Reasoning

Seating Arrangement: Practice Questions with Answers

29 practice questions on Seating Arrangement, with answers; most also have an explanation or a worked solution. Try each one before you open its answer.

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1. Q.1

   Five friends A, B, C, D and E sit in a row, all facing North. A sits at one of the ends. B is immediately to the right of A. C does not sit at either end. D is immediately to the left of E. Find the complete seating order.

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   Answer: A, B, C, D, E (left to right)

   Solution:

   1. A is at an end: position 1 or 5. If A were at 5, "B immediately right of A" would need a 6th seat, which doesn't exist — so A is at position 1, and B is at position 2.
   2. Positions 3, 4, 5 remain for C, D, E. D is immediately left of E, so D and E occupy a consecutive pair: either (3,4) or (4,5).
   3. If D=3, E=4, then C=5 — but C cannot sit at an end, and 5 is an end, so this fails. If D=4, E=5, then C=3, which is not an end — this works.
   4. Final order: A(1), B(2), C(3), D(4), E(5).

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2. Q.2

   Five friends A, B, C, D and E are sitting in a row, all facing South. B is sitting to the immediate right of A. C is sitting to the immediate right of B. D is sitting to the immediate right of C. E is sitting to the immediate right of D. Arranged left to right as drawn in a diagram, who is at the extreme left end?

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   Answer: E

   Solution:

   1. Since everyone faces South, each person’s own "right" points toward the diagram’s LEFT, not its right — the reverse of the usual facing-North case.
   2. So each "immediately to the right of" step in the clues moves the next person further toward the diagram’s left: A is the reference point, B lands to A’s diagram-left, C lands further left than B, and so on.
   3. Following the full chain A → B → C → D → E, each one further left than the last, the diagram order left-to-right works out to E, D, C, B, A.

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3. Q.3

   Five people sit in a row. M is between N and O. N is to the left of O. O is third from the left. P is immediately to the right of O, and Q is at the remaining position. Find the complete arrangement.

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   Answer: N, M, O, P, Q (left to right)

   Solution:

   1. "M is between N and O" with "N is to the left of O" means the three sit consecutively in the order N, M, O (left to right).
   2. O is 3rd from the left, so (working backward through the block) M is 2nd and N is 1st.
   3. P is immediately right of O (3rd), so P is 4th. The only position left, 5th, is Q.

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4. Q.4

   Four friends W, X, Y and Z are sitting in a row. Y is sitting between W and X. Z is sitting immediately to the right of X. Z is at the extreme right end. In which position (from the left) is Y sitting?

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   Answer: Second from the left

   Solution:

   1. Z is at position 4 (given). Z is immediately right of X, so X is at position 3.
   2. Y is between W and X, so Y must be adjacent to X (position 3) — the only such open position is 2. So Y is at position 2.
   3. The only position left, 1, must be W.
   4. Final order: W(1), Y(2), X(3), Z(4) — Y is in the second position from the left.

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5. Q.5

   Five students P, Q, R, S and T are sitting in a row. T is at the extreme right end. Q is sitting third to the left of T. P is sitting immediately to the right of Q. S is sitting immediately to the right of P. Who is sitting at the extreme left end?

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   Answer: R

   Solution:

   1. T is at position 5 (given). Q is third to the left of T, so Q is at position 5 − 3 = 2.
   2. P is immediately right of Q, so P is at position 3. S is immediately right of P, so S is at position 4.
   3. Only position 1 is left, so R must be there.
   4. Final order: R(1), Q(2), P(3), S(4), T(5) — the extreme left end is R.

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6. Q.6

   In a row of friends, X is 4th from the left end and 6th from the right end. How many friends are in the row?

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   Answer: 9 friends

   Solution:

   1. Total = (position from left) + (position from right) − 1, since X is counted in both.
   2. = 4 + 6 − 1 = 9.

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7. Q.7

   Five friends A, B, C, D and E are sitting in a row, all facing North. A is at the extreme left end. B is sitting to the immediate right of A. D is sitting to the immediate right of C. E is sitting between B and C. Who is sitting at the extreme right end?

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   Answer: D

   Solution:

   1. A is at position 1 (given). B is immediately right of A, so B is at position 2.
   2. E is between B and C, so E must be adjacent to B (position 2) — the only such open position is 3. So E is at position 3.
   3. D is immediately right of C, and the only two positions left are 4 and 5, so C is at 4 and D is at 5.
   4. Final order: A(1), B(2), E(3), C(4), D(5) — the extreme right end is D.

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8. Q.8

   Six students A, B, C, D, E and F sit in a row, all facing North. A is at the extreme left end. B is immediately right of A. F is at the extreme right end. E is immediately left of F. D is immediately left of E. In which position does C sit, and who are C’s neighbours?

