Time-sequence / queue reasoning: In a queue of 48 people, Vijay is 14th from the front and Jack is 17th from the end (so 32nd from the front). Mary is somewhere between Vijay and Jack. If Vijay is ahead of Jack, how many persons are between Vijay and Mary?

Introduction / Context:
This is a ranks-in-queue problem. We are given absolute positions for two people and told a third is “in between” them. Typical exam convention interprets “in between” as the midpoint when discrete answer choices suggest a unique count.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Total people = 48.
• Vijay: 14th from front.
• Jack: 17th from end ⇒ 32nd from front.
• Mary is between Vijay and Jack; Vijay is ahead of Jack.

Concept / Approach:
Number between Vijay and Jack = (32 - 14 - 1) = 17. If Mary is exactly in the middle between them (a standard interpretation to yield a single answer), the gap from Vijay to Mary equals floor(17/2) = 8.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
With an odd count (17), the middle is 8 persons from either side, placing Mary uniquely.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
7/6/5 would not center Mary between 14th and 32nd with an odd interspace length.

Common Pitfalls:
Assuming “in between” merely means somewhere between (non-unique). Exam patterns usually imply midpoint when discrete answers are provided.

Final Answer:
8