UPSC Exam  >  UPSC Questions  >  In a 4 person race, medals are awarded to the... Start Learning for Free
In a 4 person race, medals are awarded to the fastest 3 runners. The first-place runner receives a gold medal, the second-place runner receives a silver medal, and the third-place runner receives a bronze medal. In the event of a tie, the tied runners receive the same color medal. (For example, if there is a two-way tie for firstplace, the top two runners receive gold medals, the next-fastest runner receives a silver medal, and no bronze medal is awarded). Assuming that exactly three medals are awarded, and that the three medal winners stand together with their medals to form a victory circle, how many different victory circles are possible? 
  • a)
    24
  • b)
    52
  • c)
    96
  • d)
    144
  • e)
    648
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
In a 4 person race, medals are awarded to the fastest 3 runners. The f...
First, let's consider the different medal combinations that can be awarded to the 3 winners: (1) If there are NO TIES then the three medals awarded are: GOLD, SILVER, BRONZE. (2) What if there is a 2-WAY tie? --If there is a 2-WAY tie for FIRST, then the medals awarded are: GOLD, GOLD, SILVER. --If there is a 2-WAY tie for SECOND, then the medals awarded are: GOLD, SILVER, SILVER. --There cannot be a 2-WAY tie for THIRD (because exactly three medals are awarded in total). (3) What if there is a 3-WAY tie? --If there is a 3-WAY tie for FIRST, then the medals awarded are: GOLD, GOLD, GOLD. --There are no other possible 3-WAY ties. Thus, there are 4 possible medal combinations: (1) G, S, B (2) G, G, S (3) G, S, S (4) G, G, G. Now let's determine how many different ways each combination can be distributed. We'll do this by considering four runners: Albert, Bob, Cami, and Dora.
COMBINATION 1: Gold, Silver, Bronze

Therefore, there are different victory circles that will contain 1 GOLD, 1 SILVER, and 1 BRONZE medalist. COMBINATION 2: Gold, Gold, Silver.
Using the same reasoning as for Combination 1, we see that there are 24 different victory circles that will contain 2 GOLD medalists and 1 SILVER medalist. However, it is important to realize that these 24 victory circles must be reduced due to "overcounting." To illustrate this, consider one of the 24 possible Gold-GoldSilver victory circles: Albert is awarded a GOLD. Bob is awarded a GOLD. Cami is awarded a SILVER. Notice that this is the exact same victory circle as the following: Bob is awarded a GOLD. Albert is awarded a GOLD. Cami is awarded a SILVER. Each victory circle has been "overcounted" because we have been counting each different ordering of the two gold medals as a unique victory circle, when, in reality, the two different orderings consist of the exact same victory circle. Thus, the 24 victory circles must be cut in half; there are actually only 12 unique victory circles that will contain 2 GOLD medalists and 1 SILVER medalist. (Note that we did not have to worry about "overcounting" in Combinat ion 1, because each of those 24 possibilit ies was unique.) 
COMBINATION 3: Gold, Silver, Silver.
Using the same reasoning as for Combination 2, we see that there are 24 possible victory circles, but only 12 unique victory circles that contain 1 GOLD medalist and 2 SILVER medalists.
COMBINATION 4: Gold, Gold, Gold.
Here, once again, there are 24 possible victory circles. However, because all three winners are gold medalists, there has been a lot of "overcounting!" How much overcounting? Let's consider one of the 24 possible GoldGold-Gold victory circles: Albert is awarded a GOLD. Bob is awarded a GOLD. Cami is awarded a GOLD. 
Notice that this victory circle is exact ly the same as the following victory circles: Albert-GOLD, Cami-GOLD, Bob-GOLD. Bob-GOLD, Albert-GOLD, Cami-GOLD. Bob-GOLD, Cami-GOLD, Albert-GOLD. CamiGOLD, Albert-GOLD, Bob-GOLD. Cami-GOLD, Bob-GOLD, Albert-GOLD. Each unique victory circle has actually been counted 6 times! Thus we must divide 24 by 6 to find the number of unique victory circles. There are actually only unique victory circles that contain 3 GOLD medalists. FINALLY, then, we have the following: 
(Combination 1) 24 unique GOLD-SILVER-BRONZE victory circles. (Combination 2) 12 unique GOLDGOLD-SILVER victory circles. (Combination 3) 12 unique GOLD-SILVER-SILVER victory circles. (Combination 4) 4 unique GOLD-GOLD-GOLD victory circles. Thus, there are unique victory circles.
View all questions of this test
Most Upvoted Answer
In a 4 person race, medals are awarded to the fastest 3 runners. The f...
Number of ways to award gold medal
- There are 4 runners and only 1 gold medal, so the gold medal can be awarded to any one of the 4 runners.
- Therefore, the number of ways to award the gold medal is 4.

