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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. 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?

  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. Given below is a question followed by two statements I and II. Read both 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 second to the left of P?

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

    (II) Only two people sit between N and M. Q is an immediate neighbour of M. Only one person sits between Q and K.

  4. 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?

  5. 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?

  6. Bindu, Krunal, Manoj, Nilima, Omkar, Piyush, Renu and Sundar are sitting around a circular table facing the centre, but not necessarily in the same order. Sundar sits second to the right of Piyush. Only two persons sit between Sundar and Krunal. Omkar sits opposite to Bindu, who is not an immediate neighbour of Krunal and Piyush. Nilima is the immediate neighbour of Krunal and Bindu. Manoj sits third to the right of Bindu.  

    Which of the following statements is/are true? 

  7. 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?

  8. 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?

  9. 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?

  10. 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?


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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