Reassemble Numbered Message Parts
Order packet contents by their supplied sequence numbers, not by arrival order.
About 18 minutes, plus any extended practice
Supplied materials
- Paper and pencil; answers may also be spoken or typed.
- All cases, labels, numbers and rules are supplied on this page. No real account, private information or purchase is needed.
Learn the idea
A message can be divided into numbered parts. The receiver can use part numbers to restore their intended order. Arrival order may differ from message order. Our paper packets all belong to one message and contain one character each; no packet is missing or duplicated in this exercise.
Order packet contents by their supplied sequence numbers, not by arrival order. An early arrival is not necessarily the first part of the message.
Use this supplied case: Packets arrive 2:A,3:T,1:C. Order by packet number. What message is restored? Use the details in this example. Say which detail helped you choose. This pretend example does not tell us how every real system works.
- Follow the worked example one step at a time. Say or draw what happens.
- Order packet contents by their supplied sequence numbers, not by arrival order.
- Say which detail makes the example answer fit. Pick another answer and say why it does not fit.
- Try the question and practice questions. Read the rule again if your answer does not match the explanation.
See the method in action
Packets arrive as 2: A, 3: T, and 1: C. Match sequence number 1 to C, number 2 to A, and number 3 to T. Reading contents in sequence order 1, 2, 3 gives CAT; reading arrival order would give ATC. The receiver preserves each number with its contents rather than sorting letters alphabetically. If packet 2 were missing, this record would not justify inventing A.
Check your reasoning
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Helpful tips
- Order packet contents by their supplied sequence numbers, not by arrival order.
- An early arrival is not necessarily the first part of the message.
See the answer and explanation
DOG
Sorting by the packet numbers restores the stated message. Order packet contents by their supplied sequence numbers, not by arrival order.
Take it further
New packets:3: W, 1: C, 2: O. Expected: sequence numbers restore COW. Removing packet 2 leaves the complete word unresolved.
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More practice: try new cases
Choose an answer for each problem. Explain your method on paper, then use the feedback to decide what to revisit.
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Check the subject sources
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