Sita is 17 ranks ahead of Geeta in a class of 59. If Geeta's rank is 27th from…

Concept

A rank counted from the top and a rank counted from the end describe the same position when their sum is one more than the total number of people. Thus, top rank = total − end rank + 1. If one person is k places ahead of another, the first person’s top rank is k less.

Application

Apply both ranking relations to Geeta and Sita.

1. Convert Geeta’s rank to a top rank: 59 − 27 + 1 = 33. Therefore, Geeta is 33rd from the top.

2. Sita is 17 ranks ahead, so subtract 17 from Geeta’s top rank: 33 − 17 = 16.

Cross-check

If Sita is 16th and Geeta is 17 places behind her, Geeta is 16 + 17 = 33rd from the top. From the end, that position is 59 − 33 + 1 = 27th, exactly as stated.

Therefore, Sita is 16th from the top.