Puzzles & Seating Arrangement
Puzzles & Seating Arrangement questions are an important part of logical reasoning sections in competitive exams like EMRS. These questions test your observation, deduction, and analytical skills. This guide provides step-by-step solutions, examples, tricks, and tips to solve linear, circular, grid, and conditional puzzles efficiently.
A. What it is
- These are logic-based problems where you are given a set of conditions about people, objects, or events.
- Your task is to arrange them properly (in a row, circle, grid, etc.) so all conditions are satisfied.
- It’s all about deduction, observation, and elimination.
Examples of setups:
- People sitting in a straight line (left to right).
- People sitting in a circle (round table).
- People sitting in rows and columns.
- People facing north/south.
- Objects arranged with height, weight, or color order.
B. What we do / How it works
- Read all conditions carefully.
- Some are absolute (“A sits to the right of B”), some are relative (“C sits between D and E”).
- Make a visual representation.
- Draw a line, circle, or table.
- Start placing the definite clues first.
- Fixed positions → place them immediately.
- Use elimination for the rest.
- If a seat or option