Six friends, P, Q, R, S, T and U, are sitting in a closed circle facing the centre such that each one is facing another one. P is facing S. R is between P and Q. T is sitting to the immediate right of S. Who is sitting to the immediate right of R?
Q
Solving the Circular Seating Arrangement Puzzle
This question involves a circular seating arrangement puzzle where six friends, P, Q, R, S, T, and U, are sitting around a circle facing the centre. We are given several clues about their relative positions and need to determine who is sitting to the immediate right of R.
Analyzing the Given Clues
Let's break down the information provided:
- Six friends: P, Q, R, S, T, U.
- Sitting in a closed circle, facing the centre.
- Each one is facing another one (implying they are opposite each other).
- Clue 1: P is facing S. In a circle of 6 people, facing means being directly opposite, which is typically 3 positions away from each other (if positions are numbered 1 to 6).
- Clue 2: R is between P and Q. This means R is a neighbour to both P and Q. In a circular arrangement, there are two possible spots for 'between'.
- Clue 3: T is sitting to the immediate right of S. When facing the centre of a circle, 'immediate right' refers to the person located one position clockwise from the reference person.
Step-by-Step Solution
Let's build the arrangement using the clues.
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Place P and S: From Clue 1, P is facing S. Let's arbitrarily place P at the top of the circle. S will be directly opposite P.
Position Person Opposite Person 1 (Top) P S 4 (Bottom) S P
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Place T relative to S: From Clue 3, T is to the immediate right of S. Since they are facing the centre, 'right' is clockwise. If S is at position 4, the position to its immediate right (clockwise) is position 5.
Position Person 1 P 4 S 5 T
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Place R and Q relative to P: From Clue 2, R is between P and Q. This means R and Q are the neighbours of P. In our setup, P is at position 1. The neighbours of position 1 are position 6 (anti-clockwise) and position 2 (clockwise).
- Possibility A: R is at position 2, and Q is at position 3 (P-R-Q clockwise).
- Possibility B: R is at position 6, and Q is at position 5 (P-R-Q anti-clockwise, meaning Q-R-P clockwise).
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Evaluate Possibilities: Let's integrate this with the placement of T.
- Consider Possibility A (P-R-Q clockwise): If P is at 1, R is at 2, Q is at 3. We already placed S at 4 and T at 5. This arrangement looks like: P(1), R(2), Q(3), S(4), T(5). All positions 1 to 5 are filled. The remaining person is U, who must be at position 6. Let's check if this fits all clues:
- P facing S: P(1) faces S(4) - Yes.
- R is between P and Q: R(2) is between P(1) and Q(3) - Yes.
- T is immediate right of S: T(5) is immediate right (clockwise) of S(4) - Yes.
- Consider Possibility B (Q-R-P clockwise, so Q at 5, R at 6): If P is at 1, R is at 6, Q is at 5. We already placed T at position 5. This is a conflict - both Q and T cannot be in position 5. So, Possibility B is incorrect.
- Consider Possibility A (P-R-Q clockwise): If P is at 1, R is at 2, Q is at 3. We already placed S at 4 and T at 5. This arrangement looks like: P(1), R(2), Q(3), S(4), T(5). All positions 1 to 5 are filled. The remaining person is U, who must be at position 6. Let's check if this fits all clues:
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Final Arrangement: The correct arrangement in clockwise order is P, R, Q, S, T, U.
Order (Clockwise) P → R → Q → S → T → U → P
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Identify the person to the immediate right of R: In the final arrangement (P → R → Q → S → T → U), the person immediately following R in the clockwise direction is Q.
Conclusion
Based on the logical deduction from the given clues, the person sitting to the immediate right of R is Q.
Revision Table: Seating Arrangement Clues
| Clue | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| P facing S | P and S are opposite each other in the circle. |
| R is between P and Q | R is an immediate neighbour to both P and Q. |
| T is sitting to the immediate right of S | T is one position clockwise from S. |
Additional Information: Solving Seating Puzzles
Seating arrangement puzzles are common in logical reasoning sections of competitive exams. Here are some tips for solving them:
- Always start with a fixed position based on the clues. Fixing one person's position helps build the rest of the arrangement.
- Look for clues that link people directly or indirectly. Clues about facing each other or being immediate neighbours are very useful.
- For circular arrangements, remember that 'right' is usually clockwise and 'left' is usually anti-clockwise when everyone is facing the centre. The reverse is true if they are facing outwards.
- If there are multiple possibilities initially, explore each one systematically until you find the one that satisfies all conditions. Eliminate possibilities that lead to contradictions.
- Draw a diagram! Visualizing the circle and filling in positions as you deduce them is crucial for avoiding errors. Numbering positions can also be helpful.
- Keep track of the people who have been placed and those who are remaining.
Important Questions from Circular Arrangement
P, M, D, A, F, H, R and B are sitting around a circle facing at the centre. R is fourth to the right of A, who is third to the right of P. M is second to the left of H, who is second to the left of P. D is third to the right of B. Which of the following pairs are immediate neighbors of B?
Six people, K, L, M, N, O and P, are sitting on the ground in a hexagonal shape but not necessarily in the same order. K is not sitting next to L or M. N is not sitting next to M or O. L is the neighbour of M. P is in the middle of M and N. What is the correct order of seating positions of the people in clockwise direction?
Six friends, G, H I, J, K and L, are sitting around a circular table, facing towards the centre of the table. H is sitting third to the left of G. L and I are not neighbours of H. K is sitting to the immediate right of I. Who is sitting to the immediate left of L?
Eight friends A, B, C, D, E, F, G and are sitting around a circular table facing each other for a lunch. A is opposite F and third to the right of B. G is between F and D. H is to the left of D. E is between C and A. Who is sitting third to the right of A?
Six friends are sitting at equal distances from each other in a circle and facing the centre of the circle. Diraj is between Pramod and Parthiv. Priyanshu is between Mukund and Laya. Pramod and Mukund are opposite to each other. Laya is to the immediate left of Pramod. Who is sitting to the immediate left of Parthiv?
