Two Statements S1 and S2 are given below with regard to four numbers P, Q, R and S followed by a Question:
- S1.R is greater than P as well as Q.
- S2.S is not the largest one.
- Question: Among four numbers P, Q, R and S, which one is the largest?
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above Statements and the Question?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (c) S1 and S2 together are sufficient to answer the Question, but neither S1 alone nor S2 alone is sufficient to answer the Question.
S1 makes R bigger than P and Q but says nothing about S; S2 rules out S but says nothing about P, Q and R. Together, S is not the largest and R beats P and Q, so R is the largest.
- S1 alone: R > P and R > Q, but S could exceed R — not sufficient.
- S2 alone: the largest is one of P, Q, R — not sufficient.
- Together: S is not the largest and R is above P and Q, so R is the largest.
Remember · Test each statement alone, then together; choose (c) only when neither alone works but the pair does.
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2020, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·