediately below L?
Explanation
Two boxes are above J, so J is 5th from the bottom, and K, immediately above J, is 6th. One box is between J and L with L below J, so L is 3rd. Only H is below N, so H is 1st and N 2nd. I is not at the top, so I is 4th and M 7th. Order from the bottom: H, N, L, I, J, K, M. The box immediately below L is N.
Question 5
Each of A, B, C, D, E, F and G has an exam on a different day of a week, starting from Monday and ending on Sunday of the same week.
C has an exam on Wednesday.
Exactly four people have their exams between B and F, and neither B nor F has an exam on Sunday.
D has an exam immediately before G.
A does not have an exam on Sunday.
F does not have an exam after B.
How many people have exams after B?
C has an exam on Wednesday.
Exactly four people have their exams between B and F, and neither B nor F has an exam on Sunday.
D has an exam immediately before G.
A does not have an exam on Sunday.
F does not have an exam after B.
How many people have exams after B?
Explanation
C is on Wednesday. Four people are between B and F and neither is on Sunday, so they are on Monday and Saturday; F is not after B, so F is on Monday and B on Saturday. D and G are on consecutive days, and the only two free consecutive days are Thursday and Friday, so D is on Thursday and G on Friday. Tuesday and Sunday remain; A is not on Sunday, so A is on Tuesday and E on Sunday. Only E has an exam after B, so the answer is 1.
Question 6
Each of J, K, L, M, N, O and P has an exam on a different day of a week, starting from Monday and ending on Sunday of the same week.
M has an exam on Friday.
Exactly three people have their exams between K and N, and neither K nor N has an exam on Monday.
L has an exam immediately after O.
No one has an exam before P.
N does not have an exam before K.
How many people have exams between O and N?
M has an exam on Friday.
Exactly three people have their exams between K and N, and neither K nor N has an exam on Monday.
L has an exam immediately after O.
No one has an exam before P.
N does not have an exam before K.
How many people have exams between O and N?
Explanation
P is on Monday and M on Friday. Three people are between K and N, N is after K and neither is on Monday, so (K, N) is (Tuesday, Saturday) or (Wednesday, Sunday). L is immediately after O. In the second case the free days are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and no two of them are together, so that case fails. So K is on Tuesday and N on Saturday; O and L take Wednesday and Thursday, and J takes Sunday. Between O (Wednesday) and N (Saturday) are L and M, so 2 people.
Question 7
The speeds of five runners A, B, C, D and E are compared. No two of them have the same speed.
B is faster than only one runner.
D is faster than all the other four runners.
E is faster than B but slower than C and D.
How many runners are slower than C?
B is faster than only one runner.
D is faster than all the other four runners.
E is faster than B but slower than C and D.
How many runners are slower than C?
Explanation
D is faster than all four others, so D is the fastest. B is faster than only one runner, so B is fourth. E is faster than B but slower than C, so the order from the fastest is D, C, E, B, with A the slowest. C is faster than E, B and A, so three runners are slower than C.
Question 8
Five bags P, Q, R, S and T are weighed. No two bags have the same weight.
Q is lighter than all the other four bags.
R is heavier than only one bag.
S is heavier than R but lighter than both T and P.
P is not the heaviest bag.
How many bags are heavier than S?
Q is lighter than all the other four bags.
R is heavier than only one bag.
S is heavier than R but lighter than both T and P.
P is not the heaviest bag.
How many bags are heavier than S?
Explanation
Q is the lightest, and R is heavier than only one bag, so R is fourth. S is heavier than R but lighter than T and P, so S is third, with T and P in the top two places. P is not the heaviest, so T is first and P second. Two bags, T and P, are heavier than S.
Question 9
Ten people sit in two parallel rows of five, with all of them facing North. Row 1, which is to the north of Row 2, has A, B, C, D and E, and Row 2 has V, W, X, Y and Z, not necessarily in the same order. Each person in Row 2 sits directly behind one person in Row 1.
No one sits to the right of E.
C sits third to the left of E.
A does not sit at either end of the row.
B sits to the immediate right of A.
The number of persons who sit to the right of X is the same as the number of persons who sit to the left of C.
W sits directly behind A.
Z is not a neighbour of W.
Y does not sit at either end of the row.
Z sits somewhere to the right of V.
Who sits directly in front of the person sitting to the immediate left of X?
No one sits to the right of E.
C sits third to the left of E.
A does not sit at either end of the row.
B sits to the immediate right of A.
The number of persons who sit to the right of X is the same as the number of persons who sit to the left of C.
W sits directly behind A.
Z is not a neighbour of W.
Y does not sit at either end of the row.
Z sits somewhere to the right of V.
Who sits directly in front of the person sitting to the immediate left of X?
Explanation
Row 1: no one is to the right of E, so E is at the right end (place 5 from the left). C is third to the left of E, at place 2. A is not at an end and B is to the immediate right of A, so A is at place 3 and B at place 4, leaving D at place 1. Row 2: one person is to the left of C, so one person is to the right of X, and X is at place 4. W is behind A, at place 3. Y is not at an end, so Y is at place 2. V and Z take the ends, and Z is to the right of V, so V is at place 1 and Z at place 5. Row 1 is D, C, A, B, E and Row 2 is V, Y, W, X, Z. The person to the immediate left of X is W, and A sits directly in front of W.
