Seven boxes, F, I, L, T, E, R and S, are kept one over the other but not…
2026
Seven boxes, F, I, L, T, E, R and S, are kept one over the other but not necessarily in the same order. Only R is kept above E. Only two boxes are kept between E and T. Only I is kept below L. F is not kept immediately above T. How many boxes are kept between S and I?
Answer: C. Two — ConceptIn a vertical arrangement, translate each statement into an exact position or distance constraint. ‘Only X is above Y’ means Y has exactly one box…
- A.
Four
- B.
One
- C.
Two
- D.
Three
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Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Concept
In a vertical arrangement, translate each statement into an exact position or distance constraint. ‘Only X is above Y’ means Y has exactly one box above it, namely X; similarly, ‘only X is below Y’ fixes Y one place above the bottom.
If exactly n boxes lie between two boxes, their position numbers differ by n + 1. After fixing the forced positions, use exclusions to place the remaining boxes.
Application
Number the positions 1 to 7 from top to bottom.
Only R is above E, so R is at position 1 and E is at position 2.
There are two boxes between E and T, so their position numbers differ by 3. From E at position 2, the only possible position for T is 5.
Only I is below L, so L is at position 6 and I is at position 7.
The remaining positions 3 and 4 belong to F and S. Position 4 is immediately above T at position 5; because F is not immediately above T, F is at 3 and S is at 4.
Cross-check
Position (top to bottom) | Box |
|---|---|
1 | R |
2 | E |
3 | F |
4 | S |
5 | T |
6 | L |
7 | I |
The complete top-to-bottom order is R, E, F, S, T, L, I.
This order has only R above E, two boxes between E and T, only I below L, and F not immediately above T.
Result
Between S at position 4 and I at position 7 are T at position 5 and L at position 6. Therefore, two boxes are kept between S and I.