Question 1
Ten persons F, D, B, H, G, A, E, I, C and J are sitting around a rectangular table.
Three persons sit on each longer side, two on each shorter side, all facing the center.
F sits at the middle of a longer side. D sits at the middle of a shorter side.
B sits second to the right of F. G sits at a corner and H sits at the corner opposite to G.
Who sits second to the left of D?
Solution Approach:
Step 1: Draw rectangular table
Positions 1β10 clockwise:
- Top (longer, 3 persons): pos1(corner-TL), pos2(mid-top), pos3(corner-TR)
- Right (shorter, 2 persons): pos4(mid-right), pos5(corner-BR)
- Bottom (longer, 3 persons): pos6(mid-bot), pos7(corner-BL-ish... wait, pos7 is mid-bottom)
Correction: pos6(mid-bot), pos7(mid-bot2), pos8(corner-BL) β actually:
Bottom traversed rightβleft: pos6(mid), pos7(mid2)? For 3 persons: corner is shared with adjacent side.
In competitive exams: the 3 bottom persons are at pos6(mid), pos7, pos8(corner-BL).
Actually pos6,7,8 with pos8=BL-corner and pos5=BR-corner. β
- Left (shorter, 2 persons): pos9(mid-left), pos10(mid-left2)
- Corners: pos1(TL), pos3(TR), pos5(BR), pos8(BL)
- Longer-side midpoints: pos2(top), pos7(bottom)
- Shorter-side midpoints: pos4(right), pos9(left)
Step 2: Place persons
- F at middle of longer side β pos 7 (mid-bottom)
- D at middle of shorter side β pos 4 (mid-right)
- B second to the RIGHT of F (pos 7):
right(center-facing)=CW: pos7+2 = pos9 β B β
- G at a corner β pos 1
- H at corner OPPOSITE to G: pos5 β H β
- A second to the LEFT of D (pos 4):
left(center-facing)=anti-CW: pos4-2 = pos2 β A β
Step 3: Fill remaining positions
Remaining persons: E, I, C, J
Remaining seats: [3, 6, 8, 10]
Final Arrangement (clockwise):
pos1:G | pos2:A | pos3:E | pos4:D | pos5:H | pos6:I | pos7:F | pos8:C | pos9:B | pos10:J
Find second to the left of D (pos 4):
Left (anti-CW): pos4 β pos3 β pos2 = A
Answer: A sits second to the left of D.
Step 1: Draw rectangular table
Positions 1β10 clockwise:
- Top (longer, 3 persons): pos1(corner-TL), pos2(mid-top), pos3(corner-TR)
- Right (shorter, 2 persons): pos4(mid-right), pos5(corner-BR)
- Bottom (longer, 3 persons): pos6(mid-bot), pos7(corner-BL-ish... wait, pos7 is mid-bottom)
Correction: pos6(mid-bot), pos7(mid-bot2), pos8(corner-BL) β actually:
Bottom traversed rightβleft: pos6(mid), pos7(mid2)? For 3 persons: corner is shared with adjacent side.
In competitive exams: the 3 bottom persons are at pos6(mid), pos7, pos8(corner-BL).
Actually pos6,7,8 with pos8=BL-corner and pos5=BR-corner. β
- Left (shorter, 2 persons): pos9(mid-left), pos10(mid-left2)
- Corners: pos1(TL), pos3(TR), pos5(BR), pos8(BL)
- Longer-side midpoints: pos2(top), pos7(bottom)
- Shorter-side midpoints: pos4(right), pos9(left)
Step 2: Place persons
- F at middle of longer side β pos 7 (mid-bottom)
- D at middle of shorter side β pos 4 (mid-right)
- B second to the RIGHT of F (pos 7):
right(center-facing)=CW: pos7+2 = pos9 β B β
- G at a corner β pos 1
- H at corner OPPOSITE to G: pos5 β H β
- A second to the LEFT of D (pos 4):
left(center-facing)=anti-CW: pos4-2 = pos2 β A β
Step 3: Fill remaining positions
Remaining persons: E, I, C, J
Remaining seats: [3, 6, 8, 10]
Final Arrangement (clockwise):
pos1:G | pos2:A | pos3:E | pos4:D | pos5:H | pos6:I | pos7:F | pos8:C | pos9:B | pos10:J
Find second to the left of D (pos 4):
Left (anti-CW): pos4 β pos3 β pos2 = A
Answer: A sits second to the left of D.