Seating Arrangement Puzzle Explained

This question requires us to solve a logic puzzle involving the seating arrangement of seven people in a row facing North. We need to deduce the exact positions based on the clues provided and then count the number of people to the left of person G.

Seating Arrangement Clues Analysis

Let's break down the information given:

• Setup: 7 people (A, B, C, D, E, F, G) in a row facing North. Positions are numbered 1 (leftmost) to 7 (rightmost).
• Clue 1: F sits on the extreme left end. This places F at Position 1. Arrangement: F _ _ _ _ _ _
• Clue 2: Three persons are between F and B. Since F is at Position 1, B must be at Position 5 (Positions occupied: 1 (F), 2, 3, 4, 5 (B)). Arrangement: F _ _ _ B _ _
• Clue 3: E has an equal number of persons to his left and right. This means E must be in the middle position. For 7 positions, the middle is Position 4. Arrangement: F _ _ E B _ _
• Clue 4: G sits second from one of the ends. This means G can be at Position 2 (second from the left) or Position 6 (second from the right).
• Clue 5: A sits immediately to the right of C. They form a block 'CA'.
• Clue 6: A does not sit at the corner. A cannot be at Position 1 or Position 7.

Arrangement Possibilities Solution

We need to test the two possible positions for G to find the correct arrangement:

1. Case 1: G is at Position 2

   If G is at Position 2, the arrangement looks like: F G _ E B _ _

   The remaining positions are 3, 6, and 7. The remaining people are A, C, and D.

   We must place the 'CA' block (A immediately right of C).

   • Possibility A: Place 'CA' at positions (3, 4). This is not possible because E is already at Position 4.
   • Possibility B: Place 'CA' at positions (6, 7). The arrangement becomes F G _ E B C A. In this case, A is at Position 7, which is a corner. This violates Clue 6 ("A does not sit at the corner").

   Since both possibilities lead to a violation, G cannot be at Position 2.

2. Case 2: G is at Position 6

   If G is at Position 6, the arrangement looks like: F _ _ E B G _

   The remaining positions are 2, 3, and 7. The remaining people are A, C, and D.

   We must place the 'CA' block. The only available adjacent positions are (2, 3). Person D must occupy the last remaining seat, Position 7.

   The resulting arrangement is: F C A E B G D

   Let's verify this arrangement against all clues:

   • F is at Position 1 (extreme left): Correct.
   • B is at Position 5 (3 people between F and B): Correct (Positions 2, 3, 4).
   • E is at Position 4 (middle position): Correct.
   • G is at Position 6 (second from the right end): Correct.
   • A is immediately right of C (C at 2, A at 3): Correct.
   • A is at Position 3 (not a corner): Correct.

   This arrangement satisfies all the given conditions.

Final Arrangement and Calculation

The final confirmed seating arrangement from left to right is F, C, A, E, B, G, D.

The question asks: "How many persons are sitting to the left of G?"

G is seated at Position 6.

The people seated to the left of G are those in positions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

These individuals are F, C, A, E, and B.

Counting these people, we find there are 5 persons sitting to the left of G.