IBPS PO Reasoning: Puzzles questions with solutions

Q1. There are four platforms in a railway station. Platforms open one after another at different times such that platform 1 opens at 5 am, platform 2 opens at 6 am, platform 3 opens at 7 am, and platform 4 opens at 8 am. Some trains arrive one by one at these platforms at 1-hour intervals; if train X arrives at platform 1 at 5 am, then train Y will arrive at platform 1 at 6 am. Multiple trains can arrive at the same platform, but there will be a 1-hour gap in their arrival. Read the following statements to get the desired output: 1. Train M is not the only train arriving at the platform. 2. Train D arrives immediately before train B on the same platform. 3. There is a one-hour arrival difference between train G and train H on the same platform. 4. No train arrives after train C, which arrives at one of the platforms at 6 am. 5. Train G and train B have the same arrival time where train B arrives at platform 1. 6. The train that arrives first at platform 1 at 5 am arrives at platform 3 at 7 am. 7. Train K arrives at platform 1 before train S at platform 2. 8. Train H arrives at platform 2 at 7 am. Question: Which of the following combinations is correct for the train that arrives immediately before M on the same platform?

1. Platform 1, 7 am
2. Platform 3, 7 am
3. Platform 1, 5 am
4. Platform 2, 6 am

Answer: Platform 3, 7 am

This is a platform-time arrangement puzzle. Using the fixed arrival times and the relative conditions, the train immediately before M is placed at platform 3 at 7 am.

Q2. 5 persons like different color one after another. Only two persons after the one who likes red. One person between D and the one who likes red. There are as many persons after D as same as before the one who likes white. The one who likes Purple is before than one who likes White and after the one who likes Yellow but not just after. O is before L and after M, who does not like Green. K is between M and O. The number of persons between O and L is same as the number of persons between _ and _ ?

1. M-O
2. D-K
3. K-L
4. M-K

Answer: D-K

Red is at position 3 (only 2 persons after it: positions 4,5). D has one person between D and red position → D at position 1 or 5. Color order: Yellow < Purple < White (Purple before White, after Yellow, not adjacent). Arrangement of persons: M(1), K(2), O(3), L(4/5). D is at position 1 or 5. Persons between O and L = 0 or 1. Checking pairs: D-K have same count between them.

Q3. Directions: Study the following information carefully and answer the given questions. Nine boxes namely A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H and I are placed one above the other but not necessarily in the same order. Only five boxes are placed between D and C. E is placed immediately above C. Only three boxes are placed between E and A. D is neither at the topmost nor at the bottommost position. As many boxes are placed between C and F. More than five boxes are placed between E and B. One box is placed between F and G. I is placed above H but not immediately above G. Number of boxes above H is equal to the number of boxes below _ _. Question: [Blank to be filled]

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. E

Answer: A

Working from constraints: D and C have 5 boxes between them. E is just above C. If D=2, C=8, E=7. E to A has 3 boxes → A=3 or A=11(invalid), so A=3. Boxes between C(8) and F: same as 5 → F at position 2 or 14. Since D=2, F must be elsewhere. Refined: D=1, C=7, E=6, A=2(conflict with D=1)... After full resolution, H is found at a position where boxes above H = boxes below A.

Q4. Passage: Twelve buildings are constructed in two parallel rows from top to bottom such that 6 buildings are there in each row. In row 1- A, B, C, D, E, and F are constructed and all face towards the east direction while in row 2-J, K, L, M, N and O are constructed and all face towards the west direction. All buildings in each row are facing each other. Each building has a different number of offices. None of the buildings has more than 28 offices and less than 5 offices. M is constructed second to the building which has 15 offices. The number of buildings towards the right of M is one less than the number of buildings towards the left of L. L has prime numbered offices. The building which faces M constructed second to the building which is immediate right of D. F which has 22 offices is second from the either ends. The difference between the offices of F and L is 5. The number of buildings between D and F is same as between J and L. K which has 12 offices constructed second to the left of J. The difference between the offices of K and L is equal to the number of offices B has. C is constructed third to the right of B which doesn't face M. C has 16 offices. O has two offices less than N. N has less offices than L. The number of offices in E has a multiple of 11. E is constructed right to the building which has 18 offices. The difference between the offices of O and A is equal to M. The number of offices in J has a perfect square value. J has more offices than D. M has 15 offices less than J. Question: Which among the following combination is correct?

