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Question

Eight friends, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V and W, are sitting clockwise in the same order around a circular table at equal distances between them, facing the center of the table. If S is sitting in the west, then who is sitting in the south-west direction?

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

R

Understanding the Circular Seating Arrangement

This problem involves understanding a circular seating arrangement with eight friends and determining their positions based on a given direction.

We are given that eight friends, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, and W, are sitting around a circular table. They are in a specific order (P to W) clockwise, are equally spaced, and are facing the center.

Mapping Directions in the Circular Setup

A circular table with 8 equally spaced positions can be aligned with the eight primary directions: North, North-East, East, South-East, South, South-West, West, and North-West.

The angle between each adjacent friend is \( \frac{360^\circ}{8} = 45^\circ \).

We are told that S is sitting in the West direction.

The friends are arranged in a clockwise order: P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W. Since they are in this order clockwise around the table, if we know S's position (West), we can find the position of others relative to S in the clockwise direction.

Starting from S (West) and moving clockwise, the sequence is S, T, U, V, W, P, Q, R. Each step clockwise moves \(45^\circ\) from the current direction.

Let's map the positions starting from S (West):

  • S is in the West.
  • Moving clockwise \(45^\circ\) from West brings us to North-West. The person after S in the clockwise order is T. So, T is in the North-West.
  • Moving clockwise \(45^\circ\) from North-West brings us to North. The person after T is U. So, U is in the North.
  • Moving clockwise \(45^\circ\) from North brings us to North-East. The person after U is V. So, V is in the North-East.
  • Moving clockwise \(45^\circ\) from North-East brings us to East. The person after V is W. So, W is in the East.
  • Moving clockwise \(45^\circ\) from East brings us to South-East. The person after W is P. So, P is in the South-East.
  • Moving clockwise \(45^\circ\) from South-East brings us to South. The person after P is Q. So, Q is in the South.
  • Moving clockwise \(45^\circ\) from South brings us to South-West. The person after Q is R. So, R is in the South-West.

Let's summarize the positions in a table:

Friend Direction
S West
T North-West
U North
V North-East
W East
P South-East
Q South
R South-West

Identifying the Person in South-West

Based on our mapping, the person sitting in the South-West direction is R.

Revision Table: Key Information Summary

Aspect Detail
Number of Friends 8
Friends Order (Clockwise) P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W
Given Position S is in the West
Angular Separation \(45^\circ\) between adjacent friends
Target Direction South-West
Friend in South-West R

Additional Information: Circular Arrangement Basics

Circular arrangement problems are common in logical reasoning. Key points to remember:

  • The positions are relative to each other around a circle.
  • Clockwise and anti-clockwise directions are crucial for determining relative positions.
  • If directions (like North, South, East, West) are involved, assume the standard map orientation unless stated otherwise.
  • With N equally spaced items around a circle, the angle between adjacent items is \(360^\circ / N\).
  • When a specific item's absolute position (like a direction) is given, it serves as a reference point to fix the positions of all other items.

Understanding how to fix one person's position and then trace the others based on the given order (clockwise or anti-clockwise) and spacing is key to solving these problems.

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Similar Questions

  1. Given below is a question followed by two statements I and II. Read both the statements carefully to decide which one of them is sufficient to answer the question. Six people - K, M, N, P, Q and R are sitting around a circular table facing the centre. Who sits to the immediate right of K?

    (I) K sits third to the left of M. Only one person sits between K and N. R sits to the immediate left of N.

    (II) K sits second to the right of Q. Only two people sit between K and M. P sits second to the left of R.

  2. Six friends J, K, L, M, N and O are sitting around a circular table facing the centre. N is not an immediate neighbour of M. M is sitting to the immediate left of J. J is sitting opposite to L, who is sitting to the immediate right of K. Who is sitting second to the left of L?

  3. Seven friends, Subhi, Prince, Ketan, Vishal, Mahima, Krish and Naitik, are sitting around a circular table with their backs towards the centre. Subhi is sitting to the immediate right of Prince. Naitik and Krish are not sitting to the immediate left or right of Vishal. Vishal is sitting third to the left of Prince. Mahima is sitting to the immediate right of Vishal. Who is sitting third to the right of Prince?

  4. Raghav, Manpreet, Sunaina, Prakrit, Vedika and Arwa are sitting around a circular table facing the centre. Raghav is second to the left of Prakrit. Manpreet is to the immediate left of Sunaina. Arwa is second to the right of Vedika. There are an equal number of persons between Raghav and Manpreet from both the ends. Who is sitting third to the left of Sunanina?

  5. Six friends, David, Bhanu, Minto, Krita, John and Nisan, are sitting in a circle with their backs towards the centre. David and Minto are sitting to the immediate left and right of Bhanu, respectively. John is not sitting to the immediate left of David. Nisan is sitting third to the right of Bhanu. Who is sitting second to the left of Bhanu?

  6. Seven friends E, F, G, H, I, J and K, are sitting along a circular table facing towards the centre. F and I are sitting to the immediate left and right of G, respectively. H is sitting third to the left of G. E and I are the neighbours of J. Who is sitting to the immediate right of H?

  7. Five friends, Vishnu, Chirag, Raina, Kavya and Surbhi, are sitting around a circular table, facing the center. Vishnu is to the immediate right of Kavya. Chirag is third to the left of Kavya. Surbhi is not adjacent to Chirag. Who is second to the left of Kavya?

  8. Eight friends, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V and W, are sitting in the same order anticlockwise around a circular table at equal distance between them, with all centre of the table. If Q is sitting in the south-east, then in which direction is W sitting?

  9. Six children, G, H, I, J, K, and L, are sitting around a circular table facing towards the centre. J and K are sitting to the immediate left and right of G, respectively. L is sitting to the immediate left of J, but not to the immediate right of H. Who is sitting to the immediate right of K?

  10. Six friends A, B, C, D, E and F are standing in a circle facing the centre. B is between F and C, A is between E and D, and F is to the immediate left of D. Who is between A and F?


Important Questions from Circular Arrangement

  1. Eight students A, B, C, D, E, F, G and Hsit around a circular table, equidistant from each other, facing the centre of the table, not necessarily in the same order. Band Dsit neither adjacent to Cnor opposite to C. Asits in between Eand D, and Fsits in between Band H. Which one of the following is definitely correct?

  2. Six persons A, B, C, D, E and Fare sitting equidistant from each other around a circular table (facing the centre of the table).

    Consider the Question and two Statements given below :

    Question : Who is sitting on the immediate left of A?

    Statement-1 : Bis sitting opposite to Cand Dis sitting  opposite to E.

    Statement-2 : Fis sitting on the immediate left of B.

    Which one of the following is correct in respect of the Question and the Statements?

  3. Seven persons P, Q, R, S, T, U and V are sitting around a circular table facing the center (not necessarily in the same order). T sits third to the right of R. V sits third to the right of Q. One person sits between P and T. P is not the neighbor of S. U sits third to the left of P. Who sits second to the left of S?

  4. Akash, Binita, Chandan, Daksh, Ekta & Fatima are standing in a circle. Binita is between Daksh & Chandan. Akash is between Ekta & Chandan. Fatima is to the right of Daksh. Who is between Akash & Fatima?

  5. Six friends A, B, C, D, E and F are sitting around a round table in such a way that A is between E and F, E is opposite to D, and C is not on either side of E. The person opposite to D is

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