Question 10
Ten people sit in two parallel rows of five, with all of them facing North. Row 1, which is to the north of Row 2, has J, K, L, M and N, and Row 2 has P, Q, R, S and T, not necessarily in the same order. Each person in Row 2 sits directly behind one person in Row 1.
K sits at the extreme left end of Row 1.
Only two people sit between K and M.
N sits to the immediate right of M.
L is not an immediate neighbour of K.
R sits directly behind M.
Only one person sits between R and P.
T does not sit at either end of the row.
Q sits somewhere to the left of S.
Who sits directly in front of the person sitting to the immediate right of P?
K sits at the extreme left end of Row 1.
Only two people sit between K and M.
N sits to the immediate right of M.
L is not an immediate neighbour of K.
R sits directly behind M.
Only one person sits between R and P.
T does not sit at either end of the row.
Q sits somewhere to the left of S.
Who sits directly in front of the person sitting to the immediate right of P?
Explanation
Row 1: K is at the left end (place 1). Two people are between K and M, so M is at place 4, and N, to the immediate right of M, is at place 5. L is not next to K, so L is at place 3 and J at place 2. Row 2: R is behind M, at place 4. One person is between R and P, so P is at place 2. T is not at an end, so T is at place 3. Q is to the left of S, so Q is at place 1 and S at place 5. Row 1 is K, J, L, M, N and Row 2 is Q, P, T, R, S. The person to the immediate right of P is T, and L sits directly in front of T.
Question 11
Each of A, B, C, D, E, F and G has an exam on a different day of a week, starting from Monday and ending on Sunday of the same week.
F has an exam on Thursday.
Exactly two people have exams between F and B.
D has an exam immediately before E, and G has an exam immediately after C.
Only one person has an exam between E and C.
B does not have an exam on Monday.
How many people have exams before D?
F has an exam on Thursday.
Exactly two people have exams between F and B.
D has an exam immediately before E, and G has an exam immediately after C.
Only one person has an exam between E and C.
B does not have an exam on Monday.
How many people have exams before D?
Explanation
F is on Thursday. Two people are between F and B, so B is on Monday or Sunday; B is not on Monday, so B is on Sunday. D-E and C-G are pairs of consecutive days with one person between E and C. The free days are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, and the only arrangement that works is D on Tuesday, E on Wednesday, C on Friday and G on Saturday (F, on Thursday, is the one person between E and C). A takes Monday. Only A has an exam before D, so the answer is 1.
Question 12
Each of J, K, L, M, N, O and P has an exam on a different day of a week, starting from Monday and ending on Sunday of the same week.
L has an exam on Friday.
Exactly one person has an exam between L and N.
K has an exam immediately after M, and O has an exam immediately before P.
Only two people have exams between P and M.
How many people have exams after O?
L has an exam on Friday.
Exactly one person has an exam between L and N.
K has an exam immediately after M, and O has an exam immediately before P.
Only two people have exams between P and M.
How many people have exams after O?
Explanation
L is on Friday. One person is between L and N, so N is on Wednesday or Sunday. M-K and O-P are pairs of consecutive days with exactly two people between P and M. If N were on Wednesday, the free days would be Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, and the pairs would have to be Monday-Tuesday and Saturday-Sunday, which leaves three or five people between P and M, not two. So N is on Sunday. Then M on Monday, K on Tuesday, O on Wednesday and P on Thursday give two people (K and O) between M and P, and J takes Saturday. After O come P, L, J and N, so 4 people.
Question 13
Seven friends A, B, C, D, E, F and G are at a picnic.
A, C, E and G are girls and the others are boys.
B, C, F and G brought sandwiches and the rest brought fruit.
A, B, C and E drank tea and the rest drank coffee.
Which two girls brought fruit and drank tea?
A, C, E and G are girls and the others are boys.
B, C, F and G brought sandwiches and the rest brought fruit.
A, B, C and E drank tea and the rest drank coffee.
Which two girls brought fruit and drank tea?
Explanation
The girls are A, C, E and G. Of these, C and G brought sandwiches, so A and E brought fruit. Both A and E drank tea. So the two girls are A and E.
Question 14
Six students P, Q, R, S, T and U live in a hostel.
Q, R, T and U study science and the others study commerce.
P, Q, S and T play cricket and the rest play football.
R and S wear glasses and the others do not.
Which two science students play cricket and do not wear glasses?
Q, R, T and U study science and the others study commerce.
P, Q, S and T play cricket and the rest play football.
R and S wear glasses and the others do not.
Which two science students play cricket and do not wear glasses?
Explanation
The science students are Q, R, T and U. Of these, Q and T play cricket. Neither Q nor T wears glasses. So the two students are Q and T.
Question 15
Each of A, B, C, D, E, F and G has an exam on a different day of a week, starting from Monday and ending on Sunday of the same week.
D has an exam on Sunday.
