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Question

Six people U, V, W, X, Y, and Z are sitting in a circle facing opposite to the centre. U is sitting third to the right of Y. W is sitting to the immediate left of U. W is sitting third to the left of V. Z is not sitting next to U. Who is sitting between W and Y?

The correct answer is

Z

Solving the Circular Seating Arrangement Puzzle

This question asks us to determine the person sitting between W and Y in a circular arrangement involving six people (U, V, W, X, Y, and Z). All individuals are facing away from the center of the circle. Understanding the relative positions is key to solving this circular seating puzzle.

Understanding the Setup

We have 6 positions in a circle. When facing away from the center:

  • Immediate left means the person is counter-clockwise to you.
  • Immediate right means the person is clockwise to you.
  • Third to the left means two people are between you and that person in the counter-clockwise direction.
  • Third to the right means two people are between you and that person in the clockwise direction.

Step-by-Step Arrangement

Let's place the individuals based on the given clues:

  1. U is sitting third to the right of Y.

    If we place Y, counting three positions clockwise from Y will lead us to U. Let's visualize this:

    Position 1 Position 2 (Right of 1) Position 3 (Right of 2) Position 4 (Right of 3) Position 5 (Right of 4) Position 6 (Right of 5)
    Y _ _ U _ _

  2. W is sitting to the immediate left of U.

    Since they are facing away from the center, immediate left is counter-clockwise. The position immediately counter-clockwise to U is where W sits.

    Position 1 Position 2 Position 3 Position 4 Position 5 Position 6
    Y _ W U _ _

  3. W is sitting third to the left of V.

    W is at Position 3 in our current layout. Counting three positions counter-clockwise from V leads to W. This means V must be three positions clockwise from W. From W (Pos 3), three clockwise steps would be Pos 4 (U), Pos 5, and Pos 6. So, V is at Position 6.

    Position 1 Position 2 Position 3 Position 4 Position 5 Position 6
    Y _ W U _ V

  4. Z is not sitting next to U.

    The positions next to U (Position 4) are Position 3 and Position 5. Position 3 is occupied by W. So, Z cannot be at Position 5. The remaining people are X and Z, and the remaining positions are 2 and 5.

    Since Z cannot be at Position 5, Z must be at Position 2.

  5. Place the remaining person X.

    The only remaining person is X, and the only remaining position is 5. So, X sits at Position 5.

Final Arrangement

Based on the clues, the arrangement in a clockwise direction (starting from Y at Position 1) is:

Position 1 Position 2 Position 3 Position 4 Position 5 Position 6
Y Z W U X V

Identifying the Person Between W and Y

We need to find who is sitting between W and Y. Looking at the final arrangement:

  • If we go clockwise from W, we encounter U, X, V, and then Y.
  • If we go counter-clockwise from W, we encounter Z, and then Y.

The person directly situated between W and Y in the shorter path around the circle is Z.

Therefore, Z is sitting between W and Y.

Revision Table: Key Seating Arrangement Terms

Term Meaning (Facing Away from Center)
Immediate Right One position clockwise
Immediate Left One position counter-clockwise
Second Right Two positions clockwise
Second Left Two positions counter-clockwise
Third Right Three positions clockwise
Third Left Three positions counter-clockwise

Additional Information on Solving Seating Puzzles

Seating arrangement problems are common in reasoning sections of competitive exams. Here are some tips for solving them effectively:

  • Draw a diagram: Always sketch the arrangement (circle, line, square, etc.) to visualize the positions.
  • Note the direction: Pay close attention to whether people are facing the center or away from the center, as this determines the direction of 'left' and 'right'.
  • Start with a definite clue: Begin with information that fixes the position of one or two people relative to each other or a known point.
  • Connect the clues: Use each clue to build upon the previous ones and fill in more positions.
  • Check for contradictions: Ensure that the arrangement you build satisfies all the given conditions.
  • List remaining people and positions: Keep track of who is left and where they can potentially be placed.

Solving these puzzles requires careful reading and systematic placement based on relative positions.

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Important Questions from Circular Arrangement

  1. 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?

  2. 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?

  3. 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?

  4. 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?

  5. 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?

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