Q # Running Races

[19janpg]

Question:
Seven runners, labeled A, B, C, D, E, F, and G, take part in a race. The following is known:

Runners A and E finish consecutively.

Runner B finishes before runner F but after runner A.

Runner D is the fourth to finish the race.

Runner C did not finish first, but did finish within the first 50% of runners.

In the solution we have:

Finally, the above tells you that the last 3 slots as taken by B, F, and G. Knowing that B finishes before F leaves 3 distinct possibilities for this placement:

___ ___ ___ _D_ _B_ _F_ _G_

___ ___ ___ _D_ _B_ _G_ _F_

___ ___ ___ _D_ _G_ _B_ _F_

According to this we have F, G, & B for the fifth position.
So, how B is correct and F is wrong?

[RonPurewal]

Per the forum rules, please provide the complete question, including all answer choices.

Thanks.

[RonPurewal]

... and, don't forget to post the question!

Right now, I can't even tell what the original question is. You've noted that "B is correct and F is wrong", but, without the actual question, I have no idea what these mean.

[drtfyghujd403]

Hi! Here's the full question:

Seven runners, labeled A, B, C, D, E, F, and G, take part in a race. The following is known:

Runners A and E finish consecutively.

Runner B finishes before runner F but after runner A.

Runner D is the fourth to finish the race.

Runner C did not finish first, but did finish within the first 50% of runners.

Based on the information given, identify a runner who could have finished first and a runner who could have finished fifth. Make only two selections, one in each column.


Runners First Fifth
B
C
D
E
F

[drtfyghujd403]

Anyone still working on this thread??

[MohitS94]

Options for 1st position: A, E.
Options for 5th position: B, G.

The question asked for the fifth position. 19janpg was looking at the sixth position.

[jnelson0612]

Here's what I get from this question:

A, E finish together
then B
then F
C must finish in second or third place.
D is fourth

Because A, E must finish together and must both be ahead of B and F, they have to be in spots 1-2 along with C in third. There is no way to fit A,E in the slots 5-7 since they must have two runners behind them. Let me know if you need more clarification on this.

So if you list this out A or E has to be in first place. G or B could be in fifth place. F cannot be in fifth place because it must follow B, and the earliest we can have B is fifth place.

[drtfyghujd403]

thanks everyone...its clear now!

[tim]

Glad to hear it!