Exactly three people have exams between A and B, and neither A nor B has an exam on Sunday.
C has an exam immediately before E, and F has an exam immediately after E.
G has an exam immediately before A.
How many people have exams between A and D?
D has an exam on Sunday.
Exactly three people have exams between A and B, and neither A nor B has an exam on Sunday.
C has an exam immediately before E, and F has an exam immediately after E.
G has an exam immediately before A.
How many people have exams between A and D?
Explanation
D is on Sunday. Three people are between A and B and neither is on Sunday, so they are on (Monday, Friday) or (Tuesday, Saturday). G is immediately before A, so A is not on Monday. If A were on Friday, G would be on Thursday and B on Monday, leaving Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, where C, E and F cannot have three consecutive days. If A were on Saturday, G would be on Friday and B on Tuesday, leaving Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, which also fails. So A is on Tuesday, G on Monday and B on Saturday, and C, E and F take Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Between A (Tuesday) and D (Sunday) are C, E, F and B, so 4 people.
Question 16
Each of J, K, L, M, N, O and P has an exam on a different day of a week, starting from Monday and ending on Sunday of the same week.
M has an exam on Sunday.
Exactly four people have exams between K and O, and neither K nor O has an exam on Sunday.
N has an exam immediately after L, and P has an exam immediately after N.
J has an exam immediately before O.
How many people have exams between L and O?
M has an exam on Sunday.
Exactly four people have exams between K and O, and neither K nor O has an exam on Sunday.
N has an exam immediately after L, and P has an exam immediately after N.
J has an exam immediately before O.
How many people have exams between L and O?
Explanation
M is on Sunday. Four people are between K and O and neither is on Sunday, so K and O are on Monday and Saturday. J is immediately before O, so O is not on Monday: O is on Saturday, J on Friday and K on Monday. L, N and P are on three consecutive days in that order, which must be Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Between L (Tuesday) and O (Saturday) are N, P and J, so 3 people.
Question 17
Seven persons A, B, C, D, E, F and G live on the seven floors of a building, one on each floor. The ground floor is numbered 1 and the top floor is numbered 7.
Four persons live between C and F.
C does not live on the top floor or on the ground floor.
E lives immediately above or immediately below C.
Two persons live between B and E.
E lives somewhere below G.
G and A live on adjacent floors.
D lives on a floor below E.
A lives on an odd-numbered floor.
Which of the following statements is true?
Four persons live between C and F.
C does not live on the top floor or on the ground floor.
E lives immediately above or immediately below C.
Two persons live between B and E.
E lives somewhere below G.
G and A live on adjacent floors.
D lives on a floor below E.
A lives on an odd-numbered floor.
Which of the following statements is true?
Explanation
Four persons live between C and F, and C is not on the top or ground floor, so (C, F) is (2, 7) or (6, 1). If C were on floor 6, E would be on floor 5 or 7 and G would have to live above E, so E is on 5 and G on 7; A must then be next to G on floor 6, which is C's floor, so this case fails. So C is on floor 2 and F on floor 7. E is next to C and D lives below E, so E is on floor 3 and D on floor 1. Two persons live between B and E, so B is on floor 6. G and A take floors 4 and 5, and A is on an odd floor, so A is on floor 5 and G on floor 4. From the ground floor: D, C, E, G, A, B, F. Between C (2) and A (5) live E and G, so the statement "Two persons live between C and A" is true. D is on floor 1, two floors below E; B is on floor 6; and G is below A, so the other statements are false.
Question 18
Seven persons P, Q, R, S, T, U and V live on the seven floors of a building, one on each floor. The ground floor is numbered 1 and the top floor is numbered 7.
Three persons live between P and S, and P lives above S.
S lives on an odd-numbered floor.
R lives immediately below P.
Only one person lives between R and U.
U lives above T.
Q does not live on the top floor.
S does not live on the ground floor.
V lives immediately above T.
Which of the following statements is true?
Three persons live between P and S, and P lives above S.
S lives on an odd-numbered floor.
R lives immediately below P.
Only one person lives between R and U.
U lives above T.
Q does not live on the top floor.
S does not live on the ground floor.
V lives immediately above T.
Which of the following statements is true?
Explanation
Three persons live between P and S with P above S, so (S, P) is (1, 5), (2, 6) or (3, 7). S is on an odd floor but not the ground floor, so S is on floor 3 and P on floor 7. R is immediately below P, on floor 6. One person lives between R and U, so U is on floor 4. V is immediately above T and U is above T, so of the free floors 1, 2 and 5, T is on floor 1 and V on floor 2. Q takes floor 5. From the ground floor: T, V, S, U, Q, R, P. Q (5) is immediately below R (6), so that statement is true. One person lives between V and U, T is on floor 1 and P is on floor 7, so the other statements are false.
Question 19
Five persons A, B, C, D and E got jobs in five different years, namely 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.
B got the job immediately before D.
E got the job immediately after A.
C got the job immediately after E.
D got the job in the year 2002.
Who got the job in the year 2005?
B got the job immediately before D.
E got the job immediately after A.
C got the job immediately after E.
