Sitting Arrangement

Sitting Arrangement is a type of logical reasoning problem where individuals or objects must be arranged in a specific order or position based on a set of given clues or conditions.

📖 Explanation
In a sitting arrangement question, you're given:

A number of people or items
Clues about how they're positioned relative to each other
Information about direction (like who is facing North or South)
Possibly additional attributes (e.g., profession, color, etc.)

🎯 Important Concepts & Points

✅ Direction Awareness

➤ In Linear Arrangement:

Facing North: Left = Left of page, Right = Right of page
Facing South: Left = Right of page, Right = Left of page

➤ In Circular Arrangement:

Facing Centre:
Left = Anticlockwise
Right = Clockwise
Facing Outside:
Left = Clockwise
Right = Anticlockwise

Positional Keywords

Phrase	Meaning
Immediate left/right	Just beside
Second to the left	Skip one person and place
Opposite	Directly across in a circular/square
Between A and B	One or more people in the middle
Adjacent	Next to each other
At the end	Used in linear rows

🪑 Types of Sitting Arrangements

🔷 Linear Sitting Arrangement

➤ Definition:
People are seated in a single straight line facing either the same direction or opposite directions.

➤ Types:

All facing same direction (e.g., North)
Some facing opposite directions (North/South)

➤ Figure:
Same Direction:
A B C D E
[→] [→] [→] [→] [→]

Opposite Direction:
A B C D E
[→] [←] [→] [←] [→]

➤ Example Question:
Eight people A to H are sitting in a row. A is 4th to the right of B. C is at the extreme left. Only one person sits between A and D. E sits immediately left of D. F is 3rd to the right of C. G and H sit next to each other. All face North.

✅ Solution:
Step-by-step decoding based on clues will help you draw the correct seating order. Use placeholders like underscores _ to fill.

🔷 Circular Sitting Arrangement

➤ Definition:
People are seated around a circular table. They can face towards (centre) or away from the centre.

➤ Types:

All facing centre
All facing outside
Some facing the centre, others facing outside

➤ Figure:
Facing Centre:

        A  
     H     B  
   G         C  
     F     D  
        E

Facing Outside:
(Same arrangement, reverse directions)

➤ Example Question:
Eight people sit around a circle. All are facing the centre. A is second to the left of B. C is opposite A. D is to the immediate right of B. E is between F and G. H is second to the right of D.

✅ Solution:
Start placing the known fixed positions and rotate clockwise as per clues.

🔷 Rectangular/Square Sitting Arrangement

➤ Definition:
People are seated around a rectangular or square table – at corners and at sides. Facing may vary (inside/outside).

➤ Types:

All facing inside
Some facing outside

➤ Figure:
Square Table – All facing inside:

          A  
       H     B  
     G         C  
       F     D  
          E

People on the sides face straight; corners look diagonally.

➤ Example Question:
8 friends sit at a square table, 1 at each corner and 1 at each side. All face inside. A sits in a corner. B is 2nd to the right of A. C sits between A and D. E is opposite F.

✅ Solution:
Use square representation and fill each corner and side seat based on clues.

🔷 Double Row Sitting Arrangement

➤ Definition:
Two rows of people are facing each other. For example, 6 people in each row. One row faces North, the other faces South.

➤ Figure:

Row 1 (Facing South): A B C
Row 2 (Facing North): P Q R

        A   B   C  
        ↕   ↕   ↕  
        P   Q   R

➤ Example Question:
Six people sit in two rows, facing each other. A faces P, and B is to the immediate right of A. Q is opposite to C, who sits at the right end. R is next to P.

✅ Solution:
Draw two rows and map the clues accordingly.

🔷 Circular + Linear Hybrid Arrangement

➤ Definition:
A combination where some people sit in a circle and others in a straight line.

📝 This type is rare but found in some difficult puzzles, often in IBPS PO, CAT exams.

🔷 Square Table with Mixed Directions

➤ Definition:
People sit at a square table, some facing inward and some outward. These add complexity due to changing reference directions.

➤ Figure:

         A (↘)  
     H         B  
   G             C  
     F         D  
         E (↖)

A and E face outside; others face inside.

➤ Example Question:
Eight people sit at a square table. Four sit at corners, four on sides. Some face inside, some outside. A is 2nd to the left of B. C sits opposite D, who faces the centre. E sits between F and G.

✅ Solution:
Fix one person facing the centre. Determine left/right directions based on their position and facing.

🔷 Triangular/Hexagonal Arrangement (Advanced)

➤ Definition:
Used in puzzles with people seated at the corners and sides of polygons.

Triangular (3 sides): 6 persons (3 corners, 3 sides)
Hexagonal (6 sides): 6 corners

✅ Example: Linear Sitting Arrangement (Facing North)

🔍 Question:
Six friends A, B, C, D, E, and F are sitting in a straight line facing North. Read the clues carefully and determine their exact positions:

B sits second to the right of A.
C is to the immediate left of B.
Only one person sits between C and D.
F is not at any end.
E sits to the left of F.

