There are five houses P, Q, R, S and T. P is right of Q and T is left of R and right of P. Q is right of S. Which house is in the middle?

Appeared in: NHM UP Staff Nurse-2021 Shift-2nd

Explanation

The solution requires arranging the houses in a linear sequence based on relative positions (left/right).
The first clue 'Q is right of S' establishes the initial pair: S, Q.
The second clue 'P is right of Q' extends the sequence to: S, Q, P.
The third clue 'T is left of R and right of P' places T between P and R, completing the sequence: S, Q, P, T, R.
In a sequence of five items, the third item is in the middle. Therefore, P is the middle house.

Option B: House Q is in the second position from the left, not the middle (third) position.
Option C: House T is in the fourth position from the left, which is second from the right, not the middle.
Option D: House R is in the fifth and final position on the far right; it is an end house, not the middle one.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Logical Reasoning: Spatial Arrangement as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
This question tests logical and sequential reasoning skills, not direct clinical knowledge.
Strong reasoning skills are crucial for nurses in prioritizing tasks, interpreting sequences of events in a patient's condition, and making sound clinical judgments under pressure.
What if the question stated 'T is left of P and right of R'? This would be a contradiction and the puzzle would be unsolvable, highlighting the importance of paying close attention to every detail in a set of instructions or a patient's history.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify all the elements to be arranged (houses P, Q, R, S, T) and the nature of the relationship (left/right).
Translate each statement into a visual or mental partial arrangement. For example, 'P is right of Q' becomes 'Q P'.
Start with the most definitive clue or combine clues one by one. 'Q is right of S' gives 'S Q'. Then add 'P is right of Q' to get 'S Q P'.
Incorporate the final clue, 'T is left of R and right of P', which means 'P T R'. Combine this with the existing sequence to get the final order: 'S Q P T R'.
Once the full sequence is established, identify the middle position. In a list of five, the middle is the third position.
Select the house that occupies the middle position in your final arrangement.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full NHM UP Staff Nurse-2021 Shift-2nd

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