Question 39
MediumOriginal questionSix boxes, P, Q, R, S, T and U, are stacked one on top of another in a single pile. Positions are counted from the bottom: the bottom box is position 1. 'Above' or 'below' means anywhere higher or lower in the stack; 'immediately above' means resting directly on top of it. Each box is a different colour: black, white, red, green, blue or orange. The following is known:
1. Box S, which is black, is at the bottom.
2. Box Q is green, and it is immediately above the red box.
3. Exactly one box lies between box P and box Q, and P is below Q.
4. Box R is at the top, immediately above box T, which is blue.
5. The white box is immediately below box U.
Counting only the boxes strictly between them, how many boxes separate box P from box R?
Show the answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Box S is at position 1 (clue 1). Box R is on top at position 6 with the blue box T at 5 (clue 4).
Q is green and has the red box directly under it (clue 2). Q cannot be at 2, because position 1 is black, so Q is at 3 or 4.
P is two places below Q (clue 3). If Q were at 3, P would be at 1, which is S. So Q is at 4 and P at 2, leaving U at 3.
P is at 2 and R at 6; positions 3, 4 and 5 lie between them, so 3 boxes.
Worth noting
4 is the difference ; the boxes between are one fewer.
- Concept
- Counting boxes between two positions
- Typical timeTypical
- 80 s
- Your timeYours
- —
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