Ravi is 7 ranks ahead of Sumit in a class of 39. If Sumit's rank is seventeenth from the last, what is Ravi's rank from the start?

Appeared in: HPSSC - 2015

Explanation

The core of this problem is converting a rank from the end to a rank from the beginning and then adjusting for a relative position.
First, Sumit's rank from the start is calculated: (Total Students - Rank from Last) + 1 = (39 - 17) + 1 = 23rd.
Ravi is 7 ranks 'ahead' of Sumit, which means his rank number is smaller. Therefore, Ravi's rank is 23 - 7 = 16th.

Option A: This is an incorrect calculation. It may arise from miscalculating Sumit's rank or Ravi's relative position.
Option B: This is a common calculation error. It could result from an off-by-one error, such as forgetting to add 1 when converting Sumit's rank.
Option D: This is Sumit's rank from the last, not Ravi's rank from the start. It's a distractor that uses a number directly from the problem statement.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Ranking and Order as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
This is a logical reasoning question designed to test problem-solving and analytical skills, which are essential for nurses in prioritizing tasks and making decisions.
While not directly clinical, the ability to perform step-by-step calculations and maintain accuracy is critical in nursing for tasks like medication dosage calculation and fluid balance monitoring.
What if? If Ravi was 7 ranks 'behind' Sumit instead of 'ahead', his rank would be 23 + 7 = 30th from the start. 'Behind' implies a worse rank (a higher number).

How to Approach the Question

First, identify all the given numbers and what they represent: Total students (39), Sumit's rank from the last (17), and Ravi's relative position (7 ranks ahead).
The goal is to find Ravi's rank from the start. To do this, you first need Sumit's rank from the start.
Use the standard formula to convert a rank from the end to the beginning: Rank from Start = (Total - Rank from Last) + 1.
Calculate Sumit's rank from the start: (39 - 17) + 1 = 23.
Interpret the word 'ahead'. In ranking, 'ahead' means a better rank, so you subtract. If it were 'behind', you would add.
Calculate Ravi's rank by adjusting Sumit's rank: 23 - 7 = 16. Select the option that matches this result.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full HPSSC - 2015

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.