Directions: Study the following information carefully and answer the question given below.

Eight containers – P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, and W – are stacked one above another in a single pile, but not necessarily in the given order.

Container V is placed at the third position from the bottom. Exactly three containers are kept between V and T. Container P is placed immediately above T. The number of containers kept above R is equal to the number of containers kept below V. Container S is placed immediately below R. Container U is placed at the bottommost position. Container Q is placed immediately below V. Container W is placed immediately below S.

In which of the following options is the first container placed exactly midway between the second and third containers?

The correct option is S, T, V.

We are given 8 containers stacked one above another from position 1 (bottommost) to position 8 (topmost).

Step 1: Determine the fixed positions from bottom to top
• Container U is at the bottommost position: Position 1 = U.
• Container V is at the third position from the bottom: Position 3 = V.
• Container Q is placed immediately below V: Position 2 = Q.
• Exactly 3 containers are kept between V and T. Since V is at position 3, counting 3 containers above (positions 4, 5, and 6) gives Position 7 = T.
• Container P is placed immediately above T: Position 8 = P.

Step 2: Determine the positions of remaining containers
• The number of containers below V (position 3) is 2 (containers Q and U). The number of containers above R must also be 2. Therefore, R must be placed at Position 6.
• Container S is placed immediately below R: Position 5 = S.
• Container W is placed immediately below S: Position 4 = W.

The final arrangement from top (Position 8) to bottom (Position 1) is:
Position 8: P
Position 7: T
Position 6: R
Position 5: S
Position 4: W
Position 3: V
Position 2: Q
Position 1: U

Step 3: Evaluate the midway condition
We need to find an option where the first container is placed exactly midway between the second and third containers.
For option S, T, V:
• Second container = T (Position 7)
• Third container = V (Position 3)

The midway position between T and V is:

$\frac{7+3}{2}=\frac{10}{2}=5$

Position 5 is occupied by container S (the first container). Hence, container S is placed exactly midway between containers T and V.