Tips and Tricks: Ranking | Logical Reasoning (LR) and Data Interpretation (DI) - CAT PDF Download

How to Solve Order and Ranking Reasoning Questions - Tips and Tricks 

Candidates can find various tips and order and ranking reasoning tricks from below for solving the questions that may come in govt. competitive exams:

• Tip # 1: Position can be from either side of the row, and rank is always from top or bottom of the row. 
• Tip # 2: Candidates can calculate the total number of persons in a row or column by using the formula: Total Person = Rank from left + Rank from right – 1
• Tip # 3: For non overlapping type questions, number of persons between two people = The total number of persons – Sum of positions of two different people from opposite sides. 
• Tip # 4: For overlapping type questions, number of persons between two people = Sum of positions of two different persons from opposite end – total number of persons – 2
• Tip # 5: Condition for overlapping is, The sum of positions of the two persons from opposite ends > total number of persons

Solved Examples

Q1: In a row of 60 cars, car A is 32nd from the right end. What is its position from the left end?
Ans: Position from left end = (Total number of cars + 1) – Position from right end 
Position from left end = (60 + 1) – 32 = 61 – 32 = 29. 
Hence, the position of car A from left end is 29.

Q2: Radha selected the 27th card from the left in a row of 50 cards. What will be the position of the same card from the right?
Ans: Total number of cards = Position of the card from right + Position of the card from left – 1
50 = Position of Radha’s card from right + 27 – 1 
Position of Radha’s card from right = 50 – 27 + 1 = 24. 
Hence, the position of the card from the right end is 24.

Q3: Radhika ranks 16th from the top and 13th from the bottom in a certain examination. How many students are there in the class?
Ans: Number of students in the class = 16 + 13 – 1 = 29 – 1 = 28.
Hence, “28” is the correct answer.

Q4: In a row of 54 persons, A is 35 from left side and B is 22 from right. Find the total number of persons between them.
Ans: 35 + 22 = 57 > total number of persons i.e. 54
Total number of persons between them = (35 + 22) – 54 –2 = 1 
Hence, there is only one person between them.

Q5: In a School, there are 147 people, the ratio of girls : boys is 1:6. Soumya is a girl who stands 15th from the top of that row and 7 girls are in front of her. How many boys are behind her?
Ans: Total number of students = 147
Girls : Boys = 1:6
x + 6X =147
7X = 147
X = 21
Girls = 21 and boys = 126
Now Soumya is in 15th position from the top and 7 girls are in front of her.
Now boys are behind him = 7 as total14 students are in front of him.
So, the number of boys, behind him is 126 – 7 = 119
Hence, the correct answer is 119.