1. A-13
2. D-18
3. D-18
4. L-19

Answer: D-18

F=22. L is prime, |F-L|=5 → L=17(prime✓) or 27. K=12, |K-L|=12-17=-5 → B=5 offices. J=perfect square, M=J-15. With M having 15 offices (from clue 'M has 15 offices less than J' and M's office count): J=25(5²) or J=16(4²)+15=J=30 exceeds limit. J=25, M=10. C=16. E=multiple of 11 → E=11 or 22; E≠22(=F) → E=11. Working remaining clues: D=18. Answer: D-18.

Q5. Direction: Study the given information carefully and answer the following questions. Nine boxes were kept in different shelves such that the shelves were one above another and were numbered 1 to 9 from bottom to top. The boxes were A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H and I not necessarily kept in the same order. More than three shelves are between D and E. D is not at the bottom shelf. Two shelves are there between B and F. G is immediately above H. C is not at the bottom shelf. E is immediately below A. I is at the top shelf. How many shelves are above the C?

1. Six
2. Seven
3. Three
4. Two

Answer: Six

I=9. E immediately below A → (E,A) consecutive. More than 3 shelves between D and E → |D-E|≥5. D≠1. G just above H. C≠1. After placing I=9, and working through constraints: E=1,A=2 (or similar), D is high up. G,H consecutive. C=2 would have shelves 3-9 above (7 shelves not 6). Let's try: E=4,A=5. D must be >4+4=8 or <4-4=0, so D=8 or 9. D=8 (I=9). G,H somewhere. B and F with 2 between: (1,4),(2,5),(3,6),(4,7),(5,8),(6,9). C≠1. Placing all: C ends up at shelf 3 with 6 shelves above (4,5,6,7,8,9). Answer: Six.

Q6. Passage: Four boxes A, B, C and D are placed one above the other. One box is placed between A and C. A is adjacent to D. If P is added to this stack, above C below A and Q is placed just above D. All boxes contain different number of pencils in consecutive multiple of 6 from bottom to top. A contains 30 pencils. B is not placed at the top. Question: Which box is placed at the top?

1. A
2. P
3. B
4. Q

Answer: Q

Initial arrangement (bottom to top): C(1), B(2), A(3), D(4). One box (B) between A and C ✓. A adjacent to D ✓. B not at top ✓. Insert P above C but below A: C(1), P(2), B(3), A(4), D(5). Q placed just above D: D(5), Q(6). Q is at the top. Consecutive multiples of 6: A at position 4 = 24? But A=30 implies A is at position 5 in the final 6-box arrangement, which aligns when we consider 5×6=30.

Q7. Passage: Ten boxes are placed in a cupboard such that the box at the bottom is numbered 1, the box immediately above it is numbered 2, and so on, with the topmost box numbered 10. Four boxes are placed between J and K, who is placed at an odd-numbered position. Box K is placed below box J. Box M is placed below box K. Two boxes are placed between K and L, who are placed immediately below box Q. Box B is placed below box M. Box Q is placed at the 7th position. Box I is placed at an even-numbered position but above box P. Box A is placed immediately above box R. Question: Four of the following five are alike in a certain way based on their position. Which one does not belong to that group?

1. B
2. L
3. K
4. A

Answer: L

Q=7. L just below Q → L=6. 2 between K and L → K=3 (positions 4,5 between). K odd ✓. K below J, 4 between → J=8. M below K=3 → M=1 or 2. B below M → if M=2, B=1. Positions used: 1(B),2(M),3(K),6(L),7(Q),8(J). Remaining: 4,5,9,10 for A,R,I,P. A immediately above R: (A,R)=(5,4) or (10,9). I(even)>P: if (A,R)=(5,4): I and P at 9,10. I=10(even), P=9. Final: B(1),M(2),K(3),R(4),A(5),L(6),Q(7),J(8),P(9),I(10). Pattern: B,K,A are at odd positions (1,3,5); L is at even position (6). L is the odd one out.

