Pariksha SaathiInput-Output Questions with Solutions
An input-output machine rearranges a line of words and numbers through a fixed set of steps — once you know the rule, every question is just carefully applying it and reading off a position. Here’s the approach, four fully worked examples using one shared input, and a few to try yourself.
The approach, quickly
- The machine’s rule is fixed and usually stated (or shown through a solved example) — your job is to apply it exactly, step by step, not to guess a shortcut.
- Work one step at a time. Write out the full arrangement after each step before moving to the next — trying to jump straight to the final step in your head is where mistakes creep in.
- Count positions carefully, left to right, within the group the question asks about (e.g. "3rd number" means 3rd among the numbers only, not 3rd overall).
- In this lesson’s machine: Step I moves all the words to the front, sorted in reverse-alphabetical order, while the numbers keep their original relative order unchanged, following behind. Step II (final) then sorts those numbers into descending order; the words stay exactly as Step I left them.
Worked examples
1. Input: 72 kite 19 drum 55 ant 8 wolf 34 bee. What does Step I look like?
Solution
- Words in the input: kite, drum, ant, wolf, bee. Sorted reverse-alphabetically: wolf, kite, drum, bee, ant.
- Numbers keep their original relative order from the input (72, 19, 55, 8, 34) and follow the words.
Answer: wolf kite drum bee ant 72 19 55 8 34
2. Using the same input (72 kite 19 drum 55 ant 8 wolf 34 bee), what does Step II — the final step — look like?
Solution
- Step II keeps the words exactly as in Step I (wolf, kite, drum, bee, ant) and sorts the numbers into descending order: 72, 55, 34, 19, 8.
Answer: wolf kite drum bee ant 72 55 34 19 8
3. Using the same input, in the final step, which number is exactly in the middle (3rd) among the five numbers?
Solution
- The numbers in the final step, left to right, are 72, 55, 34, 19, 8 — the 3rd one is 34.
Answer: 34
4. Using the same input, which word is third from the left in Step I?
Solution
- Step I’s word order is wolf, kite, drum, bee, ant — the 3rd word is drum.
Answer: drum
Try these yourself
Apply the same two-step rule to the same input, then check against the answer.
1. Using the same input (72 kite 19 drum 55 ant 8 wolf 34 bee), how many steps does this machine take to reach its final arrangement?
Answer: 2 steps
2. Using the same input, in Step I, which word is immediately to the left of "ant"?
Answer: bee
3. Using the same input, in the final step, what is the 2nd number from the left (within the number group)?
Answer: 55
Where this comes up
Input-Output is a regular topic in the Reasoning/General Intelligence section of IBPS PO, IBPS Clerk, SBI PO and SBI Clerk, and appears in SSC CGL as well.
Practice more Input-Output questions
This page covers the approach and a handful of worked examples. Pariksha Saathi has full topic-wise practice sets for Input-Output (and every other Reasoning/Quant/English topic) with instant scoring and explanations — free, no account required.
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