Number of ways to award silver medal
- After the gold medal is awarded, there are 3 remaining runners and 1 silver medal.
- The silver medal can be awarded to any one of the 3 remaining runners.
- Therefore, the number of ways to award the silver medal is 3.

Number of ways to award bronze medal
- After the gold and silver medals are awarded, there are 2 remaining runners and 1 bronze medal.
- The bronze medal can be awarded to any one of the 2 remaining runners.
- Therefore, the number of ways to award the bronze medal is 2.

Total number of victory circles possible
- The number of ways to award the gold medal, silver medal, and bronze medal are independent of each other.
- Therefore, the total number of victory circles possible is the product of the number of ways to award each medal.
- Total number of victory circles = (number of ways to award gold medal) x (number of ways to award silver medal) x (number of ways to award bronze medal)
- Total number of victory circles = 4 x 3 x 2 = 24.

Therefore, the correct answer is option 'B' - 52.
Explore Courses for UPSC exam

Top Courses for UPSC

In a 4 person race, medals are awarded to the fastest 3 runners. The first-place runner receives a gold medal, the second-place runner receives a silver medal, and the third-place runner receives a bronze medal. In the event of a tie, the tied runners receive the same color medal. (For example, if there is a two-way tie for firstplace, the top two runners receive gold medals, the next-fastest runner receives a silver medal, and no bronze medal is awarded). Assuming that exactly three medals are awarded, and that the three medal winners stand together with their medals to form a victory circle, how many different victory circles are possible?a)24b)52c)96d)144e)648Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
Question Description
In a 4 person race, medals are awarded to the fastest 3 runners. The first-place runner receives a gold medal, the second-place runner receives a silver medal, and the third-place runner receives a bronze medal. In the event of a tie, the tied runners receive the same color medal. (For example, if there is a two-way tie for firstplace, the top two runners receive gold medals, the next-fastest runner receives a silver medal, and no bronze medal is awarded). Assuming that exactly three medals are awarded, and that the three medal winners stand together with their medals to form a victory circle, how many different victory circles are possible?a)24b)52c)96d)144e)648Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? for UPSC 2024 is part of UPSC preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the UPSC exam syllabus. Information about In a 4 person race, medals are awarded to the fastest 3 runners. The first-place runner receives a gold medal, the second-place runner receives a silver medal, and the third-place runner receives a bronze medal. In the event of a tie, the tied runners receive the same color medal. (For example, if there is a two-way tie for firstplace, the top two runners receive gold medals, the next-fastest runner receives a silver medal, and no bronze medal is awarded). Assuming that exactly three medals are awarded, and that the three medal winners stand together with their medals to form a victory circle, how many different victory circles are possible?a)24b)52c)96d)144e)648Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for UPSC 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for In a 4 person race, medals are awarded to the fastest 3 runners. The first-place runner receives a gold medal, the second-place runner receives a silver medal, and the third-place runner receives a bronze medal. In the event of a tie, the tied runners receive the same color medal. (For example, if there is a two-way tie for firstplace, the top two runners receive gold medals, the next-fastest runner receives a silver medal, and no bronze medal is awarded). Assuming that exactly three medals are awarded, and that the three medal winners stand together with their medals to form a victory circle, how many different victory circles are possible?a)24b)52c)96d)144e)648Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?.