D got the job in the year 2002.
Who got the job in the year 2005?
Explanation
D got the job in 2002 and B got it immediately before D, so B got it in 2001. A, E and C got jobs in three consecutive years in that order, which must be 2003, 2004 and 2005. So C got the job in 2005.
Question 20
Five friends P, Q, R, S and T bought cars in five different years, namely 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.
S bought a car in the year 2018.
P bought a car immediately before S.
Q bought a car immediately after T.
R did not buy a car in the year 2020.
Who bought a car in the year 2020?
S bought a car in the year 2018.
P bought a car immediately before S.
Q bought a car immediately after T.
R did not buy a car in the year 2020.
Who bought a car in the year 2020?
Explanation
S bought a car in 2018 and P immediately before, in 2017. T and Q bought in consecutive years with Q after T; the only consecutive free years are 2019 and 2020, so T bought in 2019 and Q in 2020. R took 2016, which agrees with R not buying in 2020. So Q bought a car in 2020.
Question 21
Seven boxes P, Q, R, S, T, U and V are kept one above the other, but not necessarily in the same order.
Only R is kept above U.
Only three boxes are kept between U and Q.
Only S is kept below Q.
V is kept immediately above P.
T is not kept immediately below U.
How many boxes are kept above V?
Only R is kept above U.
Only three boxes are kept between U and Q.
Only S is kept below Q.
V is kept immediately above P.
T is not kept immediately below U.
How many boxes are kept above V?
Explanation
From the bottom: only R is above U, so R is 7th and U 6th. Three boxes are between U and Q, so Q is 2nd, and only S is below Q, so S is 1st. Places 3, 4 and 5 remain for P, T and V, with V immediately above P. T is not immediately below U, so T is not 5th; T is 3rd, P 4th and V 5th. Above V are U and R, so 2 boxes.
Question 22
Seven boxes A, B, C, D, E, F and G are kept one above the other, but not necessarily in the same order.
Only F is kept below D.
Only one box is kept above B.
Only one box is kept between B and G, and G is kept below B.
E is kept immediately above G.
A is not kept at the top.
How many boxes are kept between A and B?
Only F is kept below D.
Only one box is kept above B.
Only one box is kept between B and G, and G is kept below B.
E is kept immediately above G.
A is not kept at the top.
How many boxes are kept between A and B?
Explanation
Only F is below D, so F is 1st and D 2nd from the bottom. One box is above B, so B is 6th. G is below B with one box between them, so G is 4th, and E, immediately above G, is 5th. A and C take places 3 and 7; A is not at the top, so A is 3rd and C 7th. Between A and B are G and E, so 2 boxes.
Question 23
Six people J, K, L, M, N and O travelled abroad in different years, namely 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021, but not necessarily in the same order.
L travelled in 2015.
Only two people travelled between K and M.
M travelled after K.
Only one person travelled between N and O.
N travelled after O.
Who travelled in 2013?
L travelled in 2015.
Only two people travelled between K and M.
M travelled after K.
Only one person travelled between N and O.
N travelled after O.
Who travelled in 2013?
Explanation
L travelled in 2015. Two people travelled between K and M with M later, so (K, M) is (2011, 2017) or (2013, 2019). With (2011, 2017) the free years are 2013, 2019 and 2021, and O and N cannot have exactly one person between them. With (2013, 2019) the free years are 2011, 2017 and 2021: O in 2017 and N in 2021 works (M is between them), and J takes 2011. So K travelled in 2013.
Question 24
Six people A, B, C, D, E and F joined a club in different years, namely 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024, but not necessarily in the same order.
D joined in 2016.
Only two people joined between D and B.
Only one person joined between A and F.
A joined before F.
E joined immediately after D.
Who joined in 2014?
D joined in 2016.
Only two people joined between D and B.
Only one person joined between A and F.
A joined before F.
E joined immediately after D.
Who joined in 2014?
Explanation
D joined in 2016 and E immediately after D, in 2018. Two people joined between D and B, so B joined in 2022. A and F have one person between them with A first; the free years are 2014, 2020 and 2024, so A joined in 2020 and F in 2024, with B between them. C took the remaining year, 2014.
Question 25
Five friends A, B, C, D and E are the top five rank holders of their class, each with a different rank.
The rank of C is just above the rank of B and just below the rank of E.
D is at the lowest rank.
A is not at the top rank.
Who is at the second rank?
The rank of C is just above the rank of B and just below the rank of E.
D is at the lowest rank.
A is not at the top rank.
Who is at the second rank?
Explanation
E, C and B hold three consecutive ranks in that order. D is at the lowest rank (5), so E, C, B and A share ranks 1 to 4. A is not at the top, so the block E, C, B takes ranks 1, 2 and 3 and A is fourth. The order is E, C, B, A, D, so C is at the second rank.
Question 26
Six players P, Q, R, S, T and U are ranked from 1 to 6 in a chess tournament, each with a different rank.
The rank of Q is just below the rank of T and just above the rank of R.
S is at the top rank.
U is neither at the lowest rank nor at the second rank.
P is not at the lowest rank.
Who is at the lowest rank?
