Work out the finishing order of four runners

What was yesterday's answer?

Quiz 7 asked for the smaller angle between the clock hands at 3:15. The answer is 7.5 degrees.

The hour hand keeps moving for 15 minutes beyond its position at exactly 3:00. The difference between the hands is 97.5−90=7.5 degrees.

For other times, use |30×hour − 5.5×minute|. Use a 12-hour clock and enter 0 for 12 o'clock. If the result exceeds 180 degrees, subtract it from 360 degrees.

What is today's puzzle?

Minsu, Harin, Jiwoo and Seojin ran a race. No two runners finished at the same time.

• Question: What is the finishing order from first to fourth?
• Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆
• Suggested time: 3 minutes
• Condition: the order must satisfy all four clues

Where should you start?

Draw four empty slots, from first to fourth, and try placing the runners using each clue. For the words "immediately ahead," consider whether any slot can separate the two runners.

When can you check the answer?

The answer and explanation will appear at the top of the Quiz 9 post tomorrow morning (October 21). A table will compare possible orders and show which clue rules each one out.

What skills do ordering puzzles test?

Ordering puzzles give you practice applying several constraints together and eliminating arrangements that conflict. Mensa Korea describes its online brain test as assessing logical thinking and pattern recognition (checked October 17, 2026).

Mensa International requires a top 2% score on an approved intelligence test for membership (checked October 17, 2026). Today's puzzle is a practice exercise, not an official Mensa test question.