Six boys A, B, C, D, E and F play a game of cards. Each has a pack of 10 cards. F borrows 2 cards from A and gives away 5 to C who in turn gives 3 to B while B gives 6 to D who passes on 1 to E. Then the number of cards possessed by D and E is equal to the number of cards possessed by
Answer & explanation
Answer: (b) B, C and F
After all the transfers A has 8, B 7, C 12, D 15, E 11 and F 7 cards. D and E together hold 26, the same as B, C and F together (7 + 12 + 7).
- Start: everyone has 10 cards.
- F borrows 2 from A: A = 8, F = 12. F gives 5 to C: F = 7, C = 15.
- C gives 3 to B: C = 12, B = 13. B gives 6 to D: B = 7, D = 16. D gives 1 to E: D = 15, E = 11.
- D + E = 15 + 11 = 26.
- B + C + F = 7 + 12 + 7 = 26. (A + B + C = 27, A + B + F = 22, A + C + F = 27.)
- Check: total = 8 + 7 + 12 + 15 + 11 + 7 = 60, the same as at the start.
Remember · Track transfers in a small table and confirm the total stays unchanged — a quick guard against slips.
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2017, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·