The rank of Q is just below the rank of T and just above the rank of R.
S is at the top rank.
U is neither at the lowest rank nor at the second rank.
P is not at the lowest rank.
Who is at the lowest rank?
Explanation
S is at rank 1. T, Q and R hold three consecutive ranks in that order among ranks 2 to 6. If they were at 3, 4 and 5, U would have to be at 2 or 6, which is not allowed. If they were at 2, 3 and 4, P and U would take 5 and 6; U is not at 6, so P would be at 6, which is also not allowed. So T, Q and R are at 4, 5 and 6, U is at 3 and P at 2. R is at the lowest rank.
Question 27
Seven boxes J, K, L, M, N, O and P are kept one above the other, but not necessarily in the same order.
Only three boxes are kept below L.
Only one box is kept above K.
Only two boxes are kept between K and N.
P is kept immediately above O.
M is kept at some place below J.
How many boxes are kept between P and M?
Only three boxes are kept below L.
Only one box is kept above K.
Only two boxes are kept between K and N.
P is kept immediately above O.
M is kept at some place below J.
How many boxes are kept between P and M?
Explanation
From the bottom: three boxes are below L, so L is 4th, and one box is above K, so K is 6th. Two boxes are between K and N, so N is 3rd. P is immediately above O; of the free places 1, 2, 5 and 7, only 1 and 2 are together, so O is 1st and P 2nd. M is below J, so M is 5th and J 7th. Between P and M are N and L, so two boxes.
Question 28
Seven boxes Q, R, S, T, U, V and W are kept one above the other, but not necessarily in the same order.
Only one box is kept below T.
Only two boxes are kept above S.
Only one box is kept between S and U.
W is kept immediately above V.
R is kept at some place above U.
How many boxes are kept between Q and R?
Only one box is kept below T.
Only two boxes are kept above S.
Only one box is kept between S and U.
W is kept immediately above V.
R is kept at some place above U.
How many boxes are kept between Q and R?
Explanation
From the bottom: one box is below T, so T is 2nd, and two boxes are above S, so S is 5th. One box is between S and U, so U is 3rd or 7th; R is above U, so U is not at the top and U is 3rd. W is immediately above V; of the free places 1, 4, 6 and 7, only 6 and 7 are together, so V is 6th and W 7th. R is above U, so R is 4th and Q 1st. Between Q and R are T and U, so two boxes.
Question 29
A, B, C, D, E and F are six towers in a city, each of a different height.
B is taller than D.
A is taller than E.
B is shorter than F.
D is taller than A but shorter than F.
F is shorter than C.
Which is the shortest of the six towers?
B is taller than D.
A is taller than E.
B is shorter than F.
D is taller than A but shorter than F.
F is shorter than C.
Which is the shortest of the six towers?
Explanation
C is taller than F; F is taller than B and D; B is taller than D; D is taller than A; A is taller than E. So the order from the tallest is C, F, B, D, A, E, and E is the shortest.
Question 30
J, K, L, M, N and O are six boys in a class, each of a different height.
L is shorter than N.
J is taller than M.
L is taller than K.
M is taller than N but shorter than O.
O is shorter than J.
Who is the third tallest of the six boys?
L is shorter than N.
J is taller than M.
L is taller than K.
M is taller than N but shorter than O.
O is shorter than J.
Who is the third tallest of the six boys?
Explanation
J is taller than O, O is taller than M, M is taller than N, N is taller than L and L is taller than K. So the order from the tallest is J, O, M, N, L, K, and the third tallest is M.
Question 31
Six people A, B, C, D, E and F live in a four-floor building. The ground floor is numbered Floor 1 and the topmost floor is numbered Floor 4. Each floor has two flats, Flat A and Flat B, where Flat A is to the west of Flat B. Two flats are vacant, and they are not on the same floor.
C lives on an odd-numbered floor.
There is one floor between C and E, and both live in the same flat.
B lives to the west of D on the same floor.
F lives immediately above A in the same flat.
F does not live in Flat A or on Floor 4.
A does not live on Floor 1.
No one else lives on the same floor as C.
Who lives in Flat B on Floor 2?
C lives on an odd-numbered floor.
There is one floor between C and E, and both live in the same flat.
B lives to the west of D on the same floor.
F lives immediately above A in the same flat.
F does not live in Flat A or on Floor 4.
A does not live on Floor 1.
No one else lives on the same floor as C.
Who lives in Flat B on Floor 2?
Explanation
F is in Flat B on Floor 2 or 3 with A immediately below it in Flat B, and A is not on Floor 1, so F is in Flat B on Floor 3 and A in Flat B on Floor 2. C is on an odd floor with no one else on that floor; Floor 3 already has F, so C is on Floor 1. E is two floors from C in the same flat, so E is on Floor 3, and since Flat B on Floor 3 is F's, E and C are both in Flat A. Flat B on Floor 1 is vacant. B and D need a whole floor, which can only be Floor 4: B in Flat A and D in Flat B. The second vacant flat is Flat A on Floor 2. So A lives in Flat B on Floor 2.