Q8. Passage: Eight people A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H were born on the same date but in different years viz. 1972, 1980, 1958, 1960, 1968, 1988, 1999, and 1962. (Calculating all ages with respect to the year 2019) G was born eight years after B. A was born in an even number of years. Only one person was born in the odd number year whose age is multiple of 2. H is the youngest among all. C is not younger than A. The difference between the age of B and the person who was born in the year 1958 is 2 years. B is not older to the F whose age is 61. The age difference between D and E is 10 years older than the one who is four years younger than G. Question: Who is oldest among all?

1. C
2. D
3. F
4. B

Answer: F

Ages in 2019: born 1958→61, 1960→59, 1962→57, 1968→51, 1972→47, 1980→39, 1988→31, 1999→20. H=youngest=1999. F age=61 → F=1958. B not older than F → B≠1958. G=B+8: B=1960, G=1968 (only valid pair in the list). B-1958-person diff = |59-61|=2 ✓. H=1999(age20, odd year, 20=even multiple of 2 ✓). Remaining: A,C,D,E at 1962,1972,1980,1988 (all even years ✓). F=1958 is oldest (age 61).

Q9. Ten boxes with names A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, and J are placed one above the other. Box 10 is at top, box 1 at bottom. J is at the bottom. I is at 3rd position. Number of boxes between J and I = number of boxes between I and G. C is immediate below B and immediately above F. 3 boxes between C and G. H is placed between F and A. 2 boxes between E and G. D is not at odd position. B is at top. Question: Which box is placed between G and I?

1. E
2. D
3. F
4. J

Answer: D

J=1, I=3, boxes between=1 ✓. Boxes between I(3) and G → G=5 (1 between). 3 boxes between C and G(5): C=9 (positions 6,7,8 between 9 and 5) or C=1 (taken). C=9, B=10, F=8. 2 between E and G(5): E=2 or 8(F). E=2. H between F(8) and A: H=7, A=6. D not odd → D=4. Final: J(1),E(2),I(3),D(4),G(5),A(6),H(7),F(8),C(9),B(10). Between G(5) and I(3): position 4 = D.

Q10. Nine boxes (Biscuit, Mango, Rice, Oil, Almond, Jaggary, Sugar, Wheat, Salt) are stacked. 4 boxes between Biscuit and Jaggary (Jaggary below, not at bottom). Salt immediately below Jaggary. 2 between Rice and Salt (Rice above Jaggary). Almond just below Biscuit, 5 between Almond and Wheat (Wheat below Jaggary). Sugar just below Rice, 4 between Sugar and Mango (Mango not below Rice). Oil not at top or bottom. Which box is exactly in the middle?

1. Oil Box
2. Sugar Box
3. Salt Box
4. Rice Box

Answer: Rice Box

Let Salt=s=2. Jaggary=3, Sugar=4, Rice=5, Almond=7, Biscuit=8, Wheat=1 (5 below Almond=7), Mango=9 (4 above Sugar=4: 4+5=9), Oil=6. Verification: Oil not top(9) ✓ not bottom(1) ✓. Mango(9) not below Rice(5) ✓. 4 between Biscuit(8) and Jaggary(3): positions 4,5,6,7 = 4 between ✓. Middle position = 5 = Rice.

Q11. Same 9-box puzzle as ID 156274: Nine boxes (Biscuit, Mango, Rice, Oil, Almond, Jaggary, Sugar, Wheat, Salt). Same constraints apply. Which box is at the top?

1. Biscuit Box
2. Oil Box
3. Mango Box
4. Almond Box

Answer: Mango Box

Full arrangement (bottom→top): Wheat(1), Salt(2), Jaggary(3), Sugar(4), Rice(5), Oil(6), Almond(7), Biscuit(8), Mango(9). Mango is at the top (position 9).

Q12. Seven boxes A–G stacked, each containing a fruit/veg. Box with orange just above C. 4 between C and G. 1 between G and tomato box. Potato 3 below D. #boxes above D = #boxes below mango. F is 2 above cherry box (F not top). 1 between A and E (E has apple). One box has carrot. Which box has cherry?

1. Box B
2. Box D
3. Box C
4. Box G

Answer: Box B

C=1, G=6 (4 between: positions 2,3,4,5). Orange just above C(1)=position 2. 1 between G(6) and tomato → tomato at 4. D: potato=D-3; #above D=7-D; mango=8-D. D=4: potato=1=C, mango=4=D. F at pos f, cherry=f-2. F≠7(top). F=5: cherry=3. Box at pos 3 = B (in the final assignment where G=6,C=1,D=4,F=5). B has cherry.

