Reasoning: How to Solve Order by Height-Weight-Age Comparison-Based Puzzles

Introduction "Order by Height/Weight/Age questions can carry up to 20 marks in competitive exams, making it a must-master topic to crack the exam quickly and confidently."

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FIRST To solve Order by Height/Weight/Age questions, you need to remember two basic concepts:

1. Direction Chart: A direction chart is a visual representation of the order in which people are standing or sitting. It helps you understand the relative positions of individuals.
2. BODMAS: BODMAS is a mnemonic that helps you remember the order of operations: Brackets, Orders (exponents), Division, Multiplication, Addition, and Subtraction.
3. Sitting Arrangement Conventions: Familiarize yourself with common sitting arrangement conventions, such as "facing north" or "facing south," which can affect the order of individuals.

CRYSTAL‑CLEAR METHOD (Step‑by‑Step) To solve Order by Height/Weight/Age questions, follow these steps:

1. Read the question carefully: Understand what is being asked and what information is given.
2. Identify the key information: Determine which piece of information (height, weight, age) is being used to order the individuals.
3. Create a direction chart: Draw a direction chart to visualize the relative positions of individuals.
4. Use BODMAS to evaluate expressions: If the question involves mathematical expressions, use BODMAS to evaluate them correctly.
5. Apply the given condition: Use the key information to apply the given condition to the direction chart.
6. Determine the order: Based on the direction chart and the applied condition, determine the order of individuals.

WORKED EXAMPLES

Example 1 – Easy Five friends – A, B, C, D, and E – are standing in a line. A is taller than B, C is shorter than D, and E is the shortest. Who is standing at the end of the line?

Step-by-step reasoning:

1. Read the question carefully: We need to determine the order of the five friends.
2. Identify the key information: The key information is the height of each friend.
3. Create a direction chart: Draw a direction chart with the five friends.
4. Apply the given condition: A is taller than B, so A is to the right of B. C is shorter than D, so C is to the left of D. E is the shortest, so E is at the left end.
5. Determine the order: Based on the direction chart and the applied condition, the order is E, C, B, A, D.

What we learned: To solve easy Order by Height/Weight/Age questions, focus on the key information and create a direction chart to visualize the relative positions of individuals.

Example 2 – Medium Five friends – A, B, C, D, and E – are standing in a line. A is taller than B, C is shorter than D, and E is the shortest. However, the height of each friend is given in a coded format: A = 3x + 2, B = 2x + 5, C = x + 1, D = 4x - 3, and E = x - 2. Who is standing at the end of the line?

Step-by-step reasoning:

1. Read the question carefully: We need to determine the order of the five friends.
2. Identify the key information: The key information is the coded height of each friend.
3. Create a direction chart: Draw a direction chart with the five friends.
4. Evaluate the expressions: Use BODMAS to evaluate the expressions for each friend's height.
5. Apply the given condition: A is taller than B, so A is to the right of B. C is shorter than D, so C is to the left of D. E is the shortest, so E is at the left end.
6. Determine the order: Based on the direction chart and the applied condition, the order is E, C, B, A, D.

What we learned: To solve medium Order by Height/Weight/Age questions, focus on evaluating expressions using BODMAS and applying the given condition to the direction chart.

Example 3 – Exam‑Style Five friends – A, B, C, D, and E – are standing in a line. A is taller than B, C is shorter than D, and E is the shortest. However, the height of each friend is given in a coded format: A = 3x + 2, B = 2x + 5, C = x + 1, D = 4x - 3, and E = x - 2. Additionally, the friends are facing north, and the line is facing east. Who is standing at the end of the line?

Step-by-step reasoning:

1. Read the question carefully: We need to determine the order of the five friends.
2. Identify the key information: The key information is the coded height of each friend and the direction they are facing.
3. Create a direction chart: Draw a direction chart with the five friends, taking into account the direction they are facing.
4. Evaluate the expressions: Use BODMAS to evaluate the expressions for each friend's height.
5. Apply the given condition: A is taller than B, so A is to the right of B. C is shorter than D, so C is to the left of D. E is the shortest, so E is at the left end.
6. Determine the order: Based on the direction chart and the applied condition, the order is E, C, B, A, D.

What we learned: To solve exam-style Order by Height/Weight/Age questions, focus on evaluating expressions using BODMAS, applying the given condition to the direction chart, and taking into account any additional information.

Common Mistakes

MISTAKE → WHY IT HAPPENS → CORRECT APPROACH

1. Ignoring the direction chart: Why it happens: The student may not create a direction chart or may not use it correctly. Correct approach: Always create a direction chart and use it to visualize the relative positions of individuals.
2. Not evaluating expressions correctly: Why it happens: The student may not use BODMAS correctly or may not evaluate the expressions correctly. Correct approach: Use BODMAS to evaluate expressions and double-check your calculations.
3. Not applying the given condition correctly: Why it happens: The student may not apply the given condition correctly or may not use it to determine the order. Correct approach: Read the question carefully and apply the given condition correctly to determine the order.
4. Not considering additional information: Why it happens: The student may not consider additional information, such as direction or coded data. Correct approach: Always consider additional information and take it into account when determining the order.
5. Not double-checking the answer: Why it happens: The student may not double-check their answer or may not verify it correctly. Correct approach: Always double-check your answer and verify it correctly.

EXAM TRAPS

Trap → How to Spot it → How to Avoid it

1. Trick questions: How to spot it: The question may seem simple, but it may have a twist or a hidden condition. How to avoid it: Read the question carefully and look for any hidden conditions or twists.
2. Misleading information: How to spot it: The question may provide misleading information or incorrect data. How to avoid it: Verify the information and data provided and use it correctly.
3. Complex expressions: How to spot it: The question may involve complex expressions or calculations. How to avoid it: Use BODMAS to evaluate expressions and double-check your calculations.

TIME‑SAVING SHORTCUTS

1. Elimination trick: Eliminate options that are clearly incorrect or impossible based on the given information.
2. Direction chart hack: Use a direction chart to visualize the relative positions of individuals and determine the order quickly.
3. Expression evaluation shortcut: Use BODMAS to evaluate expressions quickly and correctly.

1‑MINUTE RECAP "Alright, let's recap the strategy for solving Order by Height/Weight/Age questions. First, read the question carefully and identify the key information. Then, create a direction chart to visualize the relative positions of individuals. Use BODMAS to evaluate expressions and apply the given condition correctly. Don't forget to consider additional information and double-check your answer. Remember, practice makes perfect, so make sure to practice these questions regularly. You got this!