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   Answer: Third from the left, between B and D

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9. Q.9

   Five friends A, B, C, D and E sit in a row, all facing North. E sits at one of the ends. D is immediately to the left of E. B does not sit at either end. A is immediately to the right of C. Find the complete seating order.

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   Answer: C, A, B, D, E. (E must be at position 5, since D needs a seat to its left; then testing C-A-B vs other orders in 1-2-3 shows only C(1),A(2),B(3) keeps B off the ends.)

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10. Q.10

    In a row of people, K is 6th from the left and 8th from the right. If L is sitting exactly in the middle of the row, find L's position from the left.

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    Answer: 7th from the left. Total = 6+8−1 = 13 people; the middle position is (13+1)/2 = 7.

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11. Q.11

    In a row, Y is 5th from the left end and 7th from the right end. How many people are in the row?

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    Answer: 11 people. 5 + 7 − 1.

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12. Q.12

    Five people sit in a row. M is between N and O. O is to the left of N. N is fourth from the left. P is immediately to the left of O, and Q is at the remaining position. Find the complete arrangement.

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    Answer: P, O, M, N, Q. (O-M-N is the consecutive block ending at N=4th, so O=2nd, M=3rd; P is 1st; Q is 5th.)

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13. Q.13

    Five students P, Q, R, S and T sit in a row, all facing North. S is third from the left. Q is immediately right of S. R is at the extreme right end. T is immediately left of P. Who sits at the extreme left end?

    1. A T
    2. B P
    3. C Q
    4. D R
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    Correct answer: (A) T

    S is at the middle (third) position, and Q is immediately right of S, consistent with R at the extreme right. The remaining two leftmost positions go to T and P, with T immediately left of P, giving the order T, P, S, Q, R. T is at the extreme left.

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14. Q.14

    Five people A, B, C, D, and E sit in a row facing north. B sits at the leftmost end. C sits immediately to the left of E. There is exactly 1 person sitting between A and E. D sits at the second position from the left. How many people sit between A and D?

    1. A 0
    2. B 1
    3. C 2
    4. D 3
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    Correct answer: (A) 0

    From the given clues, the only consistent arrangement (left to right) is: B, D, A, C, E. A is at position 3 and D is at position 2, so 0 people sit between them.

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15. Q.15

    Five friends M, N, O, P and Q sit in a row, all facing North. N sits at the third position from the left. M sits immediately to the right of N. O sits at the rightmost end. P sits immediately to the right of Q. Who sits at the extreme left end?

    1. A Q
    2. B P
    3. C N
    4. D M
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    Correct answer: (A) Q

    Working through the clues gives the order (left to right): Q, P, N, M, O. So Q sits at the extreme left end.

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16. Q.16

    Four friends P, Q, R and S sit in a row, all facing South. Q is immediately to the right of P. R is immediately to the right of Q. S is immediately to the right of R. Arranged left to right in a diagram, who is at the extreme left end?

    1. A S
    2. B P
    3. C Q
    4. D R
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    Correct answer: (A) S

    Facing South reverses right/left vs. the diagram, so the chain P->Q->R->S moves further diagram-left each step, giving diagram order S,R,Q,P.

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17. Q.17

    Five students P, Q, R, S and T are sitting in a row. T is at the extreme right end. Q is sitting third to the left of T. P is sitting immediately to the right of Q. S is sitting immediately to the right of P. Who is sitting at the extreme left end?

    1. A R
    2. B Q
    3. C P
    4. D S
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    Correct answer: (A) R

    T is at position 5. Q is third to the left, so Q is at position 2. P at 3 (immediate right of Q), S at 4 (immediate right of P). Only position 1 is left for R.

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18. Q.18

    Five people D, A, B, E and C sit in a row, facing north. D sits at the second position from the left. There is exactly one person sitting between B and E. D sits immediately to the right of E. There is exactly one person sitting between A and D. How many people sit between D and C?

    1. A 2
    2. B 3
    3. C 1
    4. D 4
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    Correct answer: (A) 2

    Working through the clues places everyone in the order (left to right): E, D, B, A, C. That puts 2 people between D and C.

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19. Q.19

    Five friends A, B, C, D and E sit in a row, all facing South. B is immediately to the right of A (as physically drawn). C is immediately to the right of B. D is not adjacent to C. E is at the extreme right end. Who sits at the extreme left end?

    1. A D
    2. B A
    3. C B
    4. D C
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    Correct answer: (A) D

    A, B and C must sit consecutively (B right of A, C right of B). E is fixed at the rightmost end. D cannot be adjacent to C, which rules out D sitting right next to the A-B-C block — the only arrangement that fits all five people and keeps D away from C is D, A, B, C, E. D is at the extreme left.

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20. Q.20

    Five people B, C, A, E and D sit in a row, facing north. E sits at the rightmost end. D sits at the third position from the left. There is exactly one person sitting between C and B. D sits immediately to the right of B. How many people sit between B and E?

