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Rank and Sequence

Practice MCQs

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Reasoning Ability Rank and Sequence Competitive Exams

Rank and Sequence questions test your ability to identify the position, order, rank, arrangement, or sequence of people, objects, numbers, words, events, or days. These questions are common in reasoning sections because they check careful reading and logical ordering.

What are Rank and Sequence Questions?

In rank questions, you are usually given a person's position from one end or both ends. You may have to find the total number of persons, rank from the opposite end, or the number of persons between two positions.

In sequence questions, events, people, days, months, words, or numbers are arranged in a particular order. You have to identify the correct order using the given clues.

Quick idea: First check whether the question is about rank, position, comparison, order, or time sequence. Then mark the direction clearly.
Type What is Given? What is Asked?
Rank from Both Ends Position from top/bottom or left/right Total number
Opposite Rank Total number and one rank Rank from the other end
Number Between Two positions from the same side Persons/items between them
Comparison Sequence Taller, older, heavier, more marks Final order
Time Sequence Before, after, earlier, later Correct event order

“Rank questions are solved by direction; sequence questions are solved by order.”

Reasoning Tip
Key Points
  • Identify the direction of ranking.
  • Check whether rank is from top, bottom, left, or right.
  • Use formulas only when the same person is involved.
  • Draw a simple line for two-person rank problems.
  • For sequence, arrange clues from earliest to latest.
  • Do not confuse before, after, immediately before, and immediately after.
rank sequence order position

Important Rank Formulas

These formulas are useful when positions are counted from both ends or when the total is known.

Situation Formula Example Use
Rank from both ends \(\text{Total} = \text{Rank from one end} + \text{Rank from other end} - 1\) 7th from top and 12th from bottom
Opposite rank \(\text{Opposite rank} = \text{Total} - \text{Known rank} + 1\) 15th from left in a row of 40
Items between same-side positions \(\text{Between} = \text{Larger position} - \text{Smaller position} - 1\) 5th and 14th from left
Known between count \(\text{Far position} = \text{Near position} + \text{Between} + 1\) A is 6th and 4 persons are between A and B
Important: The formula \(\text{Total} = L + R - 1\) works only when both positions are of the same person.

Common Rank and Sequence Patterns

Most questions are based on position from one side, both sides, comparison, or event sequence.

1. Rank from Both Ends

Same person's position from both sides is given.

Ravi is 8th from left and 10th from right.
Total = \(8 + 10 - 1 = 17\)
2. Opposite Rank

Total and one-side rank are given.

Total = 30, rank from left = 12
Rank from right = \(30 - 12 + 1 = 19\)
3. Number Between

Two positions from the same side are given.

A is 5th and B is 13th from left.
Between = \(13 - 5 - 1 = 7\)
4. Sequence Order

Arrange people or events using clues.

A before B, C after B.
Order: A, B, C
Tip: For rank, use formulas. For sequence, draw a line and place clues one by one.

Important Words in Sequence Questions

Word / Phrase Meaning Example Arrangement
Before Comes earlier A before B → A, B
After Comes later A after B → B, A
Immediately before Directly before, no gap A immediately before B → A, B together
Immediately after Directly after, no gap A immediately after B → B, A together
Between Located inside two positions B is between A and C
Extreme left / right First or last position in a row A sits at extreme left
Highest / lowest Top or bottom in comparison C is highest scorer
Quick check: “Immediately before” means no person or item can come between the two. “Before” alone may allow a gap.

Step-by-Step Solving Method

Step Action Example
Step 1 Identify whether the question is rank-based or sequence-based. Rank from top/bottom or order of events
Step 2 Mark the direction or order. Top to bottom, left to right, earlier to later
Step 3 Write the given positions or clues. Ravi: 9th from left, 16th from right
Step 4 Apply formula or build sequence line. \(9 + 16 - 1 = 24\)
Step 5 Verify that the answer satisfies all conditions. Total persons = 24
Important: If two different persons are involved, avoid direct formula use. Draw a position line first.

Worked Example 1: Rank from Both Ends

Neha is 11th from the top and 15th from the bottom in a class. How many students are there?

Formula: \[ \text{Total} = \text{Top rank} + \text{Bottom rank} - 1 \]
\[ \text{Total} = 11 + 15 - 1 = 25 \]

Therefore, there are 25 students in the class.

Worked Example 2: Opposite Rank

Arjun is 14th from the left in a row of 35 students. What is his rank from the right?

Formula: \[ \text{Rank from right} = \text{Total} - \text{Rank from left} + 1 \]
\[ \text{Rank from right} = 35 - 14 + 1 = 22 \]

Therefore, Arjun is 22nd from the right.

Worked Example 3: Event Sequence

Four events A, B, C, and D happened as follows:

  • A happened before C.
  • B happened after C.
  • D happened before A.

Arrange the events in correct order.

D happened before A, and A happened before C. So: D → A → C
B happened after C. So final order is: D → A → C → B

Therefore, the correct sequence is D, A, C, B.

Common Types of Rank and Sequence Questions

Rank from Top / Bottom

Find total or opposite rank.

