Analytical Puzzles
Hard
3 min
Six runners A, B, C, D, E and F finish a race. A finishes before B. C finishes after D but before E. F finishes before A. Which runner cannot finish first?
Hint
Look at who has someone that must be before them.
Answer
B, C and E cannot finish first.
Explanation
B has A before it, C has D before it, and E has C and D before it. Therefore none of those three can be first.
Step-by-Step Solution
B requires A before B.
C requires D before C.
E requires C before E.
Therefore B, C and E cannot be first.
C requires D before C.
E requires C before E.
Therefore B, C and E cannot be first.