Ravi is taller than Arun but shorter than Iqbal. Sam is shorter than Ravi. Mohan is shorter than Arun. Balu is taller than Mohan and Sam. The tallest person can be: A. Mohan B. Ravi C. Balu D. Arun

GATE 2012 · General Aptitude · Logical Reasoning · medium

Answer: The tallest person can be Balu.

1. Build the known height chain: From 'Ravi taller than Arun, shorter than Iqbal': Iqbal > Ravi > Arun. From 'Mohan shorter than Arun': Arun > Mohan. From 'Sam shorter than Ravi': Ravi > Sam.
2. Assess Balu's position: Balu is stated taller than Mohan and Sam only. No statement places Balu below Ravi, Arun, or Iqbal. Hence Balu could be taller than everyone.
3. Eliminate other options: Mohan: Arun > Mohan, so Mohan cannot be tallest. Ravi: Iqbal > Ravi, so Ravi cannot be tallest. Arun: Ravi > Arun and Iqbal > Ravi > Arun, so Arun cannot be tallest. Balu: no upper bound established.