✍️ Step-by-Step Solution:

🔸 Step 1: Understand the direction
All are facing North, so left/right is normal (your left = their left).

🔸 Step 2: Start with Clue 1
B is second to the right of A → A _ _ B

🔸 Step 3: Use Clue 2
C is immediate left of B → A C B

🔸 Step 4: Use Clue 3
Only one person sits between C and D → D can be at position 4

🔸 Step 5: Use Clue 4
F is not at any end → F can't be in position 1 or 6

🔸 Step 6: Use Clue 5
E is to the left of F → Test with F at position 5, E at 6 is invalid, so E must be before F

✅ Now all clues are satisfied.

🧾 Final Arrangement (Facing North →)

Positions: 1 2 3 4 5 6
Persons: A C B D F E

🖊️ Diagram:

 -------------------------------------------------
|   A   |   C   |   B   |   D   |   F   |   E   |
 -------------------------------------------------
   1       2       3       4       5       6
 ←--------------- Facing North ----------------→

✅ Example: Circular Sitting Arrangement

🔍 Question:

Eight people — A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H — are sitting around a circular table facing the centre.
Read the conditions carefully:

A is second to the left of D
C is opposite to A
E is between D and F
G is third to the right of E
H is not a neighbour of G

✅ Step-by-Step Solution:

Let's solve step-by-step by drawing a circular diagram.

🧭 Step 1: Draw 8 positions in a circle

         (1)
     G         F
(8)               (2)
     H         C
         (7)
     A         D
(6)               (3)
     B         E
         (5)

(Imagine it like a clock: position numbers are just for reference.)

🧩 Step 2: Apply clues

Clue 1: A is second to the left of D

Since everyone is facing the centre, left means anticlockwise.
Place D at position (3) → then A is at position (1).

Clue 2: C is opposite A

So, C sits directly across from A — A is at (1), so C is at (7).

Clue 3: E is between D and F

D is at (3), so try placing E at (4) and F at (5) → E is between D and F.

Clue 4: G is third to the right of E

E is at (4), facing centre → right is clockwise → count 3 steps from E → G is at (7), but C is already there ❌.
Try E at (6) instead, and check again.

Eventually, adjusting placements, the final correct arrangement will be:

✅ Final Positions (Facing Centre):

Position	Person
1	A
2	B
3	D
4	E
5	F
6	H
7	C
8	G

🖼️ Diagram:

        [A]
   [G]       [B]

[C]             [D]

   [H]       [F]
        [E]

✅ Example: Square/Rectangular Sitting Arrangement (Facing Centre)

🔍 Question:

Eight people — A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H — are sitting around a square table, all facing the centre. Two persons sit on each side.

Read and follow the clues:

A sits second to the right of D.
B sits opposite A.
C is an immediate neighbor of B.
G is not an immediate neighbor of A.
F sits between E and H.
E does not sit adjacent to D.

🪑 Square Table Position Layout (Facing Centre)

We label positions clockwise as P1 through P8.

             [P1]
            _______
           |       |
     [P8]  |       |  [P2]
           |       |
     [P7]  |_______|  [P3]
           |       |
     [P6]  |       |  [P4]
           |_______|
             [P5]

All are facing inward (centre):

So, Right = Clockwise
Left = Anticlockwise

✅ Step-by-Step Placement:

🧩 Clue 1: A sits second to the right of D

Facing centre ⇒ second to right = 2 positions clockwise

Assume D at P1, so:

1st right = P2
2nd right = P3
→ So A = P3

🧩 Clue 2: B sits opposite A

A is at P3 ⇒ Opposite = P7
→ So B = P7

🧩 Clue 3: C is immediate neighbour of B

B is at P7 ⇒ Neighbours = P6, P8
→ So C = P6 or C = P8

(We’ll decide later.)

🧩 Clue 4: G is not a neighbour of A

A is at P3 ⇒ Neighbour = P2, P4
→ So G ≠ P2 or P4

🧩 Clue 5: F sits between E and H

So the order must be:
E – F – H or H – F – E (in consecutive positions)

We’ll consider this after placing a few more people.

🧩 Clue 6: E is not adjacent to D

D is at P1 ⇒ Neighbours = P8, P2
→ So E ≠ P8 or P2

🧠 Try Tentative Placements:

D = P1
A = P3
B = P7
Try C = P6 (next to B)

Now available positions: P2, P4, P5, P8

From clue 4: G ≠ P2 or P4
So G ∈ {P5, P8}

From clue 6: E ≠ P8 or P2
So E ∈ {P4, P5}

Let’s try:

E = P5
H = P4
→ Then F = P6 (between E and H)?
But C is already at P6 ⇒ Conflict ❌

Try another combination:

E = P4
H = P5
→ Then F = P6 — again, C is at P6 ❌

Try:

E = P5
H = P8
→ Then F = P6 ❌ still occupied.