Question 32
Six people P, Q, R, S, T and U live in a four-floor building. The ground floor is numbered Floor 1 and the topmost floor is numbered Floor 4. Each floor has two flats, Flat A and Flat B, where Flat A is to the west of Flat B. Two flats are vacant, and they are not on the same floor.
Q lives on an even-numbered floor.
There is one floor between Q and S, and both live in the same flat.
R lives to the east of U on the same floor.
T lives immediately below P in the same flat.
P does not live in Flat B or on Floor 4.
U does not live on Floor 1.
No one else lives on the same floor as S.
Who lives in Flat B on Floor 3?
Q lives on an even-numbered floor.
There is one floor between Q and S, and both live in the same flat.
R lives to the east of U on the same floor.
T lives immediately below P in the same flat.
P does not live in Flat B or on Floor 4.
U does not live on Floor 1.
No one else lives on the same floor as S.
Who lives in Flat B on Floor 3?
Explanation
P is in Flat A on Floor 2 or 3 with T immediately below it in Flat A. U and R need a whole floor (U in Flat A, R in Flat B), and U is not on Floor 1. Q is on an even floor and S is two floors from Q in the same flat, with no one else on S's floor. If P were on Floor 3, U and R would have to take Floor 4; Q could then only be in Flat B on Floor 2, and S would need Flat B on Floor 4, which is R's. So P is in Flat A on Floor 2 and T in Flat A on Floor 1. If U and R took Floor 4, the same clash would happen, so U and R are on Floor 3. If Q were on Floor 4, S would be on Floor 2 with P, which is not allowed, so Q is in Flat B on Floor 2 and S in Flat B on Floor 4, with Flat A on Floor 4 vacant. Flat B on Floor 1 is the second vacant flat. So R lives in Flat B on Floor 3.
Question 33
A person downloads eight different apps one after another: Calendar, Camera, Maps, Music, Notes, Photos, Wallet and Weather, but not necessarily in the same order.
Only three apps are downloaded between Maps and Wallet, and Maps is downloaded before Wallet.
As many apps are downloaded before Notes as after Camera.
Only one app is downloaded between Music and Photos, and Photos is downloaded either just before or just after Maps.
Notes is downloaded before Music.
Weather is downloaded after Calendar but before Camera.
Not more than one app is downloaded between Wallet and Weather.
Calendar is downloaded before Notes.
Photos is not downloaded just before Maps.
Which app was downloaded first?
Only three apps are downloaded between Maps and Wallet, and Maps is downloaded before Wallet.
As many apps are downloaded before Notes as after Camera.
Only one app is downloaded between Music and Photos, and Photos is downloaded either just before or just after Maps.
Notes is downloaded before Music.
Weather is downloaded after Calendar but before Camera.
Not more than one app is downloaded between Wallet and Weather.
Calendar is downloaded before Notes.
Photos is not downloaded just before Maps.
Which app was downloaded first?
Explanation
Photos is next to Maps but not just before it, so Photos is just after Maps. Wallet is four places after Maps, so Maps is 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th. Music is two places from Photos. Calendar comes before Notes and Notes before Music, so Notes is not 1st. As many apps come before Notes as after Camera, so the places of Notes and Camera add up to 9.
Maps 1st: Photos is 2nd and Music 4th, so Notes must be 3rd with Calendar before it, but 1st and 2nd are taken.
Maps 2nd: Photos is 3rd, Wallet 6th and Music 5th (Music 1st leaves no room for Notes before it). Notes would be 4th and Camera 5th, which is Music's place.
Maps 3rd: Photos is 4th, Wallet 7th and Music 6th (Music 2nd leaves no room for Calendar and Notes before it). Notes 2nd would put Camera 7th (Wallet) and Notes 5th would put Camera 4th (Photos).
So Maps is 4th, Photos 5th and Wallet 8th. Weather must be 6th or 7th to be within one place of Wallet, and Camera comes after Weather, so Weather is 6th and Camera 7th. Music is then 3rd, Notes 2nd (2 + 7 = 9) and Calendar 1st.
Order: Calendar, Notes, Music, Maps, Photos, Weather, Camera, Wallet. Calendar was downloaded first.
Maps 1st: Photos is 2nd and Music 4th, so Notes must be 3rd with Calendar before it, but 1st and 2nd are taken.
Maps 2nd: Photos is 3rd, Wallet 6th and Music 5th (Music 1st leaves no room for Notes before it). Notes would be 4th and Camera 5th, which is Music's place.
Maps 3rd: Photos is 4th, Wallet 7th and Music 6th (Music 2nd leaves no room for Calendar and Notes before it). Notes 2nd would put Camera 7th (Wallet) and Notes 5th would put Camera 4th (Photos).
So Maps is 4th, Photos 5th and Wallet 8th. Weather must be 6th or 7th to be within one place of Wallet, and Camera comes after Weather, so Weather is 6th and Camera 7th. Music is then 3rd, Notes 2nd (2 + 7 = 9) and Calendar 1st.
Order: Calendar, Notes, Music, Maps, Photos, Weather, Camera, Wallet. Calendar was downloaded first.
