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Question

P, Q, R, S, T, U,V and X are sitting around a square table facing the centre of the table. Some of them are sitting at the corners, while some are sitting at the exact middle of the sides. P and R sit at diagonally opposite corners. P sits second to the left of S. Q does not sit at any of the middle of the sides. V sits between R and S. X sits second to the right of V. S is not an immediate neighbour of T. Who sits third to the right of V?

This question was previously asked in
SSC Stenographer 2022 Previous Year Paper (17-Nov-2022) (Shift 2)
The correct answer is

Q

Solving the Square Table Seating Arrangement Puzzle

This problem involves a seating arrangement puzzle around a square table. We need to determine the position of each person based on the given clues and then answer a specific question about their relative positions.

Analyzing the Clues for Square Table Seating

We have eight people (P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, X) sitting around a square table, facing the center. Some are at the corners, and some are at the middle of the sides. A square table has 4 corners and 4 middle-of-side positions.

  • Clue 1: P and R sit at diagonally opposite corners. This confirms P and R are at corner positions. Let's assume P is at one corner, say the top-left. Then R must be at the opposite corner, the bottom-right.
  • Clue 2: P sits second to the left of S. If P is at the top-left corner, the position second to its right would be the top-right corner. Therefore, P is second to the *left* of S. This means starting from S and moving two positions to the left, we reach P. If S is at the top-right corner, moving one position left is the top-middle, and moving two positions left is the top-left corner, where P is located. So, S is at the top-right corner. Since P and R are corners, S must also be a corner based on this positioning relative to P.
  • Clue 3: Q does not sit at any of the middle of the sides. Q must be at a corner. The four corners are now occupied by P, R, and S. The remaining corner must be for Q. If P is top-left, R is bottom-right, and S is top-right, the remaining corner is bottom-left. So, Q is at the bottom-left corner. This means P, Q, R, and S are all at the four corners.
  • Clue 4: V sits between R and S. R is at the bottom-right corner, and S is at the top-right corner. The position directly between these two corners on the table's edge is the middle of the right side. So, V sits at the middle of the right side.
  • Clue 5: X sits second to the right of V. V is at the middle of the right side. Moving right from V, the first position is the bottom-right corner (occupied by R). The second position to the right is the middle of the bottom side. So, X sits at the middle of the bottom side.
  • Clue 6: S is not an immediate neighbour of T. S is at the top-right corner. Its immediate neighbours are the person at the middle of the top side and the person at the middle of the right side (V). This clue tells us that T is not at the middle of the top side.

Step-by-Step Derivation of Seating Arrangement

Let's use the clues to map out the positions:

  1. Assume positions are numbered clockwise starting from Top-Middle: M1 (Top-Middle), C1 (Top-Left Corner), M2 (Left-Middle), C2 (Bottom-Left Corner), M3 (Bottom-Middle), C3 (Bottom-Right Corner), M4 (Right-Middle), C4 (Top-Right Corner).
  2. P and R are opposite corners. Let P be at C1. Then R is at C3.
  3. P (C1) is second left of S. Starting from S, moving two positions left leads to P (C1). If S is at C4, 1st left is M1, 2nd left is C1. So S is at C4.
  4. Q is not at a middle side, so Q is at a corner. Corners are C1, C2, C3, C4. P, R, S are at C1, C3, C4. Remaining corner is C2. So Q is at C2.
  5. So, P, Q, R, S are at corners C1, C2, C3, C4 respectively. T, U, V, X must be at the middle positions M1, M2, M3, M4.
  6. V sits between R (C3) and S (C4). The position between C3 and C4 on the right side is M4. So V is at M4.
  7. X sits second to the right of V (M4). 1st right of M4 is C3 (R). 2nd right of M4 is M3. So X is at M3.
  8. S (C4) is not a neighbour of T. Neighbours of S (C4) are M1 and M4. V is at M4. So T is not at M1. The middle positions available are M1, M2. Since T is not at M1, T must be at M2.
  9. The remaining person is U, and the remaining middle position is M1. So U is at M1.

Final Seating Arrangement Summary

Position TypeExact PositionPerson
CornerTop-Left (C1)P
CornerBottom-Left (C2)Q
CornerBottom-Right (C3)R
CornerTop-Right (C4)S
Middle SideTop-Middle (M1)U
Middle SideLeft-Middle (M2)T
Middle SideBottom-Middle (M3)X
Middle SideRight-Middle (M4)V

Answering the Question: Who sits third to the right of V?

V is sitting at the middle of the right side (M4).

Let's find the positions to V's right:

  • First position to the right of V (M4) is the Bottom-Right Corner (C3), occupied by R.
  • Second position to the right of V (M4) is the Bottom-Middle (M3), occupied by X.
  • Third position to the right of V (M4) is the Bottom-Left Corner (C2), occupied by Q.

Therefore, Q sits third to the right of V.

The correct option is Q.

