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Linear Seating

Reasoning Ability · Puzzles & Arrangements

Useful for: Railway RRB, IBPS Banking, KVS, NVS, OTET, UGC NET, EMRS, CSIR NET

and 7 more exams

Central Univ./IIT/NIT Faculty, Junior Teacher, OPSC Assistant Professor, OPSC PGT, Sainik Schools, Special OTET, SSB Lecturer / PGT

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Overview

Arrangement puzzles place people in a row or around a table using clues; a neat diagram and the order of using clues decide success.

Key points

Use definite clues ("A sits at an end", "B is third from the left") first.
In a row facing north, left and right are as seen by the solver; facing south, they are reversed.
In a circle facing the centre, "left" is clockwise and "right" is anticlockwise.
Draw possible cases when a clue allows two positions.
Negative clues ("C is not next to D") eliminate cases.

Explanation

"Immediate neighbour" means adjacent; "second to the right" skips one seat.
Count positions carefully in circles of 6 or 8.
Write each case separately; strike out cases that break a clue.
Answer only after every clue is satisfied.

Step by step

Draw the frame.
Place definite clues, then branch.
Verify every clue.

Examples

Five people in a row facing north: A at the left end, C in the middle, B to the immediate right of A → order A, B, C, _, _.
Six people around a table facing the centre: the person opposite seat 1 is seat 4.
If P is second to the right of Q in a circle facing the centre, P sits two seats anticlockwise from Q.

Traps and advanced points

Trap: Reversing left and right for people facing south.
Trap: Using doubtful clues first.
Trap: Answering before checking all clues.

Quick revision

Definite clues first.
Facing centre: left = clockwise.
Draw every case.

Practice MCQs

In circular seating facing the centre, a person’s right is in the —
1. opposite seat
2. same seat
3. anticlockwise direction
4. clockwise direction
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Answer: (c) anticlockwise direction. Facing the centre, right is anticlockwise.
In arrangement puzzles, which clue should be placed first?
1. The vaguest clue
2. The last clue
3. Any random clue
4. The most definite fixed clue
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Answer: (d) The most definite fixed clue. Start with definite clues to fix positions.
A sits at one end of a row of five. Who can be in the middle?
1. No one
2. A
3. Anyone except A
4. Only the last person
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Answer: (c) Anyone except A. A is at an end, so A cannot be in the middle.
In a row facing north, the person to A’s left is towards the —
1. west
2. north
3. south
4. east
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Answer: (a) west. Facing north, left is west.
Negative clues such as "B is not next to C" are best used —
1. never
2. only at the end without checking
3. first
4. after fixing definite positions, to eliminate cases
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Answer: (d) after fixing definite positions, to eliminate cases. Negative clues eliminate possibilities.
Drawing a diagram in arrangement questions —
1. is only for maths
2. wastes time
3. reduces errors
4. is not allowed
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Answer: (c) reduces errors. Diagrams make relationships clear.
In a circle of 6 persons facing the centre, how many sit between two people sitting opposite each other (on one side)?
1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4
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Answer: (b) 2. With 6 seats, opposite seats have 2 people between them on each side.
When two arrangements fit the clues, you should —
1. keep both and test them against the remaining clues
2. stop
3. change the clues
4. pick one randomly
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Answer: (a) keep both and test them against the remaining clues. Test all cases against every clue.
In a row of 7 facing north, the 4th from the left is also —
1. 5th from the right
2. at an end
3. 3rd from the right
4. 4th from the right
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Answer: (d) 4th from the right. Position from right = 7 − 4 + 1 = 4.