Question

Four people P, Q, R, and S, of different ages, make the following observations.
P: I am younger than S.
Q: I am neither the youngest nor the oldest.
R: P is older than me.
Based on these observations, the youngest person is ______.

• A. P
• B. Q
• C. R
• D. S

Hint:

Turn each statement into an inequality between ages and compare all four.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

This question tests how well you can convert plain statements into age order and spot the smallest value without extra assumptions.

1. P's statement: "I am younger than S" gives $P < S$, so S sits above P on the age scale.
2. R's statement: "P is older than me" gives $R < P$, so R sits below P.
3. Q's statement: "I am neither the youngest nor the oldest" means at least one person is younger than Q and at least one is older than Q.

Chain the first two clues: $R < P < S$. This already makes R the lowest of the three. Now use Q's clue: since Q is not the overall youngest, Q must sit above R, otherwise Q would be the smallest of all four, which Q denies. Since Q is not the overall oldest, Q stays below S. So Q lands strictly between R and S, which keeps R below Q too. With $R < P$, $R < Q$, and $R < S$ all true together, R has no one below it. The youngest person is R, matching option (C).