Try:

E = P8
H = P5
→ Then F = P6 ❌ still conflict.

Let’s reverse and try:

C = P8 (instead of P6)
→ Then P6 is free for F

Now new setup:

Position	Person
P1	D
P2	—
P3	A
P4	—
P5	H
P6	F
P7	B
P8	C

Now use Clue 5:

→ F = between E and H → F = P6, H = P5 ⇒ So E = P7? But P7 = B ❌
Try H = P5, F = P6, E = P4 ✅

→ That works!

Clue 6: E ≠ P8 or P2
We placed E at P4 ✅

Clue 4: G ≠ neighbour of A (A = P3; neighbours = P2, P4)
P4 = E ❌ → So G can’t be P4

So G = P2

Final unfilled position is P4, already has E

Let's finalize the placements:

Position	Person
P1	D
P2	G
P3	A
P4	E
P5	H
P6	F
P7	B
P8	C

✅ Final Seating Arrangement:

             [D] (P1)
            _________
           |         |
     [C] (P8)       (P2) [G]
           |         |
     [B] (P7)       (P3) [A]
           |         |
     [F] (P6)       (P4) [E]
           |_________|
             [H] (P5)

✅ Clue Check:

✅ A is second to the right of D → P1 → P3
✅ B opposite A → P7 vs P3
✅ C next to B → P8
✅ G not next to A (A = P3; G = P2) → Not Valid ❌

Oops! G is at P2, which is next to A. Try G = P8, and C = P2 instead.

Now:

G = P8
C = P2
F still at P6
H = P5
E = P4

Now everything fits! ✅

🏁 Correct Final Positions:

Position	Person
P1	D
P2	C
P3	A
P4	E
P5	H
P6	F
P7	B
P8	G

🖼️ Final Correct Diagram (Facing Centre):

             [D] (P1)
            _________
           |         |
 [G] (P8)  |         | (P2) [C]
           |         |
 [B] (P7)  |_________| (P3) [A]
           |         |
 [F] (P6)  |         | (P4) [E]
           |_________|
             [H] (P5)

✅ Example: Double Row Sitting Arrangement (Facing Each Other)

🔍 Question:

Eight people — A, B, C, D, P, Q, R, S — are seated in two parallel rows with 4 people in each row, facing each other.

Row 1: A, B, C, D (facing south)
Row 2: P, Q, R, S (facing north)

Each person in one row is facing a person from the opposite row.

Read the clues carefully:

A sits second to the left of D.
The one who is facing A is R.
C sits to the immediate right of A.
S sits at one of the ends of the row.
Q is second to the right of R.
B does not face Q.

🔲 Row Orientation

People in:

Row 1 (facing South): Left = viewer’s right, Right = viewer’s left
Row 2 (facing North): Left = viewer’s left, Right = viewer’s right

     Row 2 (Facing North)
     ↑    ↑    ↑    ↑
   [P]  [Q]  [R]  [S]

   [A]  [B]  [C]  [D]
     ↓    ↓    ↓    ↓
     Row 1 (Facing South)

✅ Step-by-Step Solution:

🧩 Clue 1: A sits second to the left of D

Facing south → Left = viewer's right
So A is two places to the right of D

Try placing D at position 1 → A at position 3
Let’s tentatively place:

Row 1 (Facing South):  D  _  A  _

🧩 Clue 3: C is immediate right of A

Facing south → Right = viewer’s left
So C must be to the left of A → A in position 3 → C = position 2

Now Row 1 looks like:

Row 1:  D  C  A  _

That leaves B for position 4

🧩 Clue 2: R is facing A

A is at position 3 → So R must be at position 3 in Row 2

Row 2:  _  _  R  _
Row 1:  D  C  A  B

🧩 Clue 5: Q is second to the right of R

Facing north → Right = viewer’s right

R = position 3 →

1st right = 4
2nd right = 1 → Q = position 1

Row 2:  Q  _  R  _

🧩 Clue 4: S sits at one of the ends

Row 2: only positions left = 2 and 4 → So S = position 4

Row 2:

Q  _  R  S

Remaining: only P is left → goes to position 2

Now Row 2:

Q  P  R  S

🧩 Clue 6: B does not face Q

B is at position 4 in Row 1
Q is at position 1 in Row 2 ⇒ Q facing D
✅ Clue satisfied.

✅ Final Seating Arrangement:

Row 2 (Facing North):

Q     P     R     S
↑     ↑     ↑     ↑
D     C     A     B

Row 1 (Facing South):

Position	Person (Row 1 – South)	Facing Person (Row 2 – North)
1	D	Q
2	C	P
3	A	R
4	B	S

🧠 Summary:

A is second to the left of D ✅
R faces A ✅
C is to immediate right of A ✅
S is at an end ✅
Q is second to the right of R ✅
B does not face Q ✅

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