Reading a chain of inequalities — Aptitude Question
Reading a chain of inequalities: If A > B, B > C, C = D and D > E, which of the following is definitely true? Answer and worked solution on CodeKairo.
- Topic: Mathematical Reasoning
- Section: Logical Reasoning
- Difficulty: Medium
- Time target: 75 seconds
Question
If A > B, B > C, C = D and D > E, which of the following is definitely true?
Options
- A > E
- E > B
- C > A
- B = D
Show the answer and the worked solution
Correct answer: A. A > E
Worked solution
- The chain reads A > B > C = D > E.
- So A > E is definitely true.
- The others contradict the chain or are not forced by it.
Answer: A > E.
The idea
Write all the relations as one chain. A conclusion is safe only if every link between the two terms points the same way.
Shortcut. Elimination: in A > B > C = D > E a term further right can never exceed one on its left, which kills 'E > B' and 'C > A'; B > C = D kills 'B = D'.
Common trap. "B = D" — the only '=' in the chain links C and D, right next to B; but B > C = D makes B strictly greater than D.