Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumAnalytical Puzzles and Grouping

Five administrative project files—File Alpha, File Beta, File Gamma, File Delta, and File Epsilon—were reviewed and cleared sequentially by a scrutiny committee. Based on the following clearance conditions, arrange the five files in the correct chronological order from the first file cleared to the last file cleared:

1. File Beta was cleared immediately after File Alpha.
2. File Delta was cleared after File Epsilon but before File Gamma.
3. File Alpha was cleared at some point after File Gamma.

What is the correct sequence of clearance from first to last?

  1. 1File Epsilon
  2. 2File Delta
  3. 3File Gamma
  4. 4File Alpha
  5. 5File Beta

Answer

The correct sequence of clearance from first to last is File Epsilon, File Delta, File Gamma, File Alpha, and File Beta.
File Epsilon is cleared first because File Delta follows File Epsilon, File Gamma follows File Delta, File Alpha follows File Gamma, and File Beta directly follows File Alpha. This forms the deterministic order: File Epsilon, File Delta, File Gamma, File Alpha, File Beta.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze relative position constraints for File Epsilon, File Delta, and File Gamma.
From condition 2, File Delta was cleared after File Epsilon but before File Gamma, establishing the partial order: File Epsilon → File Delta → File Gamma.
Delta must sit strictly between Epsilon and Gamma.
2
Analyze relative position constraints for File Gamma, File Alpha, and File Beta.
From condition 3, File Alpha was cleared after File Gamma (File Gamma → File Alpha). From condition 1, File Beta was cleared immediately after File Alpha (File Alpha → File Beta). Combining these yields: File Gamma → File Alpha → File Beta.
Alpha follows Gamma, and Beta directly locks in behind Alpha.
3
Merge all partial orders to form the unique complete sequence.
Combining (File Epsilon → File Delta → File Gamma) with (File Gamma → File Alpha → File Beta) gives the unique sequence: File Epsilon → File Delta → File Gamma → File Alpha → File Beta.
This satisfies every relative clearance condition without contradiction.

Key Concept

Linear Sequential Ordering and Constraint Satisfaction
Rate this question

Topics

Analytical Puzzles and Grouping

More questions from this topic