Logic & numbers
You pass second place. Are you first?
Second. You took second place; the leader is still ahead. Assume no lapping.
The answer
Second. You took second place; the leader is still ahead. Assume no lapping.
The idea
Track the position you actually take, rather than the person you imagine beating next.
An example
Write the runners as A, B, You. After you pass B, the order becomes A, You, B. A remains ahead. Writing the order makes the hidden assumption visible.
Try it
Under the same no-lapping assumption, what position do you take if you pass the runner in third?
More context
You take the position of the person you passed. You have not passed the runner in first place. Assume a normal race with no lapping.
the 102 platform · Constructed puzzle