Ranking and Position – Solving Approach and Example

In a clerical level exam and PO prelim level exams, one of the important topics is Ranking and Position. Here you can check the solving techniques and some important problems which are asked in various exams.

Type – I.

Alpha Numeric Series:

Study the following arrangement to answer the given questions
Q 9 K # P @ 3 E N S A C * G © U M 7 F I V % 4 Z 8 Y

Trick:

R – Right; L  – Left

*Take the Direction of Second Part for Counting. i.e (eighth to the right of the fourteenth from the left – R + L – 22nd from left.)

If all the numbers are dropped from the above arrangement, which of the following will be the seventeenth from the right end?
1.E
2.P
3.I
4.C
5.@
Ans – 5.@
Explanation :
Q 9 K # P @ 3 E N S A C * G © U M 7 F I V % 4 Z 8 Y

Which of the following is the sixth to the left of the fifth to the left of “V”?
1.3
2.A
3.N
4.S
5.None of these
Ans – 4.S
Explanation :
sixth to the left of the fifth to the left of “V” – L + L – 11th to the left of V
Q 9 K # P @ 3 E N S A C * G © U M 7 F I V % 4 Z 8 Y

Which of the following is the eighth to the right of the fourteenth from the left end of the above arrangement?
1.V
2.4
3.%
4.E
5.None of these
Ans – 3.%
Explanation :
8th to the right of 14th from the left – 22nd from the left end – %

How many are such symbols therein above arrangement, each of which is immediately preceded by an alphabet and immediately followed by a number?
1.One
2.Two
3.Three
4.More than three
5.None
Ans – 2.Two
Explanation :
P@3, V%4

Type – II:

Saran is eighteenth from the right end of a row of 50 boys. What is his position from the left end?
1.32
2.35
3.33
4.34
5.None of these
Answer – 3. 33
Explanation – 50 – 18 = 32; Saran is 33 from the left.

In a class of 90, where girls are twice that of boys, Shridar ranked fourteenth from the top, if there are 10 girls ahead of Shridar, how many boys are after him in rank?
1.23
2.26
3.25
4.22
5.None of these
Answer – 2. 26
Explanation – No of boys = x;  No of girls = 2x;
x+2x = 90 => 3x = 90
x (Boys)= 30 ; 2x(Girls) = 60
Number of student behind Shridar = 90 – 14 = 76
No of girls behind  Shridar = 60 – 10 = 50
No of boys  behind Shridar = 76 – 50 = 26

Sita ranks nineteenth in a class of 68 students. What is her rank from last?
1.50
2.51
3.49
4.48
5.None of these
Answer –1. 50 
Explanation – 68 – 19 = 49,Hence 50^th rank from last.