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Question

Eight friends, A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H, are sitting in two lines of four persons each. Both the lines are facing each other. A is facing D. E is to the immediate left of G. H is to the immediate right of B. C is facing G. F is facing H. B is to the immediate right of the person who is facing G. D is to the immediate left of F. Which four persons are sitting in the same line?

This question was previously asked in
SSC CGL 2020 (Tier-2) Statistics Previous Year Paper 3 (28-Jan-2022)
The correct answer is

A, B, C, H

Understanding the Seating Arrangement Puzzle

This question asks us to determine which four out of eight friends (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H) are sitting in the same line. We are given several clues about their relative positions and who is facing whom in a setup of two lines with four persons each, facing each other.

Let's denote the two lines as Line 1 and Line 2. Each line has four positions. Let's assume Line 1 is facing South and Line 2 is facing North. When we refer to "left" or "right" for a person, it is from their own perspective.

  • Line 1: Position 1, Position 2, Position 3, Position 4 (Facing South)
  • Line 2: Position 1, Position 2, Position 3, Position 4 (Facing North)

A person in Position X of Line 1 faces the person in Position X of Line 2.

Analyzing the Clues and Building the Arrangement

We will use the given clues to deduce the seating arrangement:

  1. A is facing D.
  2. E is to the immediate left of G.
  3. H is to the immediate right of B.
  4. C is facing G.
  5. F is facing H.
  6. B is to the immediate right of the person who is facing G.
  7. D is to the immediate left of F.

Let's combine some clues to find sequences in the same line:

  • Clue 6 says B is to the immediate right of the person facing G. Clue 4 says C is facing G. Therefore, B is to the immediate right of C. This implies C and B are in the same line, with B immediately to the right of C (from C's perspective). Let's represent this as a sequence: C B.
  • Clue 3 says H is to the immediate right of B. This implies B and H are in the same line, with H immediately to the right of B (from B's perspective). Let's represent this as a sequence: B H.

Combining the sequences C B and B H, we get a longer sequence of three persons in the same line: C B H.

A line has four positions. If C, B, and H are in one line in that order, the fourth person must be one of the remaining friends (A, D, E, F, G). The friends are A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H. The persons not in the C B H sequence are A, D, E, F, G.

Let's consider which line contains C B H. Suppose C B H are in Line 1. The possible arrangements for C B H in a 4-person line are starting at position 1 or position 2 (from the left, diagrammatically, or from the person's left if consistent):

  • Option A: C at Pos1, B at Pos2, H at Pos3. This gives sequence C B H _. The remaining person in Line 1 is A. So, Line 1 could be C B H A.
  • Option B: C at Pos2, B at Pos3, H at Pos4. This gives sequence _ C B H. The remaining person in Line 1 is A. So, Line 1 could be A C B H.

Let's test Option B: Line 1 is A C B H. The persons in Line 2 must be the remaining friends: D, E, F, G.

Now, let's use the facing clues (1, 4, 5) to determine the arrangement in Line 2.

  • Clue 1: A is facing D. Since A is in Line 1, Pos1, D must be in Line 2, Pos1.
  • Clue 4: C is facing G. Since C is in Line 1, Pos2, G must be in Line 2, Pos2.
  • Clue 5: F is facing H. Since H is in Line 1, Pos4, F must be in Line 2, Pos4.

This places D at Pos1, G at Pos2, and F at Pos4 in Line 2. The remaining person for Line 2 is E, who must be at Pos3.

So, the arrangement derived is:

Line 1: A C B H (Facing South)

Line 2: D G E F (Facing North)

(Where A faces D, C faces G, B faces E, H faces F, based on position).

Verifying the Arrangement with All Clues

Let's check if this arrangement satisfies all the clues, assuming "immediate left" and "immediate right" are relative to the person's perspective:

  • Line 1: A C B H (Facing South). From a person's perspective in Line 1, left is towards A's side, right is towards H's side.
  • Line 2: D G E F (Facing North). From a person's perspective in Line 2, left is towards F's side, right is towards D's side.
Clue Arrangement Check Satisfied?
1. A is facing D. A is L1-Pos1, D is L2-Pos1. They face each other. Yes
2. E is to the immediate left of G. In L2 (D G E F), G is L2-Pos2, E is L2-Pos3. G faces North. G's left is L2-Pos3 (E). Yes
3. H is to the immediate right of B. In L1 (A C B H), B is L1-Pos3, H is L1-Pos4. B faces South. B's right is L1-Pos4 (H). Yes
4. C is facing G. C is L1-Pos2, G is L2-Pos2. They face each other. Yes
5. F is facing H. F is L2-Pos4, H is L1-Pos4. They face each other. Yes
6. B is to the immediate right of the person who is facing G (C). C is L1-Pos2. B is L1-Pos3. B is immediate right of C in L1 (from C's perspective). Yes
7. D is to the immediate left of F. In L2 (D G E F), D is L2-Pos1, F is L2-Pos4. F faces North. F's immediate left is L2-Pos3 (E). D is at L2-Pos1. No

The arrangement A C B H / D G E F satisfies all clues except Clue 7. This suggests there might be a minor inconsistency in the problem statement clues themselves or the intended interpretation of "left/right" for Clue 7 differs. However, given the options, the construction based on the sequence C B H strongly suggests that A, C, B, and H are in the same line.

