All Exams Test series for 1 year @ ₹349 only
Question

Five students are standing in a line. Suman is standing next to Pranav but not next to Deena. Kumar is standing next to Raju, who is standing on the extreme left, and Deena is not standing next to Kumar.

Who is standing in the middle?

The correct answer is

Suman

Solving the Five Student Line Arrangement Puzzle

Let's break down the clues provided in this seating arrangement puzzle to figure out the order of the five students standing in a line. We need to determine who is standing in the middle position.

Analyzing the Clues

We have five students: Suman, Pranav, Deena, Kumar, and Raju. They are standing in a single line.

  • Clue 1: Five students are standing in a line.
  • Clue 2: Suman is standing next to Pranav.
  • Clue 3: Suman is not standing next to Deena.
  • Clue 4: Kumar is standing next to Raju.
  • Clue 5: Raju is standing on the extreme left.
  • Clue 6: Deena is not standing next to Kumar.

Step-by-Step Deduction of the Arrangement

We can build the arrangement step by step using the clues:

Step 1: Use the fixed position clue.

Clue 5 tells us Raju is on the extreme left. In a line of five positions (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 from left to right), Raju is at position 1.

Current arrangement: Raju, _, _, _, _

Step 2: Use the neighbor clue related to the fixed position.

Clue 4 says Kumar is standing next to Raju. Since Raju is at position 1 (extreme left), Kumar must be at position 2.

Current arrangement: Raju, Kumar, _, _, _

Step 3: Identify the remaining students and positions.

The remaining students are Suman, Pranav, and Deena. They must occupy positions 3, 4, and 5.

Remaining positions: 3, 4, 5

Remaining students: Suman, Pranav, Deena

Step 4: Use the negative neighbor clue for Deena.

Clue 6 states Deena is not standing next to Kumar. Kumar is at position 2. This means Deena cannot be at position 3.

Since Deena must be in positions 3, 4, or 5, and she cannot be at 3, Deena must be at either position 4 or position 5.

Step 5: Consider the pair clue and Suman's negative neighbor clue.

Clue 2 says Suman is next to Pranav. This means Suman and Pranav must be in adjacent positions (like 3 & 4, or 4 & 5).

Clue 3 says Suman is not next to Deena.

Let's evaluate the possibilities for Deena's position (4 or 5):

  • Possibility A: Deena is at position 4.

    Arrangement so far: Raju (1), Kumar (2), _, Deena (4), _

    Remaining students (Suman, Pranav) must go in positions 3 and 5. But Suman and Pranav must be next to each other (Clue 2). Positions 3 and 5 are not adjacent. This possibility is not valid.

  • Possibility B: Deena is at position 5.

    Arrangement so far: Raju (1), Kumar (2), _, _, Deena (5)

    Remaining students (Suman, Pranav) must go in positions 3 and 4. These are adjacent positions, satisfying Clue 2 (Suman next to Pranav).

    Now consider Clue 3: Suman is not next to Deena. Deena is at position 5.

    • If Suman is at position 4 and Pranav is at position 3: The arrangement would be Raju, Kumar, Pranav, Suman, Deena. In this case, Suman (at 4) is next to Deena (at 5). This violates Clue 3.
    • If Suman is at position 3 and Pranav is at position 4: The arrangement would be Raju, Kumar, Suman, Pranav, Deena. In this case, Suman (at 3) is not next to Deena (at 5). This satisfies Clue 3.

Therefore, Possibility B with Suman at position 3 and Pranav at position 4 is the only valid arrangement that satisfies all the given clues.

Final Arrangement

Based on the deductions, the final arrangement of the five students in the line from left to right is:

Raju, Kumar, Suman, Pranav, Deena

Position 1: Raju

Position 2: Kumar

Position 3: Suman

Position 4: Pranav

Position 5: Deena

Identifying the Student in the Middle

In a line of five people, the middle position is the 3rd position from either end.

Looking at the final arrangement:

Raju (1st), Kumar (2nd), Suman (3rd), Pranav (4th), Deena (5th)

The student standing in the middle is Suman.

Revision Table: Student Arrangement Clues

Clue NumberClue DescriptionImplication / Deduction
1Five students in a linePositions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
5Raju on extreme leftRaju at Position 1
4Kumar next to RajuKumar at Position 2
6Deena not next to KumarDeena not at Position 3
RemainingSuman, Pranav, Deena in 3, 4, 5Deena is at 4 or 5 (since not at 3)
2 & 3Suman next to Pranav; Suman not next to DeenaThis forces Suman & Pranav into 3 & 4, and Deena into 5. Suman must be at 3 to not be next to Deena at 5.
FinalArrangementRaju, Kumar, Suman, Pranav, Deena

Additional Information on Linear Arrangement Puzzles

Linear arrangement puzzles are common types of logic puzzles where you are given clues about the relative positions of individuals or objects in a line. The goal is to deduce the exact order based on these clues.

Key strategies for solving linear arrangement puzzles:

  • Identify Fixed Positions: Look for clues that place someone at an extreme end (leftmost or rightmost) or at a specific numbered position.
  • Identify Pairs or Groups: Find clues that state individuals are next to each other or form a block. Treat them as a unit initially.
  • Use Negative Clues: Clues that state who is NOT next to whom, or who is NOT in a certain position, are very powerful for eliminating possibilities.
  • Build Incrementally: Start with the most definitive clues (like fixed positions) and gradually add others, narrowing down the possibilities.
  • Test Possibilities: If faced with a few options, test each one against all clues to see which one satisfies every condition.

These puzzles test your logical reasoning and deductive skills. Practice with different variations involving more people or more complex conditions helps improve problem-solving speed and accuracy.

Was this answer helpful?

Important Questions from Linear Arrangement

  1. Seven people, A, B, C, D, E, F and G, are sitting in a straight row facing the north. Only two people sit to the left of C. Only two people sit between A and B. B sits to the left of A. E is an immediate neighbour of A to the right. Only one person sits to the right of D. F is not an immediate neighbour of B. Who sits at the centre?

  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?

Need Expert Advice?

Start Your Preparation with Prepp Mobile App

Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Prepp Mobile App