Question 34
A chef cooks eight different dishes one after another: Biryani, Dal, Halwa, Kheer, Pasta, Pulao, Raita and Soup, but not necessarily in the same order.
Only two dishes are cooked between Dal and Soup, and Dal is cooked before Soup.
As many dishes are cooked before Pasta as after Kheer.
Only one dish is cooked between Halwa and Raita, and Raita is cooked just before Dal.
Pulao is cooked after Biryani but before Kheer.
Halwa is cooked before Biryani.
Which dish was cooked last?
Only two dishes are cooked between Dal and Soup, and Dal is cooked before Soup.
As many dishes are cooked before Pasta as after Kheer.
Only one dish is cooked between Halwa and Raita, and Raita is cooked just before Dal.
Pulao is cooked after Biryani but before Kheer.
Halwa is cooked before Biryani.
Which dish was cooked last?
Explanation
Raita is just before Dal and Soup is three places after Dal, so Dal is 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th. Halwa is two places from Raita, so Halwa is just after Dal or three places before it. As many dishes come before Pasta as after Kheer, so the places of Pasta and Kheer add up to 9. Halwa, Biryani, Pulao and Kheer come in that order.
Dal 2nd: Raita 1st, Halwa 3rd, Soup 5th; no two of the free places 4, 6, 7 and 8 add up to 9.
Dal 4th: Raita 3rd, Soup 7th. With Halwa 5th, Pasta and Kheer take 1st and 8th and Biryani would be 2nd, before Halwa. With Halwa 1st, no two of the free places 2, 5, 6 and 8 add up to 9.
Dal 5th: Raita 4th, Soup 8th. With Halwa 6th, only 7th is free after Halwa for Biryani, Pulao and Kheer. With Halwa 2nd, Pasta and Kheer take 3rd and 6th, and Biryani and Pulao cannot both fit after Halwa and before Kheer.
So Dal is 3rd: Raita 2nd, Halwa 4th, Soup 6th. Pasta and Kheer take 1st and 8th, and Kheer comes after Pulao, so Pasta is 1st and Kheer 8th; Biryani is 5th and Pulao 7th.
Order: Pasta, Raita, Dal, Halwa, Biryani, Soup, Pulao, Kheer. Kheer was cooked last.
Dal 2nd: Raita 1st, Halwa 3rd, Soup 5th; no two of the free places 4, 6, 7 and 8 add up to 9.
Dal 4th: Raita 3rd, Soup 7th. With Halwa 5th, Pasta and Kheer take 1st and 8th and Biryani would be 2nd, before Halwa. With Halwa 1st, no two of the free places 2, 5, 6 and 8 add up to 9.
Dal 5th: Raita 4th, Soup 8th. With Halwa 6th, only 7th is free after Halwa for Biryani, Pulao and Kheer. With Halwa 2nd, Pasta and Kheer take 3rd and 6th, and Biryani and Pulao cannot both fit after Halwa and before Kheer.
So Dal is 3rd: Raita 2nd, Halwa 4th, Soup 6th. Pasta and Kheer take 1st and 8th, and Kheer comes after Pulao, so Pasta is 1st and Kheer 8th; Biryani is 5th and Pulao 7th.
Order: Pasta, Raita, Dal, Halwa, Biryani, Soup, Pulao, Kheer. Kheer was cooked last.
Question 35
Seven girls A, B, C, D, E, F and G are all of different ages.
C is older than only B.
E is younger than only F.
G is older than four of the other girls.
D is younger than A.
Who is the fourth eldest among the girls?
C is older than only B.
E is younger than only F.
G is older than four of the other girls.
D is younger than A.
Who is the fourth eldest among the girls?
Explanation
C is older than only B, so B is the youngest and C is sixth. E is younger than only F, so F is the eldest and E is second. G is older than four others, so G is third. A and D take fourth and fifth, and D is younger than A, so A is the fourth eldest.
Question 36
Seven boys P, Q, R, S, T, U and V are all of different ages.
Q is older than only two of the other boys.
T is younger than only S.
U is older than only R.
P is younger than V.
Who is the third eldest among the boys?
Q is older than only two of the other boys.
T is younger than only S.
U is older than only R.
P is younger than V.
Who is the third eldest among the boys?
Explanation
T is younger than only S, so S is the eldest and T second. U is older than only R, so R is the youngest and U sixth. Q is older than only two others, so Q is fifth. V and P take third and fourth, and P is younger than V, so V is the third eldest.
Question 37
Each of A, B, C, D, E, F and G has an exam on a different day of a week, starting from Monday and ending on Sunday of the same week.
Only five people have exams between B and E.
C has an exam on Wednesday.
G has an exam immediately before B.
D has an exam immediately after F.
How many people have exams between A and G?
Only five people have exams between B and E.
C has an exam on Wednesday.
G has an exam immediately before B.
D has an exam immediately after F.
How many people have exams between A and G?
Explanation
Five people are between B and E, so they are on Monday and Sunday. G is immediately before B, so B is on Sunday, G on Saturday and E on Monday. C is on Wednesday. F and D are on consecutive days among Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, so F is on Thursday and D on Friday, and A is on Tuesday. Between A (Tuesday) and G (Saturday) are C, F and D, so three people.
