Input Output Questions and Answers

Answer: C

Correct answer: 765 42 542 65 183 289 110 350

This machine takes the largest remaining number, then the smallest remaining, alternately from the left. The second step has 765 and 42 in place, so step 3 brings the next largest, 542, to position three, and step 4 brings the next smallest, 65, to position four: 765 42 542 65 183 289 110 350.

Answer: D

Correct answer: 495 37 361 239 123 58

The order of placement is largest, smallest, next largest, next smallest: 495, 37, 361, 58, 239, 123. Step 1 gives 495 239 123 58 361 37, step 2 gives 495 37 239 123 58 361, and step 3 brings 361 to position three: 495 37 361 239 123 58.

Answer: D

Correct answer: None of these

The placement order is 450, 29, 386, 39, 162, 72, with 88 left over. Steps 1 to 3 place 450, 29 and 386. The next element, 39, is already in position four, so no step is printed for it; the fourth printed step places 162 and the fifth places 72, after which the line is arranged. Five steps are needed, and five is not among the first three options.

Answer: A

Correct answer: 348 28 326 158 279 236

The order is 348, 28, 326, 158, 279, 236. The first three moves give 348 158 279 28 326 236, then 348 28 158 279 326 236, then 348 28 326 158 279 236. At that point 158, 279 and 236 are already in positions four, five and six, so nothing further moves and step 3 is the last.

Answer: B

Correct answer: Fourth

From the first step, 785 198 32 426 373 96 49, the machine continues with the smallest, 32, then the next largest, 426, then the next smallest, 49. That gives step 2 as 785 32 198 426 373 96 49, step 3 as 785 32 426 198 373 96 49 and step 4 as 785 32 426 49 198 373 96, which is the line asked about.

Answer: B

Correct answer: 298 12 212 36 128 185

The second step has the largest number, 298, and the smallest, 12, in place. Step 3 brings the next largest, 212, to position three, giving 298 12 212 128 36 185, and step 4 brings the next smallest, 36, to position four: 298 12 212 36 128 185.

Answer: D

Correct answer: Cannot be determined

Working forward from a given line is always possible, but working backward is not: each move slides an element out of its old place and lets the rest close up, so the earlier arrangement cannot be recovered. Several different second steps would produce the same third step, and nothing in the line distinguishes them.

Answer: E

Words starring with vowel in given input in ascending order: allow, outer, united
Consonants starring with vowel in given input in ascending order: cover, punish, statement
Prime numbers in ascending order: 2, 13, 19
Composite Number in ascending order: 6, 14, 21
In step 1, vowel word and smallest prime number at start – allow 2
In step 2, consonant and largest composite number at last – statement 21
In step 3, next vowel word and next prime number – outer 13
And so on
Input: 3 8 dice queen 27 11 import energy 18 23 upper house
Step 1: energy 3 8 dice queen 27 11 import 18 23 upper house
Step 2: energy 3 8 dice 11 import 18 23 upper house queen 27
Step 3: energy 3 import 11 8 dice 18 23 upper house queen 27
Step 4: energy 3 import 11 8 dice 23 upper house 18 queen 27
Step 5: energy 3 import 11 upper 23 8 dice house 18 queen 27
Step 6: energy 3 import 11 upper 23 dice 8 house 18 queen 27

Answer: B

Correct answer: 11

The machine pairs each vowel-initial word with a prime and each consonant-initial word with a composite, taking the words alphabetically and the numbers in ascending order, and places one pair per step alternately at the front and the back. For this input the pairs are energy 3, import 11, upper 23, dice 8, house 18, queen 27, and step 4 reads energy 3 import 11 dice 23 8 upper house 18 queen 27. Counting six from the right gives “8” at the seventh place from the left, and three to its left is the fourth element, 11.

Answer: E

Correct answer: There is no such step

Following the machine through gives step 1 energy 3 dice queen 27 11 import 18 23 8 upper house, step 2 energy 3 dice 11 import 18 23 8 upper house queen 27, step 3 energy 3 import 11 dice 18 23 8 upper house queen 27, step 4 energy 3 import 11 dice 23 8 upper house 18 queen 27 and step 5 energy 3 import 11 upper 23 dice 8 house 18 queen 27. The line offered has “upper 8 23 dice house” in the middle, which appears in none of them, so there is no such step.