Read the following information carefully and answer the questions given below:
Nine boxes - A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H and I are kept one above another in a single stack, but not necessarily in the same order. Only one box is kept between box E and box G. Box I is kept three boxes above box G. Box E is kept four boxes below box H. As many boxes are kept between box H and box I as between box D and box E. Box E is kept above box D. Box F is kept immediately below box C. Only two boxes are kept between box A and box F. Box B is kept above box A.
If box F is related to box A in the similar way box C is related to box E, then which among the following box is related to box I?
Correct Answer :
Box H
Solution :
The correct answer is Box H.
Let us solve this puzzle step-by-step by placing the 9 boxes in a stack from top to bottom, labeled 9 (topmost position) down to 1 (bottommost position).
Step 1: Analyze the positions of I, G, E, and H
1. "Box I is kept three boxes above box G." This means if G is at position x, I is at position x + 3.
2. "Only one box is kept between box E and box G." This means E is either at position x + 2 or x - 2.
If E is at x - 2, then H (which is 4 boxes above E, since E is 4 boxes below H) would be at x + 2.
If E is at x + 2, H would be at x + 6. Let's test E at x + 2:
- G is at position x
- E is at position x + 2
- I is at position x + 3
- H is at position x + 6
Step 2: Use the relationship between H, I, D, and E
1. "As many boxes are kept between box H and box I as between box D and box E."
Since H is at x + 6 and I is at x + 3, the number of boxes between them is 2 (at positions x + 5 and x + 4).
Therefore, there must be exactly 2 boxes between D and E.
2. "Box E is kept above box D."
Since E is at x + 2, D must be at (x + 2) - 3 = x - 1.
Step 3: Determine the value of x
The positions range from x - 1 (D) to x + 6 (H). The span is 8 positions. Since there are 9 positions in total, x - 1 must be at least 1, so x can be 2 or 3.
Let us set x = 2:
- Position 8: H (2 + 6)
- Position 5: I (2 + 3)
- Position 4: E (2 + 2)
- Position 2: G (2)
- Position 1: D (2 - 1)
Step 4: Place the remaining boxes (A, B, C, F)
The vacant positions are 9, 7, 6, and 3.
1. "Box F is kept immediately below box C." This means C and F must occupy consecutive positions. The only adjacent empty slots are 7 and 6. Thus:
- Position 7: C
- Position 6: F
2. "Only two boxes are kept between box A and box F." Since F is at 6, A must be at 3 (6 - 3).
3. "Box B is kept above box A." The remaining empty slot is 9, which is occupied by B. Since 9 is above 3, this condition is satisfied.
Final Arrangement (Top to Bottom):
9. Box B
8. Box H
7. Box C
6. Box F
5. Box I
4. Box E
3. Box A
2. Box G
1. Box D
Step 5: Determine the relationship
We are given that:
- Box F (position 6) is related to Box A (position 3) in the same way Box C (position 7) is related to Box E (position 4).
Notice that in both cases, the first box is exactly 3 positions above the second box:
6 - 3 = 3 (F to A)
7 - 4 = 3 (C to E)
Following this pattern, the box related to Box I (position 5) must be 3 positions above Box I:
5 + 3 = 8
The box at position 8 is Box H.
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