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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. 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?

  2. 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?

  3. 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?

  4. 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?

  5. 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?

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