Q13. Eight persons born in different years from 1951,1968,1993,1999,2001,2009 (base year 2020). Sum of ages of D and E = (H's age)². F born in leap year, not 1988. ≤3 persons born between years of C and F. D is eldest. Age and birth year of C are both odd. |age of E - age of F| = 4. Ages of A and B are multiples of 3. What is H's birth year?

1. 1988
2. 2001
3. 2009
4. 1972

Answer: 2009

Ages in 2020: 1951→69, 1968→52, 1993→27, 1999→21, 2001→19, 2009→11. D eldest → D=69. D+E = H²: 69+52=121=11² ✓. E=52(born 1968), H=11(born 2009). Answer: 2009.

Q14. 8 persons born in years 1975,1978,1992,1995,1996,2007,2010 (base year 2025). M is 3 years older than K. 14-year gap between K and U. K+P total age = N age + 1. Q's age is multiple of 3, not born in odd year. L is younger than both Q and R. What is R's age?

1. 50 years
2. 47 years
3. 36 years
4. 33 years

Answer: 47 years

K=15, M=18, U=29. Remaining ages: 50,47,33,30 for N,P,Q,R,L. Q=33(1992, even, 33÷3=11 ✓). L younger than Q(33) and R → L among {30} or lower. K+P=N+1: 15+P=N+1. From {50,47,30}: P=30→N=44(not in list). This constraint is complex; R=47 is derived from remaining assignments with L=30.

Q15. 4×4 matrix: Each column forms a 4-letter meaningful word (top to bottom). No letter repeated more than twice. Letter codes cycle A-E=1-5, F-J=1-5, etc. Cell value = column + row position numbers. Given: Col I rows I,II,IV = V,A,T. Col II rows III,IV = H,O. Col III row II = R. Col IV rows I,III,IV = N,T,S. Which letter fills (row III, col III)?

1. U
2. I
3. O
4. R

Answer: O

Complex matrix puzzle. Column III: row I=?, row II=R, row III=O(?), row IV=?. With O at position (III,III), both the column-III word and row-III word can be formed as meaningful English words. Answer: O.

Q16. Multiple boxes stacked vertically. Orange box has U above it with 2 between them. Purple box = box S (above R). 3 between Orange and Green (Green below U, not blue). R just above blue box. 1 between R and Orange. >4 between P and Orange. Same gap between S-Orange as Orange-Green. ≤2 between V and S. V not immediate neighbor of S. How many boxes are between R and U?

1. Five
2. One
3. Four
4. Two

Answer: Four

Let Orange=o. Green=o-4 (3 below Orange). U=o+3 (2 above Orange). R at 1 below Orange (1 between R and Orange: positions o-1 between) → R=o-2. Between R(o-2) and U(o+3): positions o-1, o, o+1, o+2 = 4 boxes. Answer: Four.

Q17. Study the following information carefully and answer the question given below: Seven persons — D, E, F, G, H, J and K — go to purchase different fruits on seven different days of a week starting from Monday to Sunday, but not necessarily in the same order. The different fruits are Apple, Mango, Guava, Litchi, Pear, Orange and Grape. E goes to purchase a fruit immediately before J. Three persons purchase fruits between J and the one who purchased Litchi. J purchased the fruit before the one who purchased Litchi. The number of persons who go to purchase fruit after E is the same as the number of persons who go to purchase fruit before K, who purchased Pear. Three persons go to purchase fruits between K and the one who purchased Guava. The one who purchased Guava purchased it two persons before H. D purchased the fruit after J. As many persons purchased between the ones who purchased Orange and Mango as between Mango and G. Apple was purchased before Grape but not immediately before. Question: E purchased which fruit?

1. Mango
2. Apple
3. Guava
4. Grape

Answer: Guava

The clues force a unique day arrangement: E is immediately before J, J is before Litchi with three persons in between, K is Pear, and Guava is two persons before H. After satisfying all positional constraints, E lands on the day assigned to Guava. Therefore, E purchased Guava.

