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Question

Eight friends A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H are sitting anticlockwise in the same sequence around a circular table at equal distances facing the centre. Then, C and H interchange their places. If B is sitting in the south direction, in which direction is H facing now?

This question was previously asked in
SSC Stenographer 2020-21 Previous Year Paper (15-Nov-2021) (Shift 2)
The correct answer is North-west

Solving the Circular Seating Arrangement Puzzle

This question involves a circular seating arrangement puzzle where eight friends are initially seated in a specific order and then two of them swap positions. We need to determine the facing direction of one friend after the swap, given the initial direction of another friend.

Understanding the Initial Seating Arrangement

Eight friends A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H are sitting around a circular table. They are arranged in an anticlockwise sequence at equal distances. They are all facing the center of the table.

The initial anticlockwise sequence is A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H.

Mapping Initial Positions and Facing Directions

We are given that B is sitting in the South direction. Since they are equally spaced around a circle (360 degrees), the angular distance between adjacent friends is $360 / 8 = 45$ degrees.

Let's determine the initial position of each friend based on B being in the South and the anticlockwise sequence. We can map standard directions around the circle:

  • South is typically considered the bottom.
  • Moving anticlockwise from South (bottom): South-East, East, North-East, North, North-West, West, South-West.

Based on the anticlockwise sequence A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, starting from B at South:

  • B is at South.
  • C is \(45^{\circ}\) anticlockwise from B, so C is at South-East.
  • D is \(45^{\circ}\) anticlockwise from C, so D is at East.
  • E is \(45^{\circ}\) anticlockwise from D, so E is at North-East.
  • F is \(45^{\circ}\) anticlockwise from E, so F is at North.
  • G is \(45^{\circ}\) anticlockwise from F, so G is at North-West.
  • H is \(45^{\circ}\) anticlockwise from G, so H is at West.
  • A is \(45^{\circ}\) anticlockwise from H, so A is at South-West.

So, the initial positions are:

Friend Initial Position
A South-West
B South
C South-East
D East
E North-East
F North
G North-West
H West

Since everyone is facing the center, their facing direction is opposite to their position relative to the center.

  • A person at South faces North.
  • A person at South-East faces North-West.
  • A person at East faces West.
  • A person at North-East faces South-West.
  • A person at North faces South.
  • A person at North-West faces South-East.
  • A person at West faces East.
  • A person at South-West faces North-East.

The Interchange: C and H Swap Places

The problem states that C and H interchange their places. This means:

  • C moves from the South-East position to the West position (H's initial position).
  • H moves from the West position to the South-East position (C's initial position).

The positions of all other friends remain unchanged.

Determining H's New Facing Direction

We need to find the direction H is facing now, after the interchange. H is now sitting at the position previously occupied by C.

C's initial position was South-East.

So, H is now sitting at the South-East position.

Since H is facing the center from the South-East position, H's facing direction is the direction opposite to South-East.

The direction opposite to South-East is North-West.

Therefore, after the interchange, H is facing North-west.

Conclusion

Based on the initial arrangement, the given direction of B, and the interchange of C and H, H is now located at the South-East position and is facing the center. Facing the center from the South-East position means facing in the North-West direction.

Revision Table: Seating Arrangement Key Concepts

Concept Description Relevance to Question
Circular Arrangement Objects/people arranged in a circle. Friends are sitting around a circular table.
Anticlockwise/Clockwise Direction of sequence around the circle. Anticlockwise is against clock movement. Friends are in anticlockwise sequence (A to H).
Facing Center Direction a person is looking (inwards). All friends are facing the center. Facing direction is opposite of position direction from center.
Equal Distances Implies uniform angular separation (\(360^{\circ}\) divided by number of people). 8 friends means \(45^{\circ}\) separation between adjacent people.
Interchange Two individuals swap their positions. C and H swap places, affecting their new positions and consequently their facing directions.

