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.

The number of containers placed between P and S is _____ than the number of containers placed between R and Q.

The correct option is One less.

Step 1: Determine the arrangement of the eight containers from top to bottom (Positions 8 to 1).

1. Position of U: Container U is placed at the bottommost position.
$\text{Position 1}=\text{U}$

2. Position of V: Container V is placed at the third position from the bottom.
$\text{Position 3}=\text{V}$

3. Position of Q: Container Q is placed immediately below V.
$\text{Position 2}=\text{Q}$

4. Position of T: Exactly three containers are kept between V (Position 3) and T.
Counting three positions above V (Positions 4, 5, and 6), T must be placed at Position 7.
$\text{Position 7}=\text{T}$

5. Position of P: Container P is placed immediately above T.
$\text{Position 8}=\text{P}$

6. Position of R: The number of containers kept below V (Positions 1 and 2, which is 2 containers) is equal to the number of containers kept above R.
Since there must be 2 containers above R, R must be placed at Position 6.
$\text{Position 6}=\text{R}$

7. Position of S: Container S is placed immediately below R.
$\text{Position 5}=\text{S}$

8. Position of W: Container W is placed immediately below S.
$\text{Position 4}=\text{W}$

Final Stack Order (Top to Bottom):

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 2: Calculate the required count.

• Containers placed between P (Position 8) and S (Position 5): T and R (total = 2 containers).
• Containers placed between R (Position 6) and Q (Position 2): S, W, and V (total = 3 containers).

Comparing the two values:
$2=3-1$

Therefore, the number of containers placed between P and S is One less than the number of containers placed between R and Q.