Question 1
Initially, five boxes A, B, C, D, and E are in Stack 1 (positions 1-5, bottom to top): A at position 1, B at 2, C at 3, D at 4, E at 5.
A series of operations is performed:
Operation 1: Move the top box of Stack 1 to a new Stack 2
Operation 2: Move the box at position 2 of Stack 1 to top of Stack 2
Operation 3: Move the top box of Stack 1 to top of Stack 2
After these operations, which box is at the bottom of Stack 2?
Step-by-step Solution:
1. Initial State:
- Stack 1 (bottom to top): A(1), B(2), C(3), D(4), E(5)
- Stack 2: Empty
2. Operation 1: Move top box of Stack 1 to Stack 2
- Remove E from Stack 1 (was at position 5)
- Stack 1 after: A(1), B(2), C(3), D(4)
- Stack 2 after: E(1)
3. Operation 2: Move box at position 2 of Stack 1 to top of Stack 2
- Box at position 2 is B
- Remove B from Stack 1
- Stack 1 after: A(1), C(2), D(3) [positions renumber]
- Stack 2 after: E(1), B(2) [B placed on top]
4. Operation 3: Move top box of Stack 1 to top of Stack 2
- Top box of Stack 1 is D (position 3)
- Remove D from Stack 1
- Stack 1 after: A(1), C(2)
- Stack 2 after: E(1), B(2), D(3) [D placed on top]
5. Final Stack 2 (bottom to top): E, B, D
6. Answer: Box E is at the bottom of Stack 2
1. Initial State:
- Stack 1 (bottom to top): A(1), B(2), C(3), D(4), E(5)
- Stack 2: Empty
2. Operation 1: Move top box of Stack 1 to Stack 2
- Remove E from Stack 1 (was at position 5)
- Stack 1 after: A(1), B(2), C(3), D(4)
- Stack 2 after: E(1)
3. Operation 2: Move box at position 2 of Stack 1 to top of Stack 2
- Box at position 2 is B
- Remove B from Stack 1
- Stack 1 after: A(1), C(2), D(3) [positions renumber]
- Stack 2 after: E(1), B(2) [B placed on top]
4. Operation 3: Move top box of Stack 1 to top of Stack 2
- Top box of Stack 1 is D (position 3)
- Remove D from Stack 1
- Stack 1 after: A(1), C(2)
- Stack 2 after: E(1), B(2), D(3) [D placed on top]
5. Final Stack 2 (bottom to top): E, B, D
6. Answer: Box E is at the bottom of Stack 2