A word-and-number arrangement machine, when given an input line of words and numbers, rearranges it in steps. In each step two elements trade the places they stand in: the largest number not already shifted, and the word that comes first in alphabetical order among the words not already shifted. Nothing else moves, and the machine stops as soon as either no unshifted number or no unshifted word is left. Input: 27 patna 84 indore 51 surat 46. Which of the following is Step 2 of the above arrangement?

Question

Accepted Answer

27 51 indore 84 patna surat 46. Step 1 makes 84, the largest number, trade places with indore, the alphabetically first word: 27 patna indore 84 51 surat 46. Step 2 takes 51 (the largest number still unshifted) and patna (the alphabetically first word still unshifted) and makes them trade places: 27 51 indore 84 patna surat 46, the answer. "27 patna indore 84 51 surat 46" is Step 1 and "27 51 indore 84 patna 46 surat" is Step 3, the last step. "27 46 indore 84 51 surat patna" takes the smallest unshifted number, 46, instead of the largest.

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