  • Top rank
  • Bottom rank
  • Total students
  • Class position
Left / Right Rank

Used in row arrangement questions.

  • Position from left
  • Position from right
  • Middle position
  • Total persons
Comparison Sequence

Arrange by quality or measurement.

  • Height
  • Age
  • Marks
  • Weight
Time / Event Sequence

Arrange according to time clues.

  • Before
  • After
  • Earlier
  • Later
Rule: Rank questions depend on direction. Sequence questions depend on order. Identify this first before solving.

Solved Examples

Question Method Answer
Amit is 6th from top and 20th from bottom. Find total students. \(6 + 20 - 1 = 25\) 25
Ravi is 13th from left in a row of 32. Find rank from right. \(32 - 13 + 1 = 20\) 20th
A is 5th and B is 16th from left. How many are between them? \(16 - 5 - 1 = 10\) 10
Meena is 12th from right and 18th from left. Find total persons. \(12 + 18 - 1 = 29\) 29
A is older than B. C is older than A. Who is oldest? Order: C, A, B C
A happened before B. C happened after B. Find the order. A before B, C after B A, B, C
D is heavier than A. A is heavier than C. C is heavier than B. Who is lightest? Order: D, A, C, B B
If today is Friday, what day will it be after 9 days? \(9 \div 7\) leaves remainder \(2\). Friday + 2 days = Sunday Sunday

Note: For day sequence questions, divide the number of days by 7 and use the remainder.

Common Traps and Shortcuts

Common Traps
  • Forgetting to subtract 1 in total rank formula.
  • Confusing left and right ranks.
  • Using the same-person formula for two different persons.
  • Misreading before and after in sequence questions.
  • Ignoring immediately before or immediately after.
  • Forgetting remainder logic in day-based sequences.
Useful Shortcuts
  • Use \(L + R - 1\) for same-person rank from both ends.
  • Use total minus known rank plus one for opposite rank.
  • Use difference minus one for persons between same-side ranks.
  • Draw a line when two people are involved.
  • For event order, place before-after clues one by one.
  • For days, divide by 7 and move by the remainder.
Exam approach: Identify whether the question is based on rank from both ends, opposite rank, number between, comparison order, or event sequence.

Practice

A) Multiple Choice Questions
  1. Rohan is 9th from the left and 14th from the right. How many persons are in the row?
    21 22 23 24
  2. Anil is 18th from the left in a row of 45. What is his rank from the right?
    26th 27th 28th 29th
  3. A is 7th and B is 18th from the left. How many persons are between them?
    9 10 11 12
  4. If today is Monday, what day will it be after 11 days?
    Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
  5. A happened before B, and C happened after B. What is the correct order?
    A, B, C B, A, C C, B, A A, C, B
B) Solve the Higher-Order Problems
  1. Kavya is 10th from the top and 19th from the bottom. Find the total number of students. Hint: Use top rank + bottom rank - 1.
  2. In a row of 60 persons, Ajay is 24th from the left. Find his position from the right. Hint: Opposite rank = total - known rank + 1.
  3. P is 8th from the left and Q is 21st from the left. How many persons are between P and Q? Hint: Difference of positions - 1.
  4. A is older than B. C is younger than B. D is older than A. Who is the oldest? Hint: Arrange from oldest to youngest.
  5. Event D happened before A. A happened before C. B happened after C. Arrange the events. Hint: Connect the sequence clues.
Reasoning Reminder

Rank and sequence questions require careful direction reading. First identify whether the problem is based on position, comparison, or time order. Then apply the correct formula or arrangement method.

Task: Create five questions using rank from both ends, opposite rank, number between, comparison sequence, and event sequence.

Show Suggested Answers
Multiple Choice
  1. 22
    Total = \(9 + 14 - 1 = 22\).
  2. 28th
    Rank from right = \(45 - 18 + 1 = 28\).
  3. 10
    Persons between = \(18 - 7 - 1 = 10\).
  4. Friday
    \(11 \div 7\) gives remainder \(4\). Monday + 4 days = Friday.
  5. A, B, C
    A happened before B, and C happened after B.
Higher-Order Problems
  1. Kavya is 10th from top and 19th from bottom.
    Total = \(10 + 19 - 1 = 28\).
    Answer = 28.
  2. Ajay is 24th from left in a row of 60.
    Position from right = \(60 - 24 + 1 = 37\).
    Answer = 37th.
  3. P is 8th and Q is 21st from left.
    Persons between = \(21 - 8 - 1 = 12\).
    Answer = 12.
  4. A is older than B. C is younger than B. D is older than A.
    Order: D, A, B, C.
    Answer = D.
  5. D happened before A, A before C, and B after C.
    Sequence: D → A → C → B.
    Answer = D, A, C, B.
Clue Explanation

Rank questions depend on position and direction. Sequence questions depend on before-after relations. A simple line diagram helps prevent confusion.

Exam Tips
  • Mark direction before using any formula.
  • Use \(L + R - 1\) only for the same person.
  • Use total - rank + 1 for opposite rank.
  • For persons between, use larger position - smaller position - 1.
  • For events, arrange before-after clues in a line.
  • Verify all statements before final answer.
Practice MCQs