Hooke's Law question

Is there anything in the question that I've missed which tells you if A is below B or A is above B on the slope?

The textbook solution assumes that B is below A and so the spring is in tension. Could it be the other way though and the answer would be the same?

If A were below B, wouldn't the ball (attached to B) just slide down the slope until its position is as described in the question, and A above B?

I was thinking it would compress the string?

A spring can be in compression, a string simply goes slack.

If A were below B, wouldn't the ball (attached to B) just slide down the slope until its position is as described in the question, and A above B?