Question 1
Six people sit in a row facing North. Conditions:
- Sahil sits at the extreme right end (Position 6).
- There are three people sitting between Vihaan and Bhavya.
- Fatima sits third to the right of Bhavya.
- Neither Mira nor Laksh sits at any extreme end.
Question: Who is sitting second from the left end (Position 2)?
Ambiguity Strategy: Proving Non-Unique Solution
Step 1: Fix D (P6). Use the 'three between' clue (Clue 2) to determine the positions of F (P5) and B (P1).
Step 2: Use E's position (Clue 3) to fix E (P4).
The arrangement is fixed at: B, P2, P3, E, F, D.
Step 3: The remaining people are A and C for positions P2 and P3. Clue 4 prevents them from being at the ends, leaving two cases:
- Case 1: Bhavya, Mira, Laksh, Fatima, Vihaan, Sahil
- Case 2: Bhavya, Laksh, Mira, Fatima, Vihaan, Sahil
Since the person at Position 2 is either A or C (and both cases are valid), the answer is 'Cannot be determined'.
Step 1: Fix D (P6). Use the 'three between' clue (Clue 2) to determine the positions of F (P5) and B (P1).
Step 2: Use E's position (Clue 3) to fix E (P4).
The arrangement is fixed at: B, P2, P3, E, F, D.
Step 3: The remaining people are A and C for positions P2 and P3. Clue 4 prevents them from being at the ends, leaving two cases:
- Case 1: Bhavya, Mira, Laksh, Fatima, Vihaan, Sahil
- Case 2: Bhavya, Laksh, Mira, Fatima, Vihaan, Sahil
Since the person at Position 2 is either A or C (and both cases are valid), the answer is 'Cannot be determined'.