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Question

Seven friends E, F, G, H, I, J and K, are sitting along a circular table facing towards the centre. F and I are sitting to the immediate left and right of G, respectively. H is sitting third to the left of G. E and I are the neighbours of J. Who is sitting to the immediate right of H?

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

K

Understanding the Circular Seating Arrangement Problem

This question presents a logical reasoning puzzle involving seven friends (E, F, G, H, I, J, and K) seated around a circular table. All friends are facing the centre of the table. We are given several clues about their relative positions, and our goal is to determine the person sitting to the immediate right of H.

To solve this type of circular seating arrangement problem, it is best to build the arrangement step-by-step using the given clues.

Solving the Seating Puzzle Step-by-Step

Let's use the clues to deduce the positions of the seven friends. We can imagine 7 numbered seats around the circle (e.g., 1 through 7 clockwise) to help visualize the arrangement.

  • We have 7 friends: E, F, G, H, I, J, K.
  • The table is circular, and everyone faces the centre. This means 'right' is clockwise and 'left' is anticlockwise relative to the person facing the center.
  • Clue 1: "F and I are sitting to the immediate left and right of G, respectively." This means F is immediately to G's left, and I is immediately to G's right. If we arbitrarily place G at a certain position (say, Position 1), then I is at the position immediately clockwise (Position 2), and F is at the position immediately anticlockwise (Position 7). Initial state (clockwise positions 1-7): G (1), I (2), ?, ?, ?, ?, F (7).
  • Clue 2: "H is sitting third to the left of G." Starting from G (at Position 1) and moving to the left (anticlockwise): 1st to the left of G is at Position 7 (F). 2nd to the left of G is at Position 6. 3rd to the left of G is at Position 5. So, H is at Position 5. Current state (clockwise from 1): G (1), I (2), ?, ?, H (5), ?, F (7). The empty positions are 3, 4, and 6.
  • Clue 3: "E and I are the neighbours of J." This clue tells us that J is sitting between E and I. We know I is at Position 2. For J to be between E and I, J must be next to both E and I. The neighbours of I (at Position 2) are the people at Position 1 and Position 3. Position 1 is occupied by G. So, J must be at Position 3 to be next to I. If J is at Position 3, its neighbours are the people at Position 2 (I) and Position 4. Since I is one neighbour of J, E must be the other neighbour, located at Position 4. Current state (clockwise from 1): G (1), I (2), J (3), E (4), H (5), ?, F (7).
  • We have now placed G, I, J, E, H, and F. The remaining person is K. The only remaining empty position is Position 6. Therefore, K must be at Position 6.

The complete seating arrangement in a clockwise direction starting from Position 1 is:

  • Position 1: G
  • Position 2: I
  • Position 3: J
  • Position 4: E
  • Position 5: H
  • Position 6: K
  • Position 7: F

Let's verify this arrangement against all clues:

  • F immediate left of G (Pos 7 left of Pos 1)? Yes.
  • I immediate right of G (Pos 2 right of Pos 1)? Yes.
  • H third left of G (Pos 5 third left of Pos 1)? G (1) > F (7, 1st left) > K (6, 2nd left) > H (5, 3rd left). Yes.
  • E and I are neighbours of J (J at Pos 3, neighbours are I at Pos 2 and E at Pos 4)? Yes.

The arrangement is consistent with all clues.

Identifying the Person to the Immediate Right of H

The question asks: "Who is sitting to the immediate right of H?"

In our arrangement, H is at Position 5.

To find the person to the immediate right of H, we move one position clockwise from H.

The position immediately clockwise to Position 5 is Position 6.

The person sitting at Position 6 is K.

Revision Table: Circular Seating Arrangement Facts

Concept Explanation in Circular Seating
Facing Centre When facing the centre, 'right' is the direction you move clockwise, and 'left' is the direction you move anticlockwise.
Immediate Positions The person directly adjacent in the specified direction (clockwise for right, anticlockwise for left).
Nth Position Counting N steps in the specified direction from the starting person.
Neighbours The two people sitting on either side of a person.

Additional Information: Tips for Seating Arrangement Puzzles

Solving seating arrangement problems effectively requires a systematic approach:

  • Read all clues carefully before starting.
  • For circular arrangements, fixing one person's position can make it easier to place others relative to them.
  • Draw a diagram or use a linear representation of positions for clarity.
  • Break down complex clues into smaller parts. For example, "A is third to the right of B" means there are two people between A and B when counting clockwise from B.
  • When a clue has multiple possibilities, note them down and use subsequent clues to eliminate options.
  • Keep track of the people placed and the remaining people and positions.
  • Always check your final arrangement against all the original clues to ensure accuracy.
  • Practice different types of seating puzzles (linear, circular, square, etc.) to improve speed and accuracy.
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Similar Questions

  1. Given below is a question followed by two statements I and II. Read both the statements carefully to decide which one of them is sufficient to answer the question. Six people - K, M, N, P, Q and R are sitting around a circular table facing the centre. Who sits to the immediate right of K?

    (I) K sits third to the left of M. Only one person sits between K and N. R sits to the immediate left of N.

    (II) K sits second to the right of Q. Only two people sit between K and M. P sits second to the left of R.

  2. Six friends J, K, L, M, N and O are sitting around a circular table facing the centre. N is not an immediate neighbour of M. M is sitting to the immediate left of J. J is sitting opposite to L, who is sitting to the immediate right of K. Who is sitting second to the left of L?

  3. Seven friends, Subhi, Prince, Ketan, Vishal, Mahima, Krish and Naitik, are sitting around a circular table with their backs towards the centre. Subhi is sitting to the immediate right of Prince. Naitik and Krish are not sitting to the immediate left or right of Vishal. Vishal is sitting third to the left of Prince. Mahima is sitting to the immediate right of Vishal. Who is sitting third to the right of Prince?

  4. Raghav, Manpreet, Sunaina, Prakrit, Vedika and Arwa are sitting around a circular table facing the centre. Raghav is second to the left of Prakrit. Manpreet is to the immediate left of Sunaina. Arwa is second to the right of Vedika. There are an equal number of persons between Raghav and Manpreet from both the ends. Who is sitting third to the left of Sunanina?

  5. Six friends, David, Bhanu, Minto, Krita, John and Nisan, are sitting in a circle with their backs towards the centre. David and Minto are sitting to the immediate left and right of Bhanu, respectively. John is not sitting to the immediate left of David. Nisan is sitting third to the right of Bhanu. Who is sitting second to the left of Bhanu?

  6. Five friends, Vishnu, Chirag, Raina, Kavya and Surbhi, are sitting around a circular table, facing the center. Vishnu is to the immediate right of Kavya. Chirag is third to the left of Kavya. Surbhi is not adjacent to Chirag. Who is second to the left of Kavya?

  7. Eight friends, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V and W, are sitting in the same order anticlockwise around a circular table at equal distance between them, with all centre of the table. If Q is sitting in the south-east, then in which direction is W sitting?

  8. Eight friends, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V and W, are sitting clockwise in the same order around a circular table at equal distances between them, facing the center of the table. If S is sitting in the west, then who is sitting in the south-west direction?

  9. Six children, G, H, I, J, K, and L, are sitting around a circular table facing towards the centre. J and K are sitting to the immediate left and right of G, respectively. L is sitting to the immediate left of J, but not to the immediate right of H. Who is sitting to the immediate right of K?

  10. Six friends A, B, C, D, E and F are standing in a circle facing the centre. B is between F and C, A is between E and D, and F is to the immediate left of D. Who is between A and F?


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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