Question 1
Five boxes A, B, C, D, and E are stacked vertically (positions 1-5, bottom to top). Their weights follow certain rules:
- The heaviest box is at the bottom
- Box A is heavier than box B but lighter than box C
- Box D is the lightest
- Box E is heavier than A but lighter than C
- Box B is heavier than D
Which box is at position 3?
Step-by-step Solution:
1. Establish weight relationships:
- A > B and C > A → So C > A > B
- D is lightest → D is smallest
- E > A and C > E → So C > E > A
- B > D
2. Combine all inequalities:
- From C > E > A and A > B, we get: C > E > A > B
- And B > D, so: C > E > A > B > D
3. Complete weight order (heaviest to lightest):
C > E > A > B > D
4. Stacking rule: Heaviest at bottom (position 1), lightest at top (position 5)
- Position 1 (bottom): C (heaviest)
- Position 2: E
- Position 3: A
- Position 4: B
- Position 5 (top): D (lightest)
5. Answer: Box A is at position 3
Verification:
- Heaviest (C) at bottom ✓
- A heavier than B (pos3 vs pos4) ✓
- A lighter than C (pos3 vs pos1) ✓
- D lightest at top ✓
- E heavier than A (pos2 vs pos3) ✓
- E lighter than C (pos2 vs pos1) ✓
- B heavier than D (pos4 vs pos5) ✓
1. Establish weight relationships:
- A > B and C > A → So C > A > B
- D is lightest → D is smallest
- E > A and C > E → So C > E > A
- B > D
2. Combine all inequalities:
- From C > E > A and A > B, we get: C > E > A > B
- And B > D, so: C > E > A > B > D
3. Complete weight order (heaviest to lightest):
C > E > A > B > D
4. Stacking rule: Heaviest at bottom (position 1), lightest at top (position 5)
- Position 1 (bottom): C (heaviest)
- Position 2: E
- Position 3: A
- Position 4: B
- Position 5 (top): D (lightest)
5. Answer: Box A is at position 3
Verification:
- Heaviest (C) at bottom ✓
- A heavier than B (pos3 vs pos4) ✓
- A lighter than C (pos3 vs pos1) ✓
- D lightest at top ✓
- E heavier than A (pos2 vs pos3) ✓
- E lighter than C (pos2 vs pos1) ✓
- B heavier than D (pos4 vs pos5) ✓