Real Madrid is first in the league and Real Betis is fifth while Osasuna is right between them. If Barcelona has more points than Celta Vigo and Celta Vigo is exactly below Osasuna then who is second?

Answer 1

Barcelona

=== QUESTION from a student ===

Thank you but do you know why? If Osasuna is right between the first and last and Barcelona has more points than Celta Vigo which is below Osasuna it doesn't mean it has more points than Osasuna? Wouldn’t Osasuna be second?

=== My answer ===

I am not a fun of a soccer game (except when we have a World Cap), so while reading a problem I had made three assumptions. They could be wrong, but I need to make them, otherwise this problem is not possible to solve.

1. “Real Madrid is first in the league” - I assume they scored the most.

2. “Barcelona has more points than Celta Vigo” - I assume this is good for Barcelona, they scored more.

3. “Celta Vigo is exactly below Osasuna”. - I assume Celta Vigo scored less than Osasuna.

Step 1. Real Madrid is first in the league and Real Betis is fifth while Osasuna is right between them.

1. Real Madrid (for sure)

2. Osasuna (possible)

3. -

4. -

5. Real Betis (for sure)

Step 2. If Barcelona has more points than Celta Vigo

1. Real Madrid (for sure)

2. Osasuna (possible)

3. Barcelona (possible)

4. Celta Vigo (possible)

5. Real Betis (for sure)

Step 3. and Celta Vigo is exactly below Osasuna

1. Real Madrid (for sure)

2. Osasuna (wrong, Celta Vigo is NOT exactly below)

3. Barcelona (possible, but now need to be moved up)

4. Celta Vigo (for sure)

5. Real Betis (for sure)

Step 3 (after correction). "and Celta Vigo is exactly below Osasuna"

1. Real Madrid (for sure)

2. Barcelona (for sure)

3. Osasuna (for sure)

4. Celta Vigo (for sure)

5. Real Betis (for sure)

=== What did a student miss? ===

“and Barcelona has more points than Celta Vigo which is below Osasuna it doesn't mean it has more points than Osasuna?” -

Correct, it doesn't mean Barcelona has more points than Osasuna and you can see this on Step 2.

However, you missed a word EXACTLY. The correct statement should be

“and Barcelona has more points than Celta Vigo which is <EXACTLY> below Osasuna it doesn't mean it has more points than Osasuna?”.

This changed the whole deal because Osasuna now should stick together with Celta Vigo. We need to move them both. If Osasuna Is on the second place, than Celta Vigo should be on the third place and Barcelona should go to their forth place, which is wrong, because “Barcelona has more points than Celta Vigo”. Thus we MUST move Barcelona to the second place.