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Bunuel
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Several teams competed in a mathematical Olympiad. Each team sent thre 03 Aug 2025, 02:24
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Bunuel

I cannot get my head around on this question. Please help!

First i know that the total number of participants must be odd and multiple of 3.

I know that choice A, B and C are wrong.


Where i really strugle with is choice D. I donot understand why it is choice D and not E, coz i had choice E as asnwer.


Bob scored lower than Alex and was ranked 19th, Rank of Alex could be 18, 17, 16....

If Bob scored lower than Alex and was ranked 19th, how is it possible that Alex could be 18, 17, or 16. this is how i picture it in my mind.

1st, 2nd.................19th (Bob)..........Median(Alex)............................28thCathy)



If we have answer choice E, thus 13 teams. then we have 13(teams) x (3members per/team)= 39 members.

1st, 2nd.....................19th(Bob)........Median(20th-Alex)..................28th(Cathy)...........39th




If Alex rank = 17, then total participants = 17+16 = 33 (Multiple of 3 and hence total teams = 11)
 how is this possible???


Where do i go wrong?


Can you please show me how D could be true, but then more visually like the below, so that i understand how Alex could rank 17th.

1st, 2nd.....................19th(Bob)........Median(20th-Alex)..................28th(Cathy)...........39th


Thanks in advance!
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I think you're getting confused by how rankings work.

Since Alex scored higher than Bob, her rank must be better than his, meaning a position closer to 1.

So if Bob is ranked 19th, Alex can be 18th, 17th, 16th, and so on. You're just misreading the order of ranks.
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