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Floor / Flat Puzzle

Reasoning Ability · Puzzles & Arrangements

Useful for: IBPS Banking

Overview

Floor puzzles place people on floors of a building; numbering from the bottom and a vertical table keep it clear.

Key points

Floors are numbered from the bottom unless stated.
"Immediately above" means the next floor up.
"Two floors between" means a gap of three floor numbers.
Flats on each floor (A/B) add a second dimension.
Use clues with fixed positions first.

Explanation

Write each possible case in a separate column.
Strike out cases that contradict any clue.
Count floors carefully for "between".
Answer only after all clues fit one case.

Step by step

Set up the frame (table, rows, steps).
Apply definite clues, then branch.
Verify every clue before answering.

Examples

5 floors: A on floor 3, B immediately above A → B on floor 4.
If there are two floors between P and Q and P is on floor 1, Q is on floor 4.
If R lives on an even floor below floor 4 in a 6-floor building, R is on floor 2.

Traps and advanced points

Trap: Numbering from the top.
Trap: Miscounting "between".
Trap: Answering with two possible cases left.

Quick revision

Bottom = 1.
Gap counting.
One case only.

Practice MCQs

Unless stated otherwise, floors are numbered from the —
1. middle
2. left
3. top
4. bottom
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Answer: (d) bottom. Bottom = 1.
"Immediately above" means —
1. two floors up
2. the top floor
3. any floor above
4. the next floor up
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Answer: (d) the next floor up. Next floor.
"Two floors between A and B" means their floor numbers differ by —
1. 4
2. 2
3. 3
4. 1
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Answer: (c) 3. Gap of three.
In a 7-floor building, A lives on floor 2 and B has two floors between them above A. B is on —
1. floor 3
2. floor 4
3. floor 5
4. floor 6
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Answer: (c) floor 5. 2 + 3 = 5.
Flats A and B on each floor add —
1. fewer people
2. a second dimension
3. nothing
4. more floors
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Answer: (b) a second dimension. Two attributes.
Which clues should be used first?
1. vague clues
2. none
3. fixed positions
4. negative clues
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Answer: (c) fixed positions. Fix definite positions.
If A lives on the top floor of a 6-floor building, A is on floor —
1. 1
2. 5
3. 6
4. 7
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Answer: (c) 6. Top = 6.
"B lives below C but above D" means —
1. D < B < C
2. C < B < D
3. B is lowest
4. D is highest
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Answer: (a) D < B < C. Order.
When two cases fit, you should —
1. change the clues
2. test both with all clues
3. pick one
4. stop
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Answer: (b) test both with all clues. Keep cases open.
"Only one person lives between A and B" means floors differ by —
1. 3
2. 0
3. 1
4. 2
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Answer: (d) 2. One between → difference 2.