RAS question
A machine follows these rules in each step: Step 1: Multiply the largest number by 2. Step 2: Subtract 3 from the smallest number. Input: 5, 12, 8, 3 What is the output after Step 1 and Step 2 (one round)?
Correct answer: (A) 5, 24, 8, 0.
After one round of the machine rules on 5, 12, 8, 3, the output is 5, 24, 8, 0.
Explanation
Apply the two rules in the order given. In Step 1, identify the largest number in the input 5, 12, 8, 3; it is 12, so multiplying it by 2 changes it to 24 and gives 5, 24, 8, 3. In Step 2, now identify the smallest number in that updated list; it is 3, so subtracting 3 changes it to 0. The final output after one complete round is therefore 5, 24, 8, 0. The cited NCERT Journal of Indian Education issue treats mathematics as a meaningful learning domain, but the decisive reasoning here is the precise sequential application of the stated arithmetic rules.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) It applies Step 1 correctly by changing 12 to 24, but leaves the smallest number 3 unchanged instead of subtracting 3 from it.
- (C) It subtracts 3 from the smallest number correctly, but multiplies 5 instead of the largest number 12 in Step 1.
- (D) It performs Step 2 correctly by changing 3 to 0, but misses Step 1 because 12 should become 24.
Concept
This tests input-output reasoning with ordered arithmetic operations: first locate the relevant element, then apply the rule exactly once. RAS reasoning questions often use such machine-rule patterns because they check attention to sequence, comparison and basic computation together.