    1. A 2
    2. B 3
    3. C 1
    4. D 4
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    Correct answer: (A) 2

    Working through the clues places everyone in the order (left to right): A, B, D, C, E. That puts 2 people between B and E.

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21. Q.21

    Four friends W, X, Y and Z are sitting in a row. Y is sitting between W and X. Z is sitting immediately to the right of X. Z is at the extreme right end. In which position (from the left) is Y sitting?

    1. A Second from the left
    2. B Third from the left
    3. C First from the left
    4. D Fourth from the left
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    Correct answer: (A) Second from the left

    Z is at position 4, so X is at position 3 (immediate left of Z). Y must be adjacent to X, so Y is at position 2. W fills position 1.

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22. Q.22

    Five friends J, K, L, M and N sit in a row. J is at the extreme left end. N is at the extreme right end. N is immediately to the right of M. L is sitting between K and M. Who is sitting exactly in the middle (third position)?

    1. A L
    2. B K
    3. C M
    4. D J
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    Correct answer: (A) L

    J=1, N=5, M=4 (immediate left of N). L must be adjacent to M, so L=3. K fills position 2.

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23. Q.23

    Five friends A, B, C, D and E are sitting in a row, all facing South. B is sitting to the immediate right of A. C is sitting to the immediate right of B. D is sitting to the immediate right of C. E is sitting to the immediate right of D. Arranged left to right as drawn in a diagram, who is at the extreme left end?

    1. A E
    2. B A
    3. C C
    4. D D
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    Correct answer: (A) E

    Facing South reverses right/left relative to the diagram, so each "immediate right" step actually moves further toward the diagram's left. The chain A->B->C->D->E gives diagram order E,D,C,B,A, so E is leftmost.

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24. Q.24

    Five friends A, B, C, D and E are sitting in a row, all facing North. A is at the extreme left end. B is sitting to the immediate right of A. D is sitting to the immediate right of C. E is sitting between B and C. Who is sitting at the extreme right end?

    1. A D
    2. B C
    3. C E
    4. D B
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    Correct answer: (A) D

    A is at position 1, B at position 2 (immediate right of A). E must be adjacent to B, so E is at position 3. D is immediate right of C, and the only two positions left (4, 5) give C=4, D=5. Final order: A,B,E,C,D - extreme right is D.

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25. Q.25

    Six people A, B, C, D, E and F sit in a row, facing north. A sits at the leftmost end. C sits immediately to the right of A. There is exactly one person sitting between C and F. B sits immediately to the right of F. D sits immediately to the right of B. Who sits third from the left?

    1. A E
    2. B F
    3. C B
    4. D D
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    Correct answer: (A) E

    Working through the clues gives the order (left to right): A, C, E, F, B, D. So E sits third from the left.

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26. Q.26

    Six people P, Q, R, S, T and U sit in a row, all facing North. U is at the extreme left end. Q is immediately right of U. S sits third from the left. T is immediately right of S. P is at the extreme right end. R is immediately left of P. Who sits second from the right end?

    1. A R
    2. B P
    3. C Q
    4. D S
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    Correct answer: (A) R

    Working through the clues: U=1st, Q=2nd, S=3rd, T=4th, P=6th (extreme right), R=5th (immediately left of P). The full order is U, Q, S, T, R, P. Second from the right (5th position) is R.

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27. Q.27

    Five people A, B, C, D, and E sit in a row facing north. B sits at the leftmost end. C sits immediately to the left of E. There is exactly 1 person sitting between A and E. D sits at the second position from the left. How many people sit between B and D?

    1. A 0
    2. B 1
    3. C 2
    4. D 4
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    Correct answer: (A) 0

    From the given clues, the only consistent arrangement (left to right) is: B, D, A, C, E. B is at position 1 and D is at position 2, so 0 people sit between them.

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28. Q.28

    Six friends P, Q, R, S, T and U sit in a row, all facing North. There are exactly two people sitting between P and Q. P is at the extreme left end. R is immediately right of P. S is immediately right of Q. U is at the extreme right end. In which position (from the left) does T sit?

    1. A Third
    2. B Second
    3. C Fourth
    4. D Fifth
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    Correct answer: (A) Third

    P is at position 1, and with exactly two people between P and Q, Q must be at position 4. R (immediately right of P) takes position 2, and S (immediately right of Q) takes position 5. U is fixed at position 6. The only position left, position 3, must be T's — third from the left.

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29. Q.29

    Six friends A, B, C, D, E and F sit in a row, all facing North. E sits at the leftmost end. C sits at the third position from the left. B sits immediately to the right of C. F sits immediately to the right of B. D sits immediately to the right of F. Who sits second from the left end?

    1. A A
    2. B C
    3. C B
    4. D F
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    Correct answer: (A) A

    Working through the clues gives the order (left to right): E, A, C, B, F, D. So A sits second from the left end.

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