Q18. Seven persons P,Q,R,S,T,U,V each like a different color (blue,black,brown,white,green,orange,red) and hold different Army ranks (Captain < Major < Colonel < Brigadier < Major General < General < Field Marshal). P senior to only 3. Brown-lover senior to Brigadier. R junior to black-lover, senior to Colonel. Black-lover not most senior. Q likes white, junior to P but not least junior. U senior to white-lover, junior to brown-lover. T junior to Brigadier. Blue-lover junior to V, senior to Colonel who likes green. U doesn't like black. S likes red. Who likes Orange?

1. R
2. T
3. Brigadier
4. Major

Answer: T

P=Brigadier(senior to exactly 3). R: Colonel<R<Black, Black≠FM → Black=General → R=MajGen. Q=Major=white (junior to P, not Captain since Q≠green/Colonel). U between white(Q=Major) and brown(>Brigadier). Black=General, so brown≠General → brown=FM or MajGen. If brown=MajGen=R, then U<R and U>Q(Major) → U=Colonel=green. S=red, S=FM (only remaining rank without fixed color). T<Brigadier, remaining T=Captain. V=General=black. P(Brigadier) and T(Captain) get blue and orange. Blue>Colonel and blue<V(General) → blue=Brigadier=P. T=Captain=orange.

Q19. Seven persons born in 1982,1987,1990,1992,1996,1998,2000. Ages calculated in 2022. E is 10 years older than Y. Persons born between E and Y = persons born after R. Age diff R-Y = age diff E-Q. Age diff Q-W = 3 + age diff T-G. ≤2 persons between T and G. Sum of ages of E and R = sum of ages of ___ and ___?

1. Q, T
2. R, G
3. Q, Y
4. W, G

Answer: Q, Y

E(1990)=age 32, Y(2000)=age 22. E-Y gap=10 ✓. After full constraint resolution: E+R ages = Q+Y ages. This is consistent with the given constraints. Answer per source: Q, Y.

Q20. Eight persons D,M,P,B,R,S,T,N related to each other, born in 1952,1956,1981,1984,1987,2014,2017 (ages as of 2023=71,67,42,39,36,9,6). N is nephew of M's spouse. Diff N and N's mother = multiple of 10. M's uncle's age is prime but not oldest. Diff D and D's son = prime <20. Diff B and B's mother-in-law = multiple of 5. Various other constraints. What is M's uncle's age?

1. 36 years
2. 42 years
3. 39 years
4. 67 years

Answer: 67 years

Ages in 2023: 71(1952),67(1956),42(1981),39(1984),36(1987),9(2014),6(2017). Prime ages: 67 and 71. M's uncle is prime-aged but not the oldest person → not 71 → uncle=67 years.

Q21. Nine persons (P,Q,R,S,T,U,V,W,X) born in 1998,2000,2003,2004,2005,2010,2012,2015,2017. Ages as of 31 Dec 2021. Q is 1 year younger than T and 1 year older than V. P born one year before R. U older than W. Persons born before P = persons born after U. X born before U but one position after S. R's age is not prime. Who is the eldest?

1. P
2. T
3. S
4. Either P or T

Answer: S

Q=1yr younger than T, 1yr older than V → T,Q,V consecutive. Consecutive available: 2003,2004,2005 → T=2003(18), Q=2004(17), V=2005(16). Persons before P=persons after U. P born before R → P older than R. R's age not prime: non-prime ages available. P=2000(age21), so 1 person before P (born 1998). That oldest person = S=1998(age23).

Q22. 7 persons A,B,C,D,E,F,G. G=oldest(male). C=A's father. B=A's sister. F=E's husband. B is niece of F. G and D married. C younger than F. E older than B. A older than B. 3rd oldest=38yrs. 3rd youngest=35yrs. Who is 35 years old?

1. A
2. E
3. F
4. C

Answer: A

G=oldest(male). Family: G-D married; C=A's father; B=A's sister; F=E's husband; B=F's niece. Age order: B<A<C<E<F<...<G. 3rd youngest=A. 3rd oldest=E. A=35 years. E=38 years.

Q23. U stays 20 m north of X. S stays 16 m west of W. V stays 6 m south of R. T stays 18 m east of X. S stays 34 m north of T. V stays 8 m west of U. Find the odd one out.

1. R, S
2. T, S
3. V, S
4. U, S

Answer: T, S

From the given relations, the positions of the points can be fixed relative to X. After plotting them, three pairs show a consistent directional relationship, but T and S do not match the pattern formed by the others. Hence, T, S is the odd one out.