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Question

P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y and Z are sitting around a circle facing the centre. Z is second to the right of R, who is fourth to the right of P. S is sitting between R and Z. S is third to the left of Q. V is the second to the left of P, who is between of W and Q. Y is sitting between R and T. Who is second to the right of Z?

This question was previously asked in
SSC Selection Post 2021 Question Paper (09-Feb-2022) (Shift-1)
The correct answer is
Q

Understanding the Circular Arrangement Problem

This problem involves nine people (P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y, Z) sitting around a circle, all facing the centre. We need to determine their exact positions based on the given clues to find out who is sitting second to the right of Z.

Decoding the Clues Step-by-Step

Let's break down the clues and build the arrangement step-by-step:

  • There are 9 positions in the circle. We can number them 1 to 9 clockwise. Since everyone is facing the centre, 'right' refers to the clockwise direction and 'left' refers to the anti-clockwise direction.
  • Clue 1 & 3: "Z is second to the right of R" means R is followed by one person, then Z (R _ Z). "S is sitting between R and Z" means S must be immediately between them. Together, these clues imply the sequence R S Z must appear consecutively in the clockwise direction.
  • Clue 2: "R is fourth to the right of P". Let's place P at position 1. Counting four positions clockwise from P gives us position 5 (P at 1, position 2, position 3, position 4, R at 5).
  • Combining these deductions: If P is at position 1 and R is at position 5, and we know the sequence R S Z occurs, then S must be at position 6, and Z must be at position 7. Current Arrangement: P _ _ _ R S Z _ _ (Positions 1, 5, 6, 7 are filled)
  • Clue 5: "V is the second to the left of P". P is at position 1. The first position to the left (anti-clockwise) is position 9. The second position to the left is position 8. So, V is at position 8. Current Arrangement: P _ _ _ R S Z V _ (Positions 1, 5, 6, 7, 8 are filled)
  • Clue 6: "P is between W and Q". P is at position 1. The two positions adjacent to P are position 9 (anti-clockwise) and position 2 (clockwise). Therefore, W and Q must be occupying positions 2 and 9.
  • Clue 4: "S is third to the left of Q". We know S is at position 6. Let's test the two possibilities for W and Q:
    • Possibility 1: If Q is at position 2. Counting three positions left (anti-clockwise) from Q(2): 1st left is P(1), 2nd left is position 9, 3rd left is position 8 (where V is). This does not match S(6).
    • Possibility 2: If Q is at position 9. Counting three positions left (anti-clockwise) from Q(9): 1st left is V(8), 2nd left is Z(7), 3rd left is S(6). This perfectly matches the position of S!
    So, Q must be at position 9, and consequently, W must be at position 2. Current Arrangement: P W _ _ R S Z V Q (Positions 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 are filled)
  • The remaining empty positions are 3 and 4. The people left to be seated are T and Y.
  • Clue 7: "Y is sitting between R and T". R is at position 5. The neighbours of R are S (at position 6) and the person at position 4. Since S is already placed at 6, Y cannot be there. Thus, Y must be at position 4. If Y is between R(5) and T, and Y is at 4, then T must be at position 3. Final Arrangement: P W T Y R S Z V Q (All positions 1 through 9 are filled)

Visualizing the Final Seating Arrangement

The complete seating arrangement in clockwise order, starting from P, is:

Position 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Person P W T Y R S Z V Q

This arrangement satisfies all the given conditions.

Deriving the Answer: Who is Second to the Right of Z?

The question asks to identify the person who is second to the right of Z.

  • Locate Z in the final arrangement. Z is at position 7.
  • Identify the person immediately to the right of Z (1st to the right). This is the person at position 8, which is V.
  • Identify the person second to the right of Z. This is the person at position 9.
  • The person at position 9 is Q.

Therefore, Q is second to the right of Z.

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Similar Questions

  1. A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H and K are sitting around a circle facing the centre. A is third to the left of H, who is fourth to the left of G. C is fourth to the right of D, who is second to the right of A. E is third to the left of G. B is fourth to the right of K. In which of the following combinations are the three persons sitting together?

  2. Six friends P, Q, R, S, T and U are sitting around a circular table facing the centre for group study. T is between Q and S, R is second to the left of S and Q is sitting directly opposite to P. Who is sitting fourth to the right of P?

  3. S, T, U, V, W, X, Y and Z are sitting around a round table for group discussion in the same order at equal distance facing towards the center. Their positions are clockwise. If V is facing North-West, what will be the position of S?

  4. A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H are sitting in a circle in the same order, at equal distances. Their positions are clockwise. If C is sitting in the East, then what will be the position of E?

  5. Eight persons A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H are sitting around a circular table, facing towards the centre of the table. A sits to the immediate right of F. D is sitting second to the right of A. C is fourth to the left of D. B is sitting between H and E. E is fourth to the right of G. Who sits second to the left of A?

  6. Eight friends A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H are sitting around a circular table, all facing towards the center. Only B is between H and D. Only C is between H and E. E is fourth to the right of D. B is third to the right of E. Only F is between G and A. G is not adjacent to D. Who is sitting second to right of B?

  7. Eight friends K, L, M, N, O, P, Q and R, are sitting anticlockwise around a circular table facing the center in the same sequence with equal distances between them. If M is sitting in the southwest direction, then in which direction is P sitting?

  8. Five friends A, B, C, D and E are sitting around a circular table facing the centre. C is second to the right of A. Only one person is sitting between D and B. A is to the immediate left of D. A and B are not immediate neighbours. Who is sitting to the immediate left of E?

  9. Eight friends P, Q, R, S, T, U, V and W are sitting clockwise around a circular table, facing the center in the same sequence at equal distances between them. If W is sitting in the north direction, then in which direction is Q sitting?

  10. Eight friends A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H are sitting clockwise around a circular table facing the centre in the same sequence at equal distances between them. If H is sitting in the North direction, then in which direction is D sitting?


Important Questions from Circular Arrangement

  1. Eight students A, B, C, D, E, F, G and Hsit around a circular table, equidistant from each other, facing the centre of the table, not necessarily in the same order. Band Dsit neither adjacent to Cnor opposite to C. Asits in between Eand D, and Fsits in between Band H. Which one of the following is definitely correct?

  2. Six persons A, B, C, D, E and Fare sitting equidistant from each other around a circular table (facing the centre of the table).

    Consider the Question and two Statements given below :

    Question : Who is sitting on the immediate left of A?

    Statement-1 : Bis sitting opposite to Cand Dis sitting  opposite to E.

    Statement-2 : Fis sitting on the immediate left of B.

    Which one of the following is correct in respect of the Question and the Statements?

  3. Seven persons P, Q, R, S, T, U and V are sitting around a circular table facing the center (not necessarily in the same order). T sits third to the right of R. V sits third to the right of Q. One person sits between P and T. P is not the neighbor of S. U sits third to the left of P. Who sits second to the left of S?

  4. Akash, Binita, Chandan, Daksh, Ekta & Fatima are standing in a circle. Binita is between Daksh & Chandan. Akash is between Ekta & Chandan. Fatima is to the right of Daksh. Who is between Akash & Fatima?

  5. Six friends A, B, C, D, E and F are sitting around a round table in such a way that A is between E and F, E is opposite to D, and C is not on either side of E. The person opposite to D is

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