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