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.
Which among the following statement(s) is/are true?
I. More than four boxes are kept below box C
II. Box G is not kept below box H
III. Box B is kept at the topmost position
Correct Answer :
Both I and III
Solution :
To determine the correct statements, we can step-by-step construct the arrangement of the nine boxes in a stack from top (9) to bottom (1).
Step 1: Analyze the clues related to H, I, G, E, and D.
1. Box is kept three boxes above box . This means:
(with 2 boxes between them).
2. Only one box is kept between box and box . This gives two possible relative placements for :
- Case A: is below ()
- Case B: is above ()
3. Box is kept four boxes below box . This means:
(with 3 boxes between them).
Step 2: Compare the number of boxes between H & I and D & E.
We are given: "As many boxes are kept between box and box as between box and box ." Also, box is kept above box .
Let us evaluate Case B where :
- Let be at position 2.
- Then .
- .
- .
- The number of boxes between (8) and (5) is 2 (positions 6 and 7).
- Therefore, there must be 2 boxes between and (4). Since is above , must be at position 1 (leaving positions 2 and 3 between them).
This gives us the relative sequence:
8:
7: [empty]
6: [empty]
5:
4:
3: [empty]
2:
1:
Since there are 9 boxes, there is one more position left at either the top (9) or bottom (0). Let's assume the stack is from position 9 (top) to 1 (bottom), leaving position 9 vacant.
Step 3: Place the remaining boxes A, B, C, and F.
1. Box is kept immediately below box . The only consecutive vacant positions available are 7 and 6.
- Position 7:
- Position 6:
2. Only two boxes are kept between box and box . Since is at position 6, must be at position 3 (leaving positions 4 and 5 between them).
3. Box is kept above box . The only remaining vacant position is 9, which is indeed above position 3. So, is at position 9.
Final Arrangement (from top to bottom):
9:
8:
7:
6:
5:
4:
3:
2:
1:
Step 4: Verify the statements based on the final arrangement.
- Statement I: More than four boxes are kept below box C.
Box is at position 7, so there are 6 boxes () below it. This is more than four. (True)
- Statement II: Box G is not kept below box H.
Box is at position 2 and Box is at position 8, which means is kept below . (False)
- Statement III: Box B is kept at the topmost position.
Box is at position 9, which is the topmost position. (True)
Therefore, both statement I and statement III are true.
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