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Five in a Line (illustration)
FILE No.131Unsolved

Five in a Line

Difficulty ★★☆about 5 minLogic PuzzleRearrangingSorting conditions
Determine the order of five people, A to E, from six conditions.

Case Record

Five people, A, B, C, D, and E, are standing in a row. The following six conditions are known.

  • A is to the left of C.
  • B is at the right end.
  • C is immediately to the left of D.
  • E is at the left end.
  • D is to the left of B.
  • A and E are next to each other.
Your question

In what order are they standing, from the left?

Case Files

Diagram

Five people, A to E, in a rowLeftRightConditions1) A is to the left of C2) B is at the right end3) C is immediately left of D4) E is at the left end5) D is to the left of B6) A and E are next to each other
Diagram

Hints

If you get stuck, open the hints one at a time, in order.

Open hint 1

Which conditions fix the left and right ends?

Open hint 2

Who is next to E?

Open hint 3

C and D stand together.

Solve It

Your question

In what order are they standing, from the left?

Choose the answer closest to the truth.

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The Truth

E, A, C, D, B

The answer is "E, A, C, D, B."

E is at the left end and B at the right end. A is next to E, so A is second from the left. C is immediately left of D and to the right of A, so C and D are third and fourth.

The other orders break one of the conditions (for example, A, E, C, D, B has E not at the left end).

How the order is foundEACDBStepResult4, 6: E at left end, A next to EA is second2: B at right endB is fifth3, 1: C right before D, A left of CC is third, D fourth
Diagram of the solution

Key Points

  • Start with what is fixed
  • Use the "next to" and "immediately left" conditions
  • Check against all the conditions at the end

Why people get fooled

Because with many conditions, you are unsure which to use first.

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