📌 Fixed Arrangement — Basics
Learn the Fixed type Input-Output where elements are placed at a fixed position (left end or right end) at each step, with number-only and word-number sorting
Fixed Arrangement — Basics
In Fixed Arrangement, the machine picks one element at each step and places it at a fixed position — either the left end or the right end. The remaining elements maintain their relative order.
This is the most common sub-type in banking exams.
How Fixed Arrangement Works
At each step:
- The machine selects the next element according to a rule (smallest number, largest number, alphabetically first word, etc.)
- That element is placed at a fixed position (usually the left end)
- All other elements shift to accommodate but keep their relative order
The process continues until all elements are arranged.
Solved Example 1: Numbers — Ascending Fixed to Left
Input: 24 27 83 76 12 18 61 75
Watch how the smallest number is picked and placed at the left end at each step:
| Step | Arrangement |
|---|---|
| Input | 24 27 83 76 12 18 61 75 |
| Step 1 | 12 24 27 83 76 18 61 75 |
| Step 2 | 12 18 24 27 83 76 61 75 |
| Step 3 | 12 18 24 27 83 76 61 75 |
| Step 4 | 12 18 24 27 61 83 76 75 |
| Step 5 | 12 18 24 27 61 75 83 76 |
| Step 6 | 12 18 24 27 61 75 76 83 |
| Step 7 | 12 18 24 27 61 75 76 83 |
| Step 8 | 12 18 24 27 61 75 76 83 |
Rule detected: At each step, the next smallest number is placed at the next position from the left. This results in ascending order.
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Fixed Arrangement — Basics
In Fixed Arrangement, the machine picks one element at each step and places it at a fixed position — either the left end or the right end. The remaining elements maintain their relative order.
This is the most common sub-type in banking exams.
How Fixed Arrangement Works
At each step:
- The machine selects the next element according to a rule (smallest number, largest number, alphabetically first word, etc.)
- That element is placed at a fixed position (usually the left end)
- All other elements shift to accommodate but keep their relative order
The process continues until all elements are arranged.
Solved Example 1: Numbers — Ascending Fixed to Left
Input: 24 27 83 76 12 18 61 75
Watch how the smallest number is picked and placed at the left end at each step:
| Step | Arrangement |
|---|---|
| Input | 24 27 83 76 12 18 61 75 |
| Step 1 | 12 24 27 83 76 18 61 75 |
| Step 2 | 12 18 24 27 83 76 61 75 |
| Step 3 | 12 18 24 27 83 76 61 75 |
| Step 4 | 12 18 24 27 61 83 76 75 |
| Step 5 | 12 18 24 27 61 75 83 76 |
| Step 6 | 12 18 24 27 61 75 76 83 |
| Step 7 | 12 18 24 27 61 75 76 83 |
| Step 8 | 12 18 24 27 61 75 76 83 |
Rule detected: At each step, the next smallest number is placed at the next position from the left. This results in ascending order.
Step counting insight:
- Step 1 arranges the 1st element
- Step 2 arranges elements 1-2
- Step 3 arranges elements 1-2-3
- Step N arranges elements 1 through N
The final step has all elements sorted. Total steps = number of elements that needed moving.
How to Quickly Determine Any Step
Instead of writing every step, use this shortcut:
For ascending fixed-to-left arrangement:
- Sort all numbers in ascending order — that is your final output
- For Step K, the first K elements are in their sorted positions
- The remaining elements are in their original relative order from the input
Example: From Input 24 27 83 76 12 18 61 75
Sorted order: 12, 18, 24, 27, 61, 75, 76, 83
Step 3: First 3 sorted + remaining in original order
- First 3: 12, 18, 24
- Remaining from input (skip 24, 12, 18): 27, 83, 76, 61, 75
- Step 3: 12 18 24 27 83 76 61 75
This saves massive time in the exam.
Solved Example 2: Word-Number Fixed Arrangement
Direction (1-5):
Input: british 32 71 greece firangi squash 65 84
| Step | Arrangement |
|---|---|
| Input | british 32 71 greece firangi squash 65 84 |
| Step I | squash british 32 71 greece firangi 65 84 |
| Step II | squash 84 british 32 71 greece firangi 65 |
| Step III | squash 84 greece british 32 71 firangi 65 |
| Step IV | squash 84 greece 71 british 32 firangi 65 |
| Step V | squash 84 greece 71 firangi british 32 65 |
| Step VI | squash 84 greece 71 firangi 65 british 32 |
Rule detected:
- Words: Arranged in descending alphabetical order (squash > greece > firangi > british)
- Numbers: Arranged in descending order (84 > 71 > 65 > 32)
- Alternating: Word, then number, then word, then number...
- Position: Fixed to left end, one element per step
Practice Questions on Example 2
Input: angry happy 49 24 from winky 34 69
Using the same rule (words descending alphabetical, numbers descending, alternating word-number from left):
Q1. Which element is 2nd to the right of the one which is 4th to the left element in Step I?
Solve step by step:
- Find Step I — first element placed: "winky" (alphabetically largest word)
- Step I: winky angry happy 49 24 from 34 69
- 4th to the left element = 4th position from left = 49
- 2nd to the right of 49 = position 6 = from
- Answer: from
How to Detect the Sorting Rule
When you see a word-number combination, check:
| Check | What to Look For |
|---|---|
| Words only | Are they going A→Z (ascending) or Z→A (descending)? |
| Numbers only | Ascending or descending? |
| Mixed pattern | Does it alternate word-number or place all words first then numbers? |
| Left vs Right | Are new elements placed at the left end or right end? |
Common patterns in exams:
- Words ascending + Numbers descending (alternating from left)
- Words descending + Numbers ascending (alternating from left)
- Words descending + Numbers descending (alternating from left)
- All sorted: words alphabetical on one side, numbers on the other
Speed Tips
- Don't write every step — use the shortcut method: determine the final sorted order first, then reconstruct only the steps you need
- Count elements — if there are 8 elements (4 words + 4 numbers), maximum steps = 8. But if the last element falls into place automatically, it could be 7
- Mark positions — when answering position questions, number the positions 1, 2, 3... above the elements
- Left end vs Right end — always note which end the machine uses. Fixed-to-right works exactly the same but builds from the right
Practice Set 1
Input: anger 16 ump 63 eaten 22 41 ides 39 orts
Using the rule: Words alphabetically descending at odd steps, numbers descending at even steps, all placed at left.
Try to determine:
- How many total steps are needed?
- What is Step 5?
- What is the 3rd element from right end in Step 3?
Tip: First separate words and numbers, sort each, then interleave.
Words sorted descending: ump, orts, ides, eaten, anger Numbers sorted descending: 63, 41, 39, 22, 16
Interleaved: ump, 63, orts, 41, ides, 39, eaten, 22, anger, 16
Total steps = 10. Now reconstruct whichever step is asked.