Direction: Read the following information carefully and answer the questions given below. i) Radha, Rekha, Rakhi, Ragini, Rashmi, Reema and Renu are sitting around a circle facing the center. ii) Reema is not an immediate neighbour of Rashmi. i ii) Radha is to the immediate right of Ragini. iv) Rekha is second to the left of Reema. v) Radha is third to the left of Renu.
Who is second to the left of Ragini? A. Reema B. Rakhi C. Radha D. Rashmi
A
Solving the Circular Seating Arrangement Puzzle
This question asks us to determine the seating positions of seven people — Radha, Rekha, Rakhi, Ragini, Rashmi, Reema, and Renu — sitting around a circular table, all facing the center. We are given five clues to help us figure out their exact positions.
Understanding the Clues
- Clue i) Seven people around a circle facing the center.
- Clue ii) Reema is not an immediate neighbour of Rashmi. This means Rashmi cannot be in the seat immediately next to Reema on either side.
- Clue iii) Radha is to the immediate right of Ragini. In a circle facing the center, 'immediate right' means the first person encountered when moving anti-clockwise from Ragini.
- Clue iv) Rekha is second to the left of Reema. 'Second to the left' means there is one person between Reema and Rekha when moving clockwise from Reema.
- Clue v) Radha is third to the left of Renu. 'Third to the left' means there are two people between Renu and Radha when moving clockwise from Renu.
Step-by-Step Deduction of the Arrangement
Let's use the clues to build the seating arrangement. It's helpful to draw a circle and number the positions 1 through 7 clockwise.
From clue iii), Radha is immediate right of Ragini. If we place Ragini at position 1, Radha is at position 7 (moving anti-clockwise for immediate right).
Arrangement so far (clockwise positions 1-7):
Ragini (1), \_ (2), \_ (3), \_ (4), \_ (5), \_ (6), Radha (7)
From clue v), Radha (at position 7) is third to the left of Renu. 'Left' means clockwise movement. From Renu, moving 1 position clockwise, then 2 positions, then 3 positions takes us to Radha at position 7. Let's see where Renu could be. If Renu is at position 4, moving clockwise: 1st left is 5, 2nd left is 6, 3rd left is 7 (Radha). This fits.
Arrangement so far (clockwise positions 1-7):
Ragini (1), \_ (2), \_ (3), Renu (4), \_ (5), \_ (6), Radha (7)
From clue iv), Rekha is second to the left of Reema. 'Left' means clockwise movement. There is one person between Reema and Rekha (moving clockwise from Reema). The remaining empty positions are 2, 3, 5, 6. The remaining people are Rekha, Rakhi, Rashmi, and Reema.
Let's test possible positions for Reema and Rekha among the empty spots (2, 3, 5, 6) such that Rekha is second left (clockwise) of Reema:
- If Reema is at 2, 2nd left is 4 (occupied by Renu). Not possible.
- If Reema is at 3, 2nd left is 5. Both 3 and 5 are available. This is a possibility: Reema (3), Rekha (5).
- If Reema is at 5, 2nd left is 7 (occupied by Radha). Not possible.
- If Reema is at 6, 2nd left is 1 (occupied by Ragini). Not possible.
So, Reema must be at position 3 and Rekha must be at position 5.
Arrangement so far (clockwise positions 1-7):
Ragini (1), \_ (2), Reema (3), Renu (4), Rekha (5), \_ (6), Radha (7)
The remaining empty positions are 2 and 6. The remaining people are Rakhi and Rashmi.
From clue ii), Reema (at position 3) is not an immediate neighbour of Rashmi. The immediate neighbours of Reema (3) are the people at positions 2 and 4. Position 4 is occupied by Renu. Position 2 is empty. Since Rashmi cannot be a neighbour of Reema, Rashmi cannot be at position 2.
Therefore, Rashmi must be placed at position 6.
The last remaining person is Rakhi, who must be placed in the last empty position, which is position 2.
The final arrangement (clockwise positions 1-7) is:
| Position (Clockwise) | Person |
|---|---|
| 1 | Ragini |
| 2 | Rakhi |
| 3 | Reema |
| 4 | Renu |
| 5 | Rekha |
| 6 | Rashmi |
| 7 | Radha |
Checking the Final Arrangement Against All Clues
- i) 7 people in a circle facing center: Yes.
- ii) Reema (3) is not immediate neighbour of Rashmi (6): Neighbours of Reema are Rakhi (2) and Renu (4). Rashmi is at 6. Correct.
- iii) Radha (7) is immediate right of Ragini (1): Moving anti-clockwise from Ragini (1) leads to Radha (7). Correct.
- iv) Rekha (5) is second left of Reema (3): Moving clockwise from Reema (3), 1st left is Renu (4), 2nd left is Rekha (5). Correct.
- v) Radha (7) is third left of Renu (4): Moving clockwise from Renu (4), 1st left is Rekha (5), 2nd left is Rashmi (6), 3rd left is Radha (7). Correct.
All clues are satisfied by this arrangement.
Answering the Question
The question asks: Who is second to the left of Ragini?
From our final arrangement, Ragini is at position 1. 'Left' means moving clockwise.
- 1st person to the left of Ragini (Position 1) is the person at Position 2: Rakhi.
- 2nd person to the left of Ragini (Position 1) is the person at Position 3: Reema.
Therefore, Reema is second to the left of Ragini.
Revision Table: Key Placements
| Clue Used | Deduction | Placement (Clockwise Pos) |
|---|---|---|
| iii) Radha right of Ragini | Ragini $\rightarrow$ Radha (Anti-clockwise) | Ragini (1), Radha (7) [Assuming 1-7 clockwise pos] |
| v) Radha 3rd left of Renu | Renu $\rightarrow$ \_ $\rightarrow$ \_ $\rightarrow$ Radha (Clockwise) | Renu (4) |
| iv) Rekha 2nd left of Reema | Reema $\rightarrow$ \_ $\rightarrow$ Rekha (Clockwise) | Reema (3), Rekha (5) |
| ii) Reema not neighbour of Rashmi | Rashmi not at 2 or 4 (near Reema at 3) | Rashmi (6) |
| Remaining Person/Position | Rakhi remaining | Rakhi (2) |
Additional Information: Circular Arrangement Concepts
Circular seating arrangement questions are common in reasoning sections of competitive exams. Key concepts include:
- Facing Center vs. Facing Away: The direction of 'left' and 'right' depends on whether people are facing the center or away from the center. Facing center: Right is anti-clockwise, Left is clockwise. Facing away: Right is clockwise, Left is anti-clockwise.
- Immediate Left/Right: The person directly next to the specified person in the given direction (clockwise or anti-clockwise).
- Nth Left/Right: Counting N positions away in the specified direction. For example, "second left" means one person between the starting person and the target person, moving left. "Third left" means two people in between, moving left.
- Neighbours: The two people sitting immediately next to a person on either side.
- Solving Strategy: Start with the most definite clues, especially those linking two or more people directly or with a fixed number of people in between. Build the arrangement step-by-step, eliminating possibilities based on negative clues (like "not a neighbour"). Always re-check the final arrangement against all given clues.
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?
