A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H are sitting around a square table facing outwards. Some of them are sitting at the corners while some are sitting at the exact centre of the sides. A is sitting to the immediate left of B and right of H. H is sitting between A and G. F is sitting to the immediate left of G and right of E. D is sitting between E and C. C is sitting to the immediate right of B. Who is sitting between C and E?
D
Solving the Seating Arrangement Puzzle
This problem involves determining the seating arrangement of eight people around a square table. Some are at the corners, and some are at the exact centre of the sides. All individuals are facing outwards.
When people are facing outwards from a table:
- Immediate left means moving in the clockwise direction.
- Immediate right means moving in the anti-clockwise direction.
Analyzing the Clues
Let's break down the given information:
- Clue 1: A is sitting to the immediate left of B and right of H.
- Immediate left of B is A $\implies$ B followed immediately by A clockwise. (B $\xrightarrow{\text{Clockwise}}$ A)
- Immediate right of H is A $\implies$ H followed immediately by A anti-clockwise. (H $\xrightarrow{\text{Anti-clockwise}}$ A)
- Combining these, A is immediately clockwise to B and immediately anti-clockwise to H. The sequence in clockwise direction must be H, A, B.
- Clue 2: H is sitting between A and G.
- Given the sequence H, A (clockwise) from Clue 1, if H is between A and G, the sequence must be G, H, A or A, H, G.
- For H to be between A and G in the sequence H, A, B (clockwise), the clockwise sequence must be G, H, A. So, G is immediately clockwise to H.
- Combining with Clue 1 sequence (H, A, B clockwise), the sequence becomes G, H, A, B (clockwise).
- Clue 3: F is sitting to the immediate left of G and right of E.
- Immediate left of G is F $\implies$ G followed immediately by F clockwise. (G $\xrightarrow{\text{Clockwise}}$ F)
- Immediate right of E is F $\implies$ E followed immediately by F anti-clockwise. (E $\xrightarrow{\text{Anti-clockwise}}$ F)
- Combining these, F is immediately clockwise to G and immediately anti-clockwise to E. The sequence in clockwise direction must be E, F, G.
- Clue 5: C is sitting to the immediate right of B.
- Immediate right of B is C $\implies$ B followed immediately by C anti-clockwise. (B $\xrightarrow{\text{Anti-clockwise}}$ C)
- This means C is immediately before B in the clockwise direction.
- Clue 4: D is sitting between E and C. (We will use this to place D once others are arranged).
Building the Seating Arrangement Sequence
Let's combine the clockwise sequences we derived:
- From Clue 2 (and 1): G, H, A, B (Clockwise)
- From Clue 3: E, F, G (Clockwise)
- From Clue 5: C is immediately before B (Clockwise).
Let's start with the longest connected sequence derived: G, H, A, B (clockwise). There are 8 seats in total.
Now, incorporate E, F, G (clockwise). Since G is in both sequences, link them at G. This gives E, F, G, H, A, B (clockwise). This accounts for 6 people.
Next, incorporate Clue 5: C is immediately before B in the clockwise sequence. Placing C before B gives us C, B, A, H, G, F, E (clockwise). This accounts for 7 people.
The people placed are C, B, A, H, G, F, E. The missing person is D.
The sequence so far is C, B, A, H, G, F, E (clockwise). Since it's a circular table, the person immediately after E in clockwise direction is C (wrapping around). The empty seat must be between E and C.
Clue 4 states D is sitting between E and C. This confirms that D occupies the single seat between E and C in the arrangement.
So, the full clockwise sequence is C, B, A, H, G, F, E, D.
Final Arrangement and Answer
The seating arrangement in clockwise order is:
C $\rightarrow$ B $\rightarrow$ A $\rightarrow$ H $\rightarrow$ G $\rightarrow$ F $\rightarrow$ E $\rightarrow$ D $\rightarrow$ C
The question asks who is sitting between C and E.
Looking at the clockwise sequence C, B, A, H, G, F, E, D:
- Moving clockwise from C, we reach E after passing B, A, H, G, F.
- Moving anti-clockwise from C, we immediately find D, and then E.
The person sitting immediately between C and E (on the shorter path) is D.
| Order | Person (Clockwise) |
|---|---|
| 1 | C |
| 2 | B |
| 3 | A |
| 4 | H |
| 5 | G |
| 6 | F |
| 7 | E |
| 8 | D |
In this circular arrangement, D is between E and C.
Conclusion
Based on the logical deduction from the clues, D is sitting between C and E.
Seating Arrangement Puzzle Revision Table
| Clue No. | Relationship | Clockwise Sequence Implied |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A left of B, A right of H | H, A, B |
| 2 | H between A and G | G, H, A (using H,A from clue 1) |
| Combined (1&2) | G, H, A, B | |
| 3 | F left of G, F right of E | E, F, G |
| Combined (1,2&3) | E, F, G, H, A, B | |
| 5 | C right of B | C immediately before B (Clockwise) |
| Combined (All except 4) | C, B, A, H, G, F, E | |
| 4 | D between E and C | D fits between E and C in the circular arrangement |
| Final Sequence | C, B, A, H, G, F, E, D (Clockwise) |
Additional Information on Seating Puzzles
Seating arrangement questions are common in logical reasoning sections of exams. They test your ability to follow instructions and deduce relationships based on relative positions.
- Types: Linear arrangement, Circular arrangement (facing inwards/outwards/mixed), Square/Rectangular arrangement (facing inwards/outwards/mixed, corner/side positions), Polygon arrangement.
- Key Skills: Careful reading, understanding positional terms (left, right, between, immediate), drawing diagrams, eliminating possibilities, consolidating clues.
- Strategy: Start with a definite clue or a clue that connects multiple people. Build sequences step-by-step. Be consistent with direction (clockwise/anti-clockwise) relative to facing direction. Draw the table structure if helpful, especially for square/rectangular arrangements with corner/side distinctions.
- Facing Direction: This is crucial. Left/right definitions reverse when facing outwards compared to facing inwards.
Practice with different types of arrangements and facing directions to improve speed and accuracy in solving these logical puzzles.
Important Questions from Polygon Arrangement
Four friends, H, I, J and K, are sitting at the four corners of a square facing towards the centre. H and J are sitting at diagonally opposite corners. I is sitting to the immediate left of H. Who is sitting to the immediate right of J?
Four friends named A, B, C, and D are sitting around a square table in a restaurant. If B is sitting in front of A and diagonally opposite to D, then who is sitting in front of C?
Five persons, A, B, C, D and E, are sitting at each corner of a pentagonal table, facing the centre. C is to the right of A and is second to the left of D. E is not between A and D. Who is sitting third to the left of E?
Eight boys, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V and W, are seated around a round table, not necessarily in same order, but with equal spacing between them and all facing the centre of the table. S is seated exactly opposite to P, who has U and R as his immediate neighbours. T is seated immediately next to V, who is to the immediate right of S. Q is exactly opposite to T and does not have R as his immediate neighbour. With this information, which of the following statements is correct?
A group of friends are sitting in an arrangement with one each at the corner of an octagon. All are facing the centre. Medha is sitting diagonally opposite Radha. Medha is on Seema’s left. Raman is next to Seema and opposite Govind. Govind is on Chandra’s right. Shanti is not on Medha’s right but is opposite to Shashi. Who is opposite Chandra?
