Which of the following symbols should be placed in the blank spaces respectively (in the same order from left to right) in order to complete the given expression in such a manner that makes the expressions ‘B>N’ as well as ‘D <= L’ definitely true?
B__L__O__N__D
Answer: D
Correct answer: >, =, =, >=
Substituting the keyed symbols into \( B \_ L \_ O \_ N \_ D \) gives \[ B > L = O = N \ge D. \] For \( B > N \): L, O and N are all equal, and B exceeds L, so \( B > N \) - definitely true. For \( D \le L \): the last link gives \( N \ge D \), and \( N = L \), so \( D \le L \) - definitely true. The other sets break one requirement or the other. The first, \( =,=,\ge,\ge \), makes \( B = L \), so \( B > N \) cannot be guaranteed. The third, \( >,<,=,\le \), points L below O and so leaves B and N unlinked. One caveat worth noticing: the set \( >,=,\ge,> \) yields \( B > L = O \ge N > D \), which also makes both required expressions true, so this item admits more than one working answer.
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