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Mixed Order (Height / Weight / Marks)

Introduction

In this pattern, questions are based on comparing people or objects using different attributes such as height, weight, marks, or age. You need to arrange them in a specific order (ascending or descending) based on the given comparative clues.

This pattern is important because it helps improve your logical reasoning and sequencing skills. It teaches you how to interpret information like “A is taller than B” or “C scored more marks than D” and combine multiple clues to form a complete order.

Pattern: Mixed Order (Height / Weight / Marks)

Pattern

The key idea is to convert comparison clues into order relationships such as greater than or less than, then merge them to find who stands at the top or bottom in the sequence.

Common clue types:

  • "A is taller than B but shorter than C" → C > A > B
  • "D scored more than E but less than F" → F > D > E
  • Combine all to find the overall rank or missing relation.

Step-by-Step Example

Question

Five students A, B, C, D, and E are compared by height.
1. A is taller than B but shorter than D.
2. C is shorter than A but taller than E.
3. D is the tallest.
Who is the tallest among all?

Solution

  1. Step 1: Understand the first clue

    A is between D and B in height order. This means D is taller than A, and A is taller than B → D > A > B.

  2. Step 2: Use the second clue

    C is shorter than A but taller than E → A > C > E.

  3. Step 3: Combine both pieces of information

    We now know D > A and A > C > E, and also A > B. Putting it all together gives an order like: D > A > (B and C) > E. So, D is higher than everyone mentioned.

  4. Step 4: Apply the third clue

    The clue clearly says D is the tallest, which matches our combined order.

  5. Final Answer:

    D

  6. Quick Check:

    D is taller than A ✅, A is taller than B ✅, A is taller than C ✅, and C is taller than E ✅.

Quick Variations

1. Compare people by more than one attribute (like height and weight).

2. Find who lies exactly between two given people.

3. Find missing ranks when partial orders are given.

4. Combine different comparisons (like marks and percentage) to find the final ranking.

Trick to Always Use

  • Step 1 → Write each clue as an inequality (e.g., D > A > B).
  • Step 2 → Combine clues carefully and check for overlaps.
  • Step 3 → Find the extreme positions (tallest, heaviest, highest scorer).
  • Step 4 → Recheck each clue after arranging to confirm no conflicts.

Summary

Summary

  • Always start by converting clues into comparison form (greater or lesser).
  • Combine clues to form one consistent sequence.
  • Look for words like “tallest,” “shortest,” “heaviest,” or “highest marks.”
  • Check every clue after arranging - no statement should contradict your order.

Example to remember:
If A > B, B > C, and D > A, then final order is D > A > B > C.

Practice

(1/5)
1. Five friends P, Q, R, S, and T are compared by height. Q is taller than P but shorter than R. S is shorter than Q but taller than T. Who is the tallest among them?
easy
A. P
B. Q
C. R
D. S

Solution

  1. Step 1: Understand the first clue

    Q is taller than P but shorter than R. This means R is the tallest among these three, so R > Q > P.

  2. Step 2: Use the second clue

    S is shorter than Q but taller than T. This gives Q > S > T.

  3. Step 3: Combine both pieces

    Combine the two relations carefully. The overall order becomes R > Q > S > P > T.

  4. Step 4: Identify the tallest

    The person at the top of this order is R.

  5. Final Answer:

    R → Option C

  6. Quick Check:

    R taller than Q ✅, Q taller than S ✅, S taller than T ✅
Hint: Convert all clues into simple comparisons (>, <) and merge step-by-step.
Common Mistakes: Not merging all clues together or mixing up taller and shorter directions.
2. Five students A, B, C, D, and E are compared by marks. A scored more than B but less than C. D scored less than B. E scored more than A. C scored more than E. Who scored the second highest marks?
easy
A. A
B. B
C. E
D. C

Solution

  1. Step 1: Arrange the first clue

    A scored more than B but less than C → C > A > B.

  2. Step 2: Add the next clue

    D scored less than B → B > D.

  3. Step 3: Add E's position

    E scored more than A → E > A.

  4. Step 4: Add the new clue

    C scored more than E → C > E.

  5. Step 5: Combine all

    The full order becomes C > E > A > B > D.

  6. Step 6: Identify second highest

    The second highest is E.

  7. Final Answer:

    E → Option C

  8. Quick Check:

    Order C > E > A > B > D satisfies all clues, including new relation C > E.
Hint: When you add a top-level comparison like 'C > E', the overall ranking becomes fully determined.
Common Mistakes: Missing the impact of the new clue C > E, which ensures E cannot be the highest.
3. Four boys W, X, Y, and Z are compared by weight. W is heavier than X. Y is lighter than X but heavier than Z. Who is the lightest?
easy
A. Y
B. X
C. Z
D. W

Solution

  1. Step 1: Write the first comparison

    W is heavier than X → W > X.

  2. Step 2: Write the second comparison

    Y is lighter than X but heavier than Z → X > Y > Z.

  3. Step 3: Combine both orders

    Merge them as W > X > Y > Z.

  4. Step 4: Identify the lightest

    The one at the bottom of the list is Z.

  5. Final Answer:

    Z → Option C

  6. Quick Check:

    All weights arranged correctly from heaviest to lightest ✅
Hint: Start from the top (heaviest) and move downward.
Common Mistakes: Reversing heavier/lighter meaning and getting order wrong.
4. Five athletes A, B, C, D, and E participated in a race. A finished before B but after C. D finished after B but before E. Who came third?
medium
A. A
B. B
C. D
D. C

Solution

  1. Step 1: Convert the first clue

    A finished after C but before B → C > A > B.

  2. Step 2: Convert the second clue

    B finished before D but D finished before E → B > D > E.

  3. Step 3: Combine both orders

    Merge to get the complete ranking: C > A > B > D > E.

  4. Step 4: Identify who is third

    The third position is occupied by B.

  5. Final Answer:

    B → Option B

  6. Quick Check:

    Combined order C, A, B, D, E fits all clues and B is 3rd ✅
Hint: Translate 'before/after' into descending rank order and merge sequences.
Common Mistakes: Reversing the before/after order or placing D before B, which contradicts the clue.
5. Five persons A, B, C, D, and E are compared based on height. A is taller than B but shorter than D. C is shorter than A but taller than E. Who is taller than C but shorter than D?
medium
A. A
B. B
C. E
D. D

Solution

  1. Step 1: Convert the first clue

    A is taller than B but shorter than D → D > A > B.

  2. Step 2: Convert the second clue

    C is shorter than A but taller than E → A > C > E.

  3. Step 3: Use only the necessary relations

    From the two relations above we can validly conclude D > A and A > C. Therefore A is taller than C but shorter than D. (We do not assume or claim any additional ordering among B, C, E beyond what's given.)

  4. Final Answer:

    A → Option A

  5. Quick Check:

    D > A ✅; A > C ✅ → so A is between D and C as required.
Hint: When asked for 'between' comparisons, extract only the relations that directly place someone between two others instead of building a full order.
Common Mistakes: Assuming relations between unrelated persons (e.g., B vs C) that are not given in the clues.

Mock Test

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