Revision Table: Key Clues & Deductions

ClueDeductionPosition
P & R opposite cornersP, R are cornersP (C1), R (C3) assumed
P 2nd left of SS is a cornerS (C4)
Q not middle sideQ is a cornerQ (C2) - last corner
V between R and SV is middle of sideV (M4)
X 2nd right of VX is middle of sideX (M3)
S not neighbour of TT is middle of sideT (M2) - only option left after checking neighbours of S
Remaining person UU is middle of sideU (M1) - last position

Additional Information on Seating Arrangements

Seating arrangement puzzles often involve understanding spatial relationships (left/right, opposite, between, neighbour) around different shapes of tables (linear, circle, square, rectangle). For square tables with people facing the center, those at corners usually have neighbours on either side who are at the middle of the adjacent sides. People at the middle of the sides have neighbours who are at the corners.

  • Direction: 'Right' and 'Left' are determined from the perspective of the person sitting, facing the center.
  • Between: 'Between A and B' usually implies the person is immediately between A and B, in consecutive positions around the table.
  • Diagonally Opposite: In a square, corners are diagonally opposite if they are across the center from each other. Middle of sides are diagonally opposite to the middle of the opposite side.
  • Neighbour: An immediate neighbour sits in the adjacent position on either side.

Solving these puzzles requires careful reading of each clue and building the arrangement step by step, eliminating possibilities as you go.

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Similar Questions

  1. 8 friends – Jake, Ken, Lily, Dev, Mini, Nancy, Om and Polly are sitting around a square table such that four of them are sitting at the corners of the table and the other four are sitting in the middle of each of the four sides. All are sitting facing the centre. Neither Jake nor Om is an immediate neighbour of Mini. Lily is sitting fourth to the left of Om. Nancy is not sitting in the middle of any of the sides. Om is sitting second to the right of Jake. Jake is not sitting in the middle of any of the sides. Mini is sitting in the middle of one of the sides. Only one person is sitting between Ken and Mini. Polly is not an immediate neighbour of Om.

    Who is sitting fourth to the right of Jake?

  2. A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H are sitting around a square table not facing the centre. Some of them are sitting at the corners while some are sitting at the exact centre of the sides. A is sitting to the immediate right of F and immediate left of E. C is sitting to the immediate right of E. G is sitting two places from the right of E. B is sitting to the immediate right of G. H is sitting to the immediate right of B and immediate left of D. D is sitting to the left of F. Who is sitting between A and D?

  3. A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H are sitting around a square table facing outwards. Some of them are sitting at the corners while some are sitting at the exact centre of the sides. A is sitting to the immediate left of B and right of H. H is sitting between A and G. F is sitting to the immediate left of G and right of E. D is sitting between E and C. C is sitting to the immediate right of B. Who is sitting between C and E?

  4. L, M, N, O, P, Q, R and S are sitting around a square table not facing the centre. Some of them are sitting at the corners while some are sitting at the exact centre of the sides. L is sitting to the immediate right of P. O is sitting to the immediate right of L. O is sitting between L and S. S is sitting to the immediate left of R. M is sitting between Q and R. N is sitting to the immediate right of Q and immediate left of P. Who is sitting second left from N?

  5. Kirti, Suman, Shubh, Kanak, Pari, Charu, Shlok and Shivi are sitting around a square table facing the centre of the table. Some of them are sitting at the corners, while some are sitting at the exact centre of the sides. Kirti sits third to the left of Shubh. Kirti sit sat one of the corners. Kanak sits second to the right of Pari. Pari does not sit at any of the corners. Pari is not an immediate neighbour of Kirti. Suman is an immediate neighbour of Charu. Suman does not sit at any of the middle of the sides. Only three people sit between Suman and Shlok.

    Who sits to the immediate left of Kanak?


Important Questions from Polygon Arrangement

  1. A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H are sitting around a square table facing the centre of the table. Some of them are sitting at the corners while some are sitting at the exact centre of the sides.

    G sits second to the right of F. B sits second to the right of A. C sits third to the right of H. E sits third to the right of F. C is not the immediate neighbour of A. Who sits second to the right of B?

  2. 6 persons A, B, C, D, E and F are sitting around a rectangular table, facing towards the centre (not necessarily in the same order). One person is sitting on each of the smaller sides. Two persons are sitting on each of the bigger sides. No person is sitting at the corners. C and F are sitting on the same side. B is sitting opposite to A. F is the immediate neighbour of B. A is sitting second to the left of D.

    Counting towards the left of D, how many persons are sitting between A and D?

  3. Seven friends, A, B, C, D, E, F, and G are seating around a square table, facing towards the centre. Some of them are sitting at the corners while some are sitting at the exact centre of the sides of the table. One seat is left vacant. D is sitting exactly at the centre of one of the sides of the table. C is sitting at a corner, third to the left of B. There are exactly two people sitting between C and D. F is an immediate neighbour of both B and D. A is second to the right of F. E is not an immediate neighbour of A, but third to the left of F. G is an immediate neighbour of C. Where is the vacant seat?

  4. Rashmi, Sunita, Mona and Sakshi are sitting around a square table. Rashmi is to the right of Sunita. Mona is to the left of Sakshi. Which of the persons mentioned in the options is sitting opposite to each other?

  5. V, W, X, Y, Z, A, B and C were sitting around a square table facing the centre. Some of these were sitting at corners and some were sitting at exact centre of the sides. C was to the immediate right of W. B was third to the left of Z. A was the immediate neighbour of X and C. Z, not at any corner, was the immediate neighbour of W and Y. Who among the following was sitting third to the right of A?

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