Let's briefly check the other potential arrangement for Line 1: C B H A. Line 1: C B H A (Facing South) Line 2: G E F D (Facing North) based on facing pairs (C-G, B-E, H-F, A-D).

Let's re-check crucial left/right clues:

  • Clue 2: E is immediate left of G (in L2). L2=G E F D. G is L2-Pos1. G faces North. G's left is L2-Pos2 (E). Yes.
  • Clue 3: H is immediate right of B (in L1). L1=C B H A. B is L1-Pos2. B faces South. B's right is L1-Pos3 (H). Yes.
  • Clue 6: B is immediate right of C (in L1). L1=C B H A. C is L1-Pos1. C faces South. C's right is L1-Pos2 (B). Yes.
  • Clue 7: D is immediate left of F (in L2). L2=G E F D. F is L2-Pos3. F faces North. F's left is L2-Pos4 (D). Yes.

This second arrangement (C B H A / G E F D) satisfies Clues 2, 3, 6, and 7. Let's re-check the facing clues for this arrangement:

  • Clue 1: A faces D. A is L1-Pos4, D is L2-Pos4. Yes.
  • Clue 4: C faces G. C is L1-Pos1, G is L2-Pos1. Yes.
  • Clue 5: F faces H. H is L1-Pos3, F is L2-Pos3. Yes.

All clues are satisfied by the arrangement: Line 1 is C B H A and Line 2 is G E F D. In this arrangement, the four persons in Line 1 are C, B, H, and A. These are the same four persons as in the set {A, B, C, H}.

Identifying the Persons in the Same Line

Based on the arrangement C B H A / G E F D which satisfies all given clues with a standard interpretation of 'left' and 'right' relative to the person's facing direction, the four persons sitting in one line are C, B, H, and A.

Conclusion

The four persons sitting in the same line are A, B, C, and H.

The arrangement is:

Line 1 (Facing Line 2): C B H A

Line 2 (Facing Line 1): G E F D

Revision Table: Key Information

Concept Details
Puzzle Type Seating Arrangement (Linear)
Number of People 8 (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H)
Setup Two lines of four, facing each other
Key Clues Used Relative positions (immediate left/right), Facing pairs
Derived Sequence C B H in one line
Persons in One Line A, B, C, H

Additional Information: Solving Seating Puzzles

Solving seating arrangement puzzles requires careful reading and step-by-step deduction. Here are some tips:

  • Visualize or Draw: Always draw the setup (lines, circles, squares) and positions.
  • Identify Direct Clues: Start with clues that give fixed positions or clear sequences (like "immediate left/right").
  • Combine Clues: Look for ways to link different clues. Sequences (like C B H) are powerful.
  • Handle "Facing": For lines facing each other, remember that corresponding positions (e.g., 1st from left) face each other.
  • Interpret Left/Right: Pay close attention to whether "left" and "right" are from a fixed external perspective (diagrammatic) or from the person's own perspective (relative to where they are facing). Person's perspective is common unless otherwise specified.
  • Eliminate Options: If it's an MCQ, use the options to test possibilities or eliminate incorrect arrangements based on contradictions with clues.
  • Check All Clues: Once you have a potential arrangement, verify that *every* clue is satisfied. If not, revisit your deductions or assumptions. Inconsistent clues can sometimes occur, but try to find the arrangement that fits the maximum number of conditions.

Practice with different types of seating puzzles (linear, circular, square) to improve your skills in logical deduction and spatial reasoning.

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Important Questions from Linear Arrangement

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  2. P, Q, R and S are sitting on a bench and facing in the same direction. P sits next to Q but not next to R. S, who is sitting on the extreme right, does not sit next to either Q or R. How many of them each have two neighbors?

  3. 5 boys A, B, C, D and E are sitting in a row. E is sitting between D and A, B is to the right of A, C is at one of the extreme ends and C and D are sitting next to each other. Which of the following statement is false?

  4. Five friends Ram, Priya, Raunak, Aditya and Shyam are sitting in a row facing north. Raunak is to the right of Shyam and Priya is to the left of Shyam but to the right of Rama. Raunak is to the left of Aditya. Who is fourth from the left end?

  5. Seven friends P, Q, R, S, T, U, and V are sitting in a straight line facing north. Q sits fifth to the right of T. Q does not sit at any of the extreme ends. Two people sit between U and R. S sits third to the left of V. S sits exactly in the middle. U is not an immediate neighbour of P.

    How many people sit between R and V?

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