Question 1
Eight persons are sitting in two concentric circles.
Inner circle: C, B, D and A (4 persons) facing the center.
Outer circle: S, R, Q and P (4 persons) facing the center (2 positions in outer circle are empty).
Each inner person directly faces one outer seat (4 outer seats occupied, 2 empty).
S faces C. B sits immediately to the right of C in the inner circle.
A sits opposite to B in the inner circle. R sits second to the right of Q in the outer circle.
P sits immediately to the left of an empty seat in the outer circle.
Who sits opposite to B in the inner circle?
Solution Approach:
Step 1: Draw concentric circles
Inner circle: 4 positions I1(12 o'clock), I2(3), I3(6), I4(9) — all occupied.
Outer circle: 6 positions O1–O6 clockwise — 4 occupied, 2 empty.
Facing alignment: I1↔O1, I2↔O2, I3↔O4, I4↔O5 (O3 and O6 are empty).
Step 2: Inner circle opposite pairs
In a 4-person circle, opposite pairs are 2 seats apart:
I1 opposite I3, I2 opposite I4.
Step 3: Place inner circle persons
- B sits immediately to the right of C (inner circle, facing center: right=CW)
→ C and B are adjacent. Possible: C=I1, B=I2 or C=I2, B=I3, etc.
- A sits opposite to B:
If B=I2, then A=I4. Then C=I1 (left of I2), D=I3 (remaining).
All constraints consistent ✓.
Inner: I1=C, I2=B, I3=D, I4=A
Step 4: Place outer circle persons
- S faces C(I1) → S at O1 ✓
- Outer occupied seats: O1, O2, O4, O5. Empty: O3, O6.
- R second to right of Q (outer, facing center: right=CW, step 2):
Remaining outer persons: R,Q,P at O2, O4, O5.
R=O2 → Q=O4, S=O5 ✓
R=O4 → Q=O6(empty) ✗
R=O5 → Q=O1=P ✗
∴ Q=O2, R=O4, P=O5 ✓
- P(O5) immediately to the LEFT of an empty:
Left(CW) of O5 = O4(R) — NOT empty.
RIGHT(CW) of O5 = O6(empty). So O5 is immediately to the LEFT of O6(empty) ✓.
Step 5: Answer the question
B is at I2. Opposite of I2 = I4 = A.
Final Arrangements:
Inner (CW): I1=C, I2=B, I3=D, I4=A
Outer (CW): O1=S, O2=Q, O3=empty, O4=R, O5=P, O6=empty
Verification:
✓ S faces C (I1↔O1)
✓ B immediately right of C (I2 is CW from I1)
✓ A opposite B (I4 opposite I2)
✓ R second right of Q (O4 = O2 + 2 CW)
✓ P(O5) immediately left of empty O6
Answer: A sits opposite to B.
Step 1: Draw concentric circles
Inner circle: 4 positions I1(12 o'clock), I2(3), I3(6), I4(9) — all occupied.
Outer circle: 6 positions O1–O6 clockwise — 4 occupied, 2 empty.
Facing alignment: I1↔O1, I2↔O2, I3↔O4, I4↔O5 (O3 and O6 are empty).
Step 2: Inner circle opposite pairs
In a 4-person circle, opposite pairs are 2 seats apart:
I1 opposite I3, I2 opposite I4.
Step 3: Place inner circle persons
- B sits immediately to the right of C (inner circle, facing center: right=CW)
→ C and B are adjacent. Possible: C=I1, B=I2 or C=I2, B=I3, etc.
- A sits opposite to B:
If B=I2, then A=I4. Then C=I1 (left of I2), D=I3 (remaining).
All constraints consistent ✓.
Inner: I1=C, I2=B, I3=D, I4=A
Step 4: Place outer circle persons
- S faces C(I1) → S at O1 ✓
- Outer occupied seats: O1, O2, O4, O5. Empty: O3, O6.
- R second to right of Q (outer, facing center: right=CW, step 2):
Remaining outer persons: R,Q,P at O2, O4, O5.
R=O2 → Q=O4, S=O5 ✓
R=O4 → Q=O6(empty) ✗
R=O5 → Q=O1=P ✗
∴ Q=O2, R=O4, P=O5 ✓
- P(O5) immediately to the LEFT of an empty:
Left(CW) of O5 = O4(R) — NOT empty.
RIGHT(CW) of O5 = O6(empty). So O5 is immediately to the LEFT of O6(empty) ✓.
Step 5: Answer the question
B is at I2. Opposite of I2 = I4 = A.
Final Arrangements:
Inner (CW): I1=C, I2=B, I3=D, I4=A
Outer (CW): O1=S, O2=Q, O3=empty, O4=R, O5=P, O6=empty
Verification:
✓ S faces C (I1↔O1)
✓ B immediately right of C (I2 is CW from I1)
✓ A opposite B (I4 opposite I2)
✓ R second right of Q (O4 = O2 + 2 CW)
✓ P(O5) immediately left of empty O6
Answer: A sits opposite to B.