A is 16th from the left end in a row of boys and V is 18th from the right end. G is 11th from A towards the right and 3rd from V towards the right end. How many boys are there in the row?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (b) 41
G is 11 places to the right of A, so G is 27th from the left. G is also 3 places to the right of V, so V is 24th from the left. V is 18th from the right, so the row has 24 + 18 − 1 = 41 boys.
- A is 16th from the left; G is 11th to A's right, so G is 16 + 11 = 27th from the left.
- G is 3rd to V's right, so V is 27 − 3 = 24th from the left.
- V is 18th from the right, so total = 24 + 18 − 1 = 41.
- Check: G is then 41 − 27 + 1 = 15th from the right, which is 3 places right of V (18th).
Remember · Convert every position to one end, then total = position from left + position from right − 1.
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). ·