Which surname is third in alphabetical order among Pittman, Phillips, Pham, Phipps?

Which surname is third in alphabetical order among Pittman, Phillips, Pham, Phipps?

• A. Pittman
• B. Pham
• C. Phillips
• D. Phipps

Answer: (A)

Alphabetical order means comparing from left to right and choosing the first difference to decide which comes first. All surnames start with P, so we compare the second letter: Pittman has i, while Pham, Phillips, and Phipps have h. Since h comes before i, the Ph- group comes first, and Pittman goes last. Within the Ph- group, the third letter decides: Pham has a, while Phillips and Phipps have i. Since a comes before i, Pham is first. Between Phillips and Phipps, the first three letters are Ph i for both, so look at the fourth letter: Phillips has l, while Phipps has p. Since l comes before p, Phillips comes before Phipps. Putting it all together: Pham, Phillips, Phipps, Pittman. The third one is Phipps.

Alphabetical order means comparing from left to right and choosing the first difference to decide which comes first. All surnames start with P, so we compare the second letter: Pittman has i, while Pham, Phillips, and Phipps have h. Since h comes before i, the Ph- group comes first, and Pittman goes last.

Within the Ph- group, the third letter decides: Pham has a, while Phillips and Phipps have i. Since a comes before i, Pham is first.

Between Phillips and Phipps, the first three letters are Ph i for both, so look at the fourth letter: Phillips has l, while Phipps has p. Since l comes before p, Phillips comes before Phipps.

Putting it all together: Pham, Phillips, Phipps, Pittman. The third one is Phipps.