Introduction
Order & Ranking questions place people or items in a sequence (by height, marks, position in a queue) using
"rank from top" and "rank from bottom" clues, or compare positions using words like "taller than," "just before,"
and "between."
Core Formula
Total number of people = (Rank from top) + (Rank from bottom) − 1
This single formula solves the majority of direct ranking questions without needing to draw the full sequence.
Q. In a class, Ravi's rank is 15th from the top and 22nd from the bottom. How many students are in the class?
Total = 15 + 22 − 1 = 36 students.
Q. In a row of 40 students, Meena's rank from the top is 18th. What is her rank from the bottom?
Rearranging the formula: Rank from bottom = Total − Rank from top + 1 = 40 − 18 + 1 = 23rd from the bottom.
Q. Five people A, B, C, D, E are ranked by height. A is taller than B but shorter than C. D is the tallest. E is shorter than B. Who is the shortest?
Order from tallest: D > C > A > B > E. So E is the shortest.
⚠️ Key Insight: The rank formula assumes no two people share the same rank — if the question
mentions ties, adjust the count accordingly before applying the formula.
✅ Practice Focus: Direct rank-from-top/bottom formula application · Comparative ranking using
"taller/shorter/between" clues · Combining ranking with seating or group puzzles.