Eldest-Youngest

Eldest-Youngest problems involve determining the oldest and youngest persons in a family or group based on given age relationships. These problems test your ability to compare ages and establish ordering.

10Worksheets
200+Practice Questions
IntermediateDifficulty
2-3 hoursHours to Master

Introduction to Eldest-Youngest

Eldest-Youngest problems involve determining the oldest and youngest persons in a family or group based on given age relationships. These problems test your ability to compare ages and establish ordering.

Prerequisites

Comparison concepts Inequalities Logical ordering
Why This Matters: Eldest-Youngest problems appear in reasoning sections, often combined with other puzzles. You can expect 1-2 questions in SSC and banking prelims.

How to Solve Eldest-Youngest Problems

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Step 1: List all persons mentioned in the problem

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Step 2: Write all age relationships as inequalities (>, <, =)

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Step 3: Create an age order chain from youngest to oldest

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Step 4: Identify the eldest (maximum age) and youngest (minimum age)

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Step 5: If ages are given numerically, calculate exact ages

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Step 6: Answer which person is eldest or youngest

Pro Strategy: Create a chain of inequalities. Start with any relationship and keep adding persons in correct order until everyone is placed.

Example Problem

Example: A is older than B. C is younger than B. D is older than A. Who is the eldest? Solution: Step 1: Write inequalities: A > B, C < B, D > A Step 2: From D > A and A > B, we get D > A > B Step 3: From B > C, we get D > A > B > C Step 4: D is the eldest, C is the youngest Answer: D is the eldest

Pro Tips & Tricks

  • Use > and < symbols to create a visual chain
  • Transitive property: If A > B and B > C, then A > C
  • Draw a number line to visualize age order
  • If ages are equal, note the equality condition
  • Look for the person who is greater than everyone else
  • Look for the person who is less than everyone else

Shortcut Methods to Solve Faster

Eldest = person with most 'greater than' relationships
Youngest = person with most 'less than' relationships
Count comparisons to find extremes quickly

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Reversing inequality signs when reading statements
Missing transitive connections between persons
Assuming ordering when only some relationships are given
Not considering equal ages as a possibility

Exam Importance

Eldest-Youngest is an important topic for various competitive exams. Here's how frequently it appears:

SSC CGL
1-2 questions
BANKING PO
1-2 questions
RAILWAYS RRB
1-2 questions

Ready to Master Eldest-Youngest?

Start with Worksheet 1 and work your way up to expert level! Each worksheet includes:

20 practice questions
Detailed solutions
Step-by-step explanations
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