Solutions for In a 4 person race, medals are awarded to the fastest 3 runners. The first-place runner receives a gold medal, the second-place runner receives a silver medal, and the third-place runner receives a bronze medal. In the event of a tie, the tied runners receive the same color medal. (For example, if there is a two-way tie for firstplace, the top two runners receive gold medals, the next-fastest runner receives a silver medal, and no bronze medal is awarded). Assuming that exactly three medals are awarded, and that the three medal winners stand together with their medals to form a victory circle, how many different victory circles are possible?a)24b)52c)96d)144e)648Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? in English & in Hindi are available as part of our courses for UPSC. Download more important topics, notes, lectures and mock test series for UPSC Exam by signing up for free.
Here you can find the meaning of In a 4 person race, medals are awarded to the fastest 3 runners. The first-place runner receives a gold medal, the second-place runner receives a silver medal, and the third-place runner receives a bronze medal. In the event of a tie, the tied runners receive the same color medal. (For example, if there is a two-way tie for firstplace, the top two runners receive gold medals, the next-fastest runner receives a silver medal, and no bronze medal is awarded). Assuming that exactly three medals are awarded, and that the three medal winners stand together with their medals to form a victory circle, how many different victory circles are possible?a)24b)52c)96d)144e)648Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? defined & explained in the simplest way possible. Besides giving the explanation of In a 4 person race, medals are awarded to the fastest 3 runners. The first-place runner receives a gold medal, the second-place runner receives a silver medal, and the third-place runner receives a bronze medal. In the event of a tie, the tied runners receive the same color medal. (For example, if there is a two-way tie for firstplace, the top two runners receive gold medals, the next-fastest runner receives a silver medal, and no bronze medal is awarded). Assuming that exactly three medals are awarded, and that the three medal winners stand together with their medals to form a victory circle, how many different victory circles are possible?a)24b)52c)96d)144e)648Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?, a detailed solution for In a 4 person race, medals are awarded to the fastest 3 runners. The first-place runner receives a gold medal, the second-place runner receives a silver medal, and the third-place runner receives a bronze medal. In the event of a tie, the tied runners receive the same color medal. (For example, if there is a two-way tie for firstplace, the top two runners receive gold medals, the next-fastest runner receives a silver medal, and no bronze medal is awarded). Assuming that exactly three medals are awarded, and that the three medal winners stand together with their medals to form a victory circle, how many different victory circles are possible?a)24b)52c)96d)144e)648Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? has been provided alongside types of In a 4 person race, medals are awarded to the fastest 3 runners. The first-place runner receives a gold medal, the second-place runner receives a silver medal, and the third-place runner receives a bronze medal. In the event of a tie, the tied runners receive the same color medal. (For example, if there is a two-way tie for firstplace, the top two runners receive gold medals, the next-fastest runner receives a silver medal, and no bronze medal is awarded). Assuming that exactly three medals are awarded, and that the three medal winners stand together with their medals to form a victory circle, how many different victory circles are possible?a)24b)52c)96d)144e)648Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? theory, EduRev gives you an ample number of questions to practice In a 4 person race, medals are awarded to the fastest 3 runners. The first-place runner receives a gold medal, the second-place runner receives a silver medal, and the third-place runner receives a bronze medal. In the event of a tie, the tied runners receive the same color medal. (For example, if there is a two-way tie for firstplace, the top two runners receive gold medals, the next-fastest runner receives a silver medal, and no bronze medal is awarded). Assuming that exactly three medals are awarded, and that the three medal winners stand together with their medals to form a victory circle, how many different victory circles are possible?a)24b)52c)96d)144e)648Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? tests, examples and also practice UPSC tests.
Explore Courses for UPSC exam

Top Courses for UPSC

Explore Courses
Signup for Free!
Signup to see your scores go up within 7 days! Learn & Practice with 1000+ FREE Notes, Videos & Tests.
10M+ students study on EduRev