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UPSC CSE 2025 · PYQ · Ratio and Proportion · hard

In a T20 cricket match, three players X, Y and Z scored a total of 37 runs. The ratio of number of runs scored by X to the number of runs scored by Y is equal to ratio of number of runs scored by Y to number of runs scored by Z. Value-I = Runs scored by X Value-II = Runs scored by Y Value-III = Runs scored by Z Which one of the following is correct?

  1. A.Value-I < Value-II < Value-III
  2. B.Value-III < Value-II < Value-I
  3. C.Value-I < Value-III < Value-II
  4. D.Cannot be determined due to insufficient data✓ Correct

Explanation

Let X, Y, Z be the runs with X + Y + Z = 37 and X/Y = Y/Z, meaning Y² = XZ. We need positive integers satisfying these. Multiple solutions exist: (X,Y,Z) = (1,6,30)? Check: 1+6+30=37, Y²=36, XZ=30. No. Try (4,10,25)? Wait Y²=XZ. Try (16,12,9): sum=37, Y²=144, XZ=144 ✓. So X=16, Y=12, Z=9 works (decreasing). Try (9,12,16): sum=37, Y²=144, XZ=144 ✓ (increasing). Try (25,10,?): doesn't sum. Try (1,6,?): not working. Both (16,12,9) and (9,12,16) satisfy the conditions, giving different orderings. Hence the ordering cannot be uniquely determined from the given data.
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