Question 38
Each of J, K, L, M, N, O and P has an exam on a different day of a week, starting from Monday and ending on Sunday of the same week.
Only four people have exams between K and P.
N has an exam on Tuesday.
L has an exam immediately after K.
J has an exam immediately before O.
M does not have an exam on Friday.
How many people have exams between N and K?
Only four people have exams between K and P.
N has an exam on Tuesday.
L has an exam immediately after K.
J has an exam immediately before O.
M does not have an exam on Friday.
How many people have exams between N and K?
Explanation
Four people are between K and P, so they are on (Monday, Saturday) or (Tuesday, Sunday); N is on Tuesday, so K and P are on Monday and Saturday. L is immediately after K, so K is on Saturday, L on Sunday and P on Monday. J and O are on consecutive days and M takes the remaining day among Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. M is not on Friday, and M on Thursday would separate J and O, so M is on Wednesday, J on Thursday and O on Friday. Between N (Tuesday) and K (Saturday) are M, J and O, so three people.
Question 39
Five boys A, B, C, D and E, four girls P, Q, R and S, and their class teacher Z were involved in a group discussion, seated in two rows of 5 seats facing each other.
(i) No two boys were seated adjacent to or opposite each other.
(ii) S is at the middle of her row.
(iii) Z is not at an extreme end.
(iv) S is opposite C, and R is opposite D.
(v) A, at one end, is opposite P.
(vi) E is adjacent to Z.
Who is opposite E?
(i) No two boys were seated adjacent to or opposite each other.
(ii) S is at the middle of her row.
(iii) Z is not at an extreme end.
(iv) S is opposite C, and R is opposite D.
(v) A, at one end, is opposite P.
(vi) E is adjacent to Z.
Who is opposite E?
Explanation
The 5 boys must occupy an alternating checkerboard pattern across the 2x5 grid to avoid any boy-boy adjacency or opposite pairing. Working through all six conditions gives: Row1 = A,R,C,Z,E and Row2 = P,D,S,B,Q. E (Row1, position 5) is opposite Q (Row2, position 5).
Question 40
Five newly-born babies were weighed by the doctor. In her report, she stated that child A is lighter than child B. Child C is lighter than child D. Child B is lighter than child D, but heavier than child E. Which child is the heaviest?
Explanation
From A < B < D and C<D and E<B<D, D is greater than every other child by direct or transitive comparison, making D the heaviest.
Question 41
Six boys - Arun, Anil, Bhanu, Bhaskar, Chaitanya and Charan - are standing in a queue, not necessarily in that order.
(i) Arun is standing at one of the ends of the queue.
(ii) No two boys, whose names start with the same letter, are adjacent to each other.
(iii) The boy immediately in front of Anil has the same first letter as the boy immediately behind Anil.
(iv) Chaitanya is standing immediately behind Arun.
Who is standing at the rear end of the queue?
(i) Arun is standing at one of the ends of the queue.
(ii) No two boys, whose names start with the same letter, are adjacent to each other.
(iii) The boy immediately in front of Anil has the same first letter as the boy immediately behind Anil.
(iv) Chaitanya is standing immediately behind Arun.
Who is standing at the rear end of the queue?
Explanation
Chaitanya is immediately behind Arun, so Arun cannot be at the rear end; Arun is at the front and Chaitanya is 2nd. Anil needs a boy both in front of and behind him, so Anil is not at the rear.
Anil 3rd: the boy behind him must match Chaitanya, so Charan is 4th, which leaves Bhanu and Bhaskar together in 5th and 6th, breaking condition (ii).
Anil 5th: Bhanu and Bhaskar must be 4th and 6th, which puts Charan 3rd, next to Chaitanya, again breaking condition (ii).
So Anil is 4th, with Bhanu and Bhaskar 3rd and 5th (in either order), and Charan is at the rear end.
Anil 3rd: the boy behind him must match Chaitanya, so Charan is 4th, which leaves Bhanu and Bhaskar together in 5th and 6th, breaking condition (ii).
Anil 5th: Bhanu and Bhaskar must be 4th and 6th, which puts Charan 3rd, next to Chaitanya, again breaking condition (ii).
So Anil is 4th, with Bhanu and Bhaskar 3rd and 5th (in either order), and Charan is at the rear end.
Question 42
The letters A, B, C, D, E each stand for one of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, but not necessarily in that order. A is odd, B is neither 4 nor 5, C is 1, D is either 4 or 5, and E is none of 2, 3, 4. The correct order of the digits (according to the alphabetical order of the letters A, B, C, D, E) is:
Explanation
C = 1 (given). Since E is none of 2, 3, 4 and 1 is taken by C, E must be 5. Since D is either 4 or 5 and 5 is taken, D = 4. B is neither 4 nor 5 (already satisfied); the remaining values 2 and 3 go to A and B. A is odd, so A = 3, leaving B = 2. Final assignment: A=3, B=2, C=1, D=4, E=5, giving the sequence 32145.
