Study the following information and answer the questions that follow: A…
2024
Study the following information and answer the questions that follow: A company is planning to organise 8 lectures—A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H for 3 subjects—Quants, D.I. and English. The lectures are spread over three days. Quants is to be covered first in 3 lectures followed by English and then D.I. in 2 lectures. Lectures A, C and D have to be on different days. Lectures B and F have to be on the same day, but lecture B cannot be clubbed with A, G or D. Lectures G and H must be on the same day. Lecture A is a lecture on Quants, and Lecture C cannot be on the last day. It is also known that there are at least 3 lectures on Day 1. Which of the following pairs of lectures can go along with lecture 'A' on Quants?
- A.
B, C
- B.
G, H
- C.
D, E
- D.
Data inadequate
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Concept: In a distribution puzzle built from grouping clues (same-day/different-day/"cannot be clubbed with") plus overall count constraints (a fixed number of items per category, a minimum count per day), first lock in whatever the direct exclusion clues force apart or together, then use the counting constraints to resolve anything the qualitative clues alone leave undetermined.
Application:
A, C and D must all be on different days; A is on Quants (covered first) and C cannot be on the last day. The only order consistent with at least 3 lectures on Day 1 is: A on Day 1, C on Day 2, D on Day 3.
B and F must be on the same day, but B cannot be with A, G or D. So B (and F) cannot join Day 1 (with A) or Day 3 (with D) — B and F must be on Day 2, with C.
G and H must be on the same day. Day 1 currently has only A (1 lecture), and the puzzle needs at least 3 lectures on Day 1, so G and H must both join Day 1, making Day 1 = A, G, H.
Quants has exactly 3 lectures and is covered first. Day 1 already has exactly 3 lectures (A, G, H), so Day 1 is entirely the Quants block. The one remaining lecture, E, cannot be Quants, so it belongs to English (Day 2) or D.I. (Day 3).
English follows Quants, and D.I. (last) has exactly 2 lectures. Day 2 already has 3 lectures (B, C, F) and Day 3 currently has only D (1 lecture). Since D.I. needs exactly 2 lectures, E must be the second D.I. lecture, joining D on Day 3.
Cross-check: Total lectures: 3 (Quants) + 3 (English) + 2 (D.I.) = 8, matching A–H exactly with no repeats — this confirms the arrangement is uniquely fixed. Final table: Day 1 = A, G, H (Quants); Day 2 = B, C, F (English); Day 3 = D, E (D.I.).
Result: The only lecture(s) that can go along with A on Quants are G and H.