Data Sufficiency — Class Rank of Suman (Total = 40 students) Question: What is Suman's rank from the top in a class of 40 students? Statements: I. Suman is 3 ranks below Deepak from the top. II. Deepak's rank from the bottom is 23. III. Suman is 3 ranks above Deepak from the bottom.

Introduction / Context: Another ranking Data Sufficiency problem. We need Suman's top rank given up to three statements relating Suman and Deepak and the class size of 40.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Total students = 40.
• Conversion: top_rank = total - bottom_rank + 1.
• “Below from the top” adds to the rank number; “above from the bottom” subtracts from the bottom rank number.

Concept / Approach: Determine Deepak's absolute rank from one statement, then use the relative difference to get Suman's rank. Check which pairs of statements are sufficient.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check: Both (I + II) and (II + III) compute Suman = 21 from the top consistently.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Any two of the three / All three: Too strong; I + III alone are not enough.
• Only I and II or Only II and III: Each is sufficient, but the best characterization is “Only II and either I or III”.

Common Pitfalls: Forgetting rank conversions; assuming I + III fix a value when they only impose a tautology without II's absolute reference.

Final Answer: Only II and either I or III.