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

Four friends, H, I, J and K, are sitting at the four corners of a square facing towards the centre. H and J are sitting at diagonally opposite corners. I is sitting to the immediate left of H. Who is sitting to the immediate right of J?

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

I

Solving the Square Seating Arrangement Puzzle

This question asks us to determine the position of friends sitting at the corners of a square based on given clues. We need to use logical deduction to figure out the seating arrangement.

Understanding the Setup

  • There are four friends: H, I, J, and K.
  • They are sitting at the four corners of a square.
  • They are all facing towards the center of the square.

Analyzing the Clues

  1. Clue 1: H and J are sitting at diagonally opposite corners.

    In a square, diagonal corners are opposite each other. If we place H at one corner, J must be at the corner farthest from H across the center.

  2. Clue 2: I is sitting to the immediate left of H.

    Since everyone is facing the center, "immediate left" means the person in the position reached by turning left from H's perspective. In a square, this will be the adjacent corner in the counter-clockwise direction relative to H's position when facing the center.

Deducing the Arrangement

Let's visualize the square and place the friends. We can pick any corner to start with H. Let's assume H is at the top-left corner. Since everyone faces the center:

  • H is at a corner (say, top-left).
  • J is diagonally opposite to H (so, bottom-right).
  • I is to the immediate left of H. From the top-left corner facing the center, turning left leads to the bottom-left corner. So, I is at the bottom-left corner.
  • The remaining person is K, who must be at the only remaining corner (top-right).

So, the positions in a clockwise direction could be: H (top-left) → K (top-right) → J (bottom-right) → I (bottom-left).

Let's verify the conditions:

  • H and J are diagonally opposite (top-left and bottom-right). Yes.
  • I is immediate left of H. H is at top-left, facing center. Immediate left is bottom-left, where I is. Yes.

The arrangement is consistent with the clues. Now, let's place this arrangement in a simple diagram form:

Facing Center
H — K
| |
I — J

In this diagram, the corners are labeled with the person sitting there. The lines represent the sides of the square. The friends are facing inwards.

Finding Who is Sitting to the Immediate Right of J

J is sitting at the bottom-right corner, facing the center. To find who is to J's immediate right, we need to imagine standing at J's position (bottom-right, facing center) and turning right. Turning right from the bottom-right corner facing the center leads to the bottom-left corner.

Who is sitting at the bottom-left corner?

According to our deduced arrangement, I is sitting at the bottom-left corner.

Therefore, I is sitting to the immediate right of J.

Person Example Position Facing Direction Immediate Left Immediate Right
H Top-Left Center Bottom-Left (I) Top-Right (K)
I Bottom-Left Center Bottom-Right (J) Top-Left (H)
J Bottom-Right Center Top-Right (K) Bottom-Left (I)
K Top-Right Center Top-Left (H) Bottom-Right (J)

From the table, we can see that the person immediately to the right of J is I.

Revision Table: Key Concepts

Concept Explanation
Seating Arrangement Arranging people or objects in specific positions based on given conditions.
Square Arrangement People are seated at the corners or sides of a square.
Facing Center When people face the center, their left and right are determined relative to the inside of the shape.
Immediate Left/Right The person seated at the adjacent position in the specified direction (left or right).
Diagonally Opposite Positions that are across the center from each other.

Additional Information: Solving Seating Puzzles

Seating arrangement questions are common in logical reasoning sections. They test your ability to interpret information and deduce relationships between individuals based on their positions.

  • Always start by drawing a diagram of the shape (line, circle, square, rectangle, etc.).
  • Place individuals based on the most definite clues first (like diagonals, fixed positions, etc.).
  • Use 'left' and 'right' relative to the direction people are facing (center, outside, specific direction).
  • Break down complex clues into smaller steps.
  • Verify your final arrangement against all the given conditions.
  • For a circular or square table where everyone faces the center: immediate left is the next person in the counter-clockwise direction, and immediate right is the next person in the clockwise direction.
Was this answer helpful?

Important Questions from Polygon Arrangement

  1. Four friends, Ankita, Shruti, Payal and Mahak, are sitting at a rectangular table, each at one corner. Ankita is sitting to the right of Shruti, who is sitting diagonally opposite to Payal. Where is Ankita sitting with respect to Mahak?
  2. Six friends, A, B, C, D, E and F, sitting around a hexagonal table, each at one corner, are facing the centre of the table. A is second to the left of F. B is the neighbour of C and D. E is second to the left of D. Who is the third person sitting to the left of B?
  3. What is the position of C with respect to D?

  4. What is false regarding F?

  5. Four among the five are same in some way and thus form a group, which of the following does not belong to that group?

Need Expert Advice?
Upcoming Exams
SSC CPO
November 23, 2026
SSC CHSL
November 30, 2026
Test Series
SSC CGL img
SSC
SSC CGL (Tier I + Tier II) 2026 Mock Test Series - Latest Pattern
2509 Tests 6 Tests Free
8926 Attempts
4.2(946)
English, Hindi
More Questions from SSC CGL

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