Unit 14 · Ordering Deduction

Izzy, Caitlin & Melissa — Which Step Is Impossible?

Lesson 4 of 6

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About this lesson

Ordering problems do not always come as a list of finish positions. This one involves heights and stairs — and the key insight is that a staircase works like a measuring scale in reverse: taller people go on lower steps, shorter people go on higher steps, so everyone's head reaches the same level. Once you see that, the "impossible" option stands out immediately.

Chapters

0:00Introduction
0:22The Question
1:00Decoding the Height Clues
1:25Visualising the Staircase
1:48Locking in Caitlin's Position
2:14Exam Strategy – Embrace the Ambiguity
2:43Testing the Options & Final Answer

Question

Izzy is taller than Caitlin; Caitlin is shorter than Melissa.

But when they stand on a short flight of three stairs, one on each step, their heads are all level.

Which one of these sentences cannot be true?

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