A Question is given followed by two Statements I and II. Consider the Question and the Statements.
A person buys three articles p, q and r for ₹50. The price of the article q is ₹16 which is the least.
- Question: What is the price of the article p?
- Statement–I: The cost of p is not more than that of r.
- Statement–II: The cost of r is not more than that of p.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above Question and the Statements?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (c) The Question can be answered by using both the Statements together, but cannot be answered using either Statement alone
p + r = 50 − 16 = 34, with both more than 16. Statement I gives p ≤ 17 and Statement II gives p ≥ 17, so together p = ₹17; either alone leaves a range, since prices need not be whole rupees.
- p + r = 50 − 16 = 34, and p and r are both more than 16 because q is the least.
- Statement I (p ≤ r): p ≤ 17, so 16 < p ≤ 17; p could be ₹16.50 or ₹17. Not sufficient.
- Statement II (r ≤ p): p ≥ 17, so 17 ≤ p < 18. Not sufficient.
- Together, p ≤ r and r ≤ p give p = r = 34 ÷ 2 = ₹17.
- Note: only if prices had to be whole rupees would each statement alone give ₹17; the question does not say so.
Remember · In data sufficiency, don’t assume whole numbers unless told. ‘Not more than’ in both directions means equality.
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2024, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·