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Difficulty: MediumAnalytical Puzzles and Grouping

Five delivery drivers (Liam, Maya, Noah, Olivia, and Paul) park their vans in a straight line facing North. The parking positions are numbered 1 to 5 from West (left) to East (right). Each van carries a different category of goods: Books, Clothing, Electronics, Food, and Medical supplies.

The following constraints apply:
1. Noah, who does not transport Medical supplies, is parked such that the van carrying Electronics is second to his right.
2. Maya's van is parked immediately to the left (West) of the van carrying Food.
3. Paul's van, which is not parked at either extreme end (Position 1 or 5), is parked immediately to the right (East) of the van carrying Medical supplies.
4. The van carrying Books is parked at the extreme left end (Position 1).
5. Liam's van is parked somewhere to the right of Paul's van, but Liam does not carry Food.

Based on the parking arrangement, who drives the van carrying Medical supplies, and what is its position?

  1. Olivia, Position 3Answer
  2. B
    Noah, Position 3
  3. C
    Paul, Position 4
  4. D
    Maya, Position 2

Answer

Olivia drives the van carrying Medical supplies, which is parked at Position 3.
Through logical deduction, the Medical van must be at Position 3 to allow Paul to be at Position 4 and Liam to be at Position 5. Once Maya and Noah are placed at Positions 1 and 2 to satisfy their respective constraints, Olivia is the sole remaining driver available to take Position 3.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Place the definitively known endpoints.
Position 1 is occupied by the van carrying Books.
Clue 4 explicitly states the Books van is at the extreme left end (Position 1).
2
Determine the possible positions for the Medical van and Paul.
The Medical van must be at Position 3, and Paul must be at Position 4.
Clue 3 states Paul is immediately right of Medical, and Paul is not at 1 or 5. This means (Medical, Paul) must be (2, 3) or (3, 4). If they are (2, 3), Clue 5 requires Liam to be at 4 or 5. Maya and Food must be adjacent (Clue 2), but no valid adjacent spots remain that don't violate Liam's restriction against carrying Food. Therefore, Medical is at 3, and Paul is at 4.
3
Place Liam's van.
Liam is at Position 5.
Clue 5 states Liam is to the right of Paul. Since Paul is at Position 4, Liam must take the only remaining spot to his right, which is Position 5.
4
Determine the positions of Maya, Food, Noah, and Electronics.
Maya is at 1 (Books), Food is at 2, Noah is at 2 (Food), and Electronics is at 4 (Paul).
Maya must be immediately left of Food (Positions 1 and 2 are the only adjacent spots available for driver and cargo). So Maya is at 1, driving Books, and Food is at 2. Clue 1 says Electronics is second to the right of Noah. Noah cannot be at 3 because he does not transport Medical supplies. Therefore, Noah must be at 2 (Food), making Electronics Position 4 (driven by Paul).
5
Assign the remaining driver and cargo.
Olivia is at Position 3, and Liam carries Clothing at Position 5.
Olivia is the only driver left, so she takes Position 3 (Medical). Clothing is the only cargo left, so it goes to Position 5 (Liam).

Key Concept

Linear arrangement and deterministic grouping based on positional and associative constraints.
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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Topics

Analytical Puzzles and Grouping

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