GATE EE 2018 Set 1 — Question 10
Go beyond PYQs with Success TrackerAI-powered personalised practice and doubt support. Unlimited practice on eligible plans; AI usage limits apply.MCQ+2 / -0.67MediumDeduction & InductionAnalytical AptitudeGeneral Aptitude
General Aptitude → Analytical Aptitude → Deduction & Induction
Last updated
Question
P, Q, R and S crossed a lake in a boat that can hold a maximum of two persons, with only one set of oars. The following additional facts are available.
(i) The boat held two persons on each of the three forward trips across the lake and one person on each of the two return trips.
(ii) P is unable to row when someone else is in the boat.
(iii) Q is unable to row with anyone else except R.
(iv) Each person rowed for at least one trip.
(v) Only one person can row during a trip.Who rowed twice?
(i) The boat held two persons on each of the three forward trips across the lake and one person on each of the two return trips.
(ii) P is unable to row when someone else is in the boat.
(iii) Q is unable to row with anyone else except R.
(iv) Each person rowed for at least one trip.
(v) Only one person can row during a trip.Who rowed twice?
Correct answer
(C) R
Solution
To solve this, we first determine the total number of rowing instances. There are 3 forward trips (2 people each) and 2 return trips (1 person each), totaling 5 trips. Since only one person rows per trip, there are 5 rowing instances. With 4 people (P, Q, R, S) each rowing at least once, exactly one person must row twice ().Constraints Analysis:
1.P can only row when alone, which means P can only row during one of the two return trips.
2.Q can only row when with R. This means Q must row a forward trip with R as the passenger.
3.R and S have no specific restrictions other than the general ones.
Step-by-step Trip Reconstruction:- Trip 1 (Forward): {Q, R} cross. Q rows. (Rowing count: Q=1)
- Trip 2 (Return): R returns alone. R rows. (Rowing count: Q=1, R=1)
- Trip 3 (Forward): {P, R} cross. R rows. (Rowing count: Q=1, R=2). Note: P cannot row here as he is not alone.
- Trip 4 (Return): P returns alone. P rows. (Rowing count: Q=1, R=2, P=1)
- Trip 5 (Forward): {S, P} cross. S rows. (Rowing count: Q=1, R=2, P=1, S=1)
- All 4 people are now across the lake.
- P rowed once (alone).
- Q rowed once (with R).
- S rowed once.
- R rowed twice.
- Total rowing instances = .
Continue learning with Success Tracker
A step still unclear? Work through it with support
Use Success Tracker to ask about the reasoning, then try another GATE EE question to check your understanding.
AI-powered practice· Unlimited practice on eligible plans
- PYQs with solutions
- Attempt available previous-year questions, then compare your reasoning with the worked solution. Coverage varies by stream.
- Practice that adapts
- Choose a topic, work on weaker areas and bookmark questions to revisit. Your attempts feed your progress tracking.
- AI doubt support
- Ask follow-up questions about a step or concept while practising, instead of stopping at the final answer.
Unlimited practice is available on eligible plans. Free practice and AI usage have limits; check the current plan allowances before choosing.
This page stays readable without an account. AI responses can be wrong; check them against the solution and source material.
More questions on Analytical Aptitude
2026 Set 1 Q1‘The shopkeeper sells lemons.’ In this sentence, the word ‘lemons’ is the ________.2026 Set 1 Q2The figure below is supposed to show three non-overlapping shapes – one oval and two triangles.…2026 Set 1 Q3At how many points will the curves and intersect in the real …2026 Set 1 Q4‘If Anish had scored hundred runs in today’s match, he would have been made the captain of his…2026 Set 1 Q5Which one of the following figures P, Q, R, or S, correctly shows the clockwise-rotated…