Circular Table Seating Arrangement Solution

This problem requires determining the seating position of friends around a circular table based on given clues.

Clue Analysis

• Eight friends (A, B, C, D, E, F, H, G) are seated around a circular table, facing inwards.
• Condition 1: A is opposite F.
• Condition 2: A is second to the right of E.
• Condition 3: G is between C and A.
• Condition 4: H is to the left of E.

Step-by-Step Deduction

Let's represent the circular table positions as 1 through 8 clockwise.

1. Placement of A and F: If A is placed at position 1, F must be at position 5 (opposite A).
2. Placement of E and H: Condition 2 states A is second to the right of E. Counting clockwise from E, the second position is A. If A is at 1, E must be at position 7 (E at 7, position 8 is the first right, position 1 is the second right). Condition 4 states H is to the left of E. The position immediately counter-clockwise to E (at 7) is 6. Thus, H is at position 6.
3. Placement of G and C: Condition 3 states G is between C and A. A is at position 1. The adjacent positions are 8 and 2.
   • If G were at position 8, C would need to be at position 7 (to form C-G-A sequence circularly). However, E is already at position 7. This is invalid.
   • Therefore, G must be at position 2. C must then be at position 3 to satisfy the A-G-C sequence.
   The arrangement so far is: A(1), G(2), C(3), F(5), H(6), E(7).
4. Remaining Positions and Friends: The empty positions are 4 and 8. The remaining friends are B and D. They must occupy positions 4 and 8.
5. Identify Person Left of A: The immediate left of A (position 1) is position 8.
6. Final Determination: Since positions 4 and 8 are occupied by B and D, the person sitting at position 8 (immediate left of A) must be either B or D.

Conclusion

Based on the deduction, the person sitting to the immediate left of A is either B or D.