Directions to solve: 1. Shreya is older than Riya. 2. Sita is older than…

2023

Directions to solve:

1. Shreya is older than Riya.

2. Sita is older than Shreya.

3. Riya is older than Sita.

If the first two statements are true, then the third statement is:

  1. A.

    True

  2. B.

    False

  3. C.

    Uncertain

  4. D.

    None Of These

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B

Concept:

When one quantity is stated to be greater than a second, and that second is greater than a third, transitivity of the 'older than' relation fixes a unique order for all three — if A is older than B and B is older than C, then A must be older than C, with no other order possible.

Applying it here:

  1. Statement 1: Shreya is older than Riya.

  2. Statement 2: Sita is older than Shreya.

  3. Chaining the two by transitivity: Sita is older than Shreya, who is older than Riya — so Sita is the oldest of the three and Riya is the youngest.

  4. Statement 3 claims Riya is older than Sita — the exact reverse of the order just derived, where Riya was shown to be the youngest and Sita the oldest.

Cross-check:

Substituting the derived order back into the two given statements confirms both hold, and no alternative order is consistent with them — so the reversed claim in the third statement cannot also be true.

Answer:

Given the first two statements are true, the third statement is False.

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