NCERT Solutions for Class 7th Maths Chapter 6 In-text Questions — Numbers Tell us Things
Book page 127 Updated on2026-09-19
Q1.
What do the numbers in the figure below tell us?
The figure on page 127 — seven children standing in a line, each calling out a number.
Answer
Each number tells how many children standing ahead of that child in the line are taller than the child. Nothing about actual heights is revealed — only a comparison.
In the first picture the seven children call out, from the left:
0, 1, 0, 2, 2, 2, 1
Read them one by one:
The first child has nobody ahead, so the number must be 0.
The second child has one taller child ahead, so 1.
The third child is the tallest of all, so no one ahead is taller — 0.
The last child has only the tallest child and one more taller child ahead — 1.
Why it happens: the number is a count, not a measurement. Two groups with completely different heights can give exactly the same list of numbers, as long as the order of tallness is the same.
Q2.
What do you think these numbers mean?
Answer
They mean the same thing in the second picture too — the number of taller children standing in front.
After the children rearrange themselves, the numbers called out from the left are:
0, 0, 1, 2, 2, 5, 6
The tallest child (second from the left) says 0, and the shortest child stands last and says 6, because every one of the six children ahead is taller.
Tip: the very last number tells you how many children in the whole line are taller than the last child. If the last child is the shortest, that number is one less than the number of children.
Q3.
Could you figure out what these numbers convey? Observe and try to find out.
The second figure on page 127 — the same seven children after they rearrange themselves, each calling out a number.
Answer
Yes. The rule is: each child calls out the number of children in front of them who are taller than them.
Check it on both pictures — every number matches.
Position in line
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
First picture
0
1
0
2
2
2
1
Second picture
0
0
1
2
2
5
6
Why it happens: the first child can never see anyone ahead, so the first number is always 0. A child who is the tallest so far also says 0, because nobody ahead is taller.