Additional Information: Direction Mapping in Puzzles

Direction-based seating arrangement problems often require mapping relative positions on a circle or in a row to standard compass directions. Here's a quick guide for circular arrangements facing the center:

  • Position vs. Facing: If someone is at a certain position relative to the center (e.g., at the 'South' side of the circle), they are facing the direction opposite to that position (e.g., facing 'North' towards the center).
  • Equally Spaced: For 'n' people equally spaced, the angle between adjacent people is \(360^{\circ}/n\).
  • Anticlockwise/Clockwise Movement: Use the given sequence and direction (anticlockwise or clockwise) to determine subsequent positions relative to a known starting point.
  • Standard Directions: Remember the eight standard directions: North, South, East, West, North-East, North-West, South-East, South-West. Understand their positions relative to each other (e.g., North-East is between North and East).
  • Opposite Directions:
    • North is opposite South.
    • East is opposite West.
    • North-East is opposite South-West.
    • North-West is opposite South-East.

Applying these principles systematically helps in solving such seating arrangement and direction puzzles effectively.

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Similar Questions

  1. Six friends, A, B, C, D, E and F, are sitting around a circular table facing the centre of the table. A is to the immediate left of E. B is to the immediate right of F. D is second to the left of F. A and C have equal number of persons between them from both the ends. Who is sitting between A and F?

  2. Eight persons J, K, L, M, N, 0, P and Q are sitting around a circular table facing the centre. N is between M and J. P is second to the left of K. O is between Q and P. L is second to right of O. N is to the immediate left of J.
    Who is sitting at third place to the right of P?
  3. Five friends K, L, M, N and O are sitting around a circular table facing centre. N is to the immediate right of K. L is to the immediate left of M. N is at the second place to the right of M. Where is O sitting ?

  4. Eight friends A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H are sitting anticlockwise around a circular table facing the centre of the table at equal distances between them. If G is sitting in the Southeast, then which pair of persons and direction that person is sitting in is NOT correct?

  5. Six friends A, B, C, D, E, and F are sitting around a circular table. B is sitting to the immediate left of D. C is third to the right of E. A is between C and F. D is sitting to the immediate left of E. Who is sitting between A and E?

  6. A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H are sitting in a circular manner in the same order for lunch at equal distance. Their positions are clockwise. If C sits in the East, then what will be the position of H?

  7. A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H are sitting in a circle in the same order for lunch at equal distances, Their positions are clockwise. If C is sitting in the east, then what is be the position of G?

  8. Six friends – A, B, C, D, E and F are sitting in a circle facing centre. F is sitting immediate left of A and B is sitting opposite to E. A and D is sitting opposite to each other. Who is sitting opposite to F?

  9. A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H are sitting around a square table facing the centre of the table. Some of them are sitting at the corners while some are sitting at the exact centre of the sides. A sits third to the right of C. H sits between B and G . F sits second to the right of C. D does not sit in a corner. G sits third to the right of D. Three people sit between D and C.

    Who sits second to the left of B ?

  10. Six students are sitting around a circular table facing the centre. Amit is sitting second to the left of Jia. Jia is an immediate neighbour of both Varun and Pramod. Sia is sitting second to the left of Amit. Amit is an immediate neighbour of both Mahesh and Varun. Who is the immediate neighbour of Sia and Jia?


Important Questions from Circular Arrangement

  1. P, M, D, A, F, H, R and B are sitting around a circle facing at the centre. R is fourth to the right of A, who is third to the right of P. M is second to the left of H, who is second to the left of P. D is third to the right of B. Which of the following pairs are immediate neighbors of B?

  2. Six people, K, L, M, N, O and P, are sitting on the ground in a hexagonal shape but not necessarily in the same order. K is not sitting next to L or M. N is not sitting next to M or O. L is the neighbour of M. P is in the middle of M and N. What is the correct order of seating positions of the people in clockwise direction?

  3. Six friends, G, H I, J, K and L, are sitting around a circular table, facing towards the centre of the table. H is sitting third to the left of G. L and I are not neighbours of H. K is sitting to the immediate right of I. Who is sitting to the immediate left of L?

  4. Eight friends A, B, C, D, E, F, G and are sitting around a circular table facing each other for a lunch. A is opposite F and third to the right of B. G is between F and D. H is to the left of D. E is between C and A. Who is sitting third to the right of A?

  5. Six friends are sitting at equal distances from each other in a circle and facing the centre of the circle. Diraj is between Pramod and Parthiv. Priyanshu is between Mukund and Laya. Pramod and Mukund are opposite to each other. Laya is to the immediate left of Pramod. Who is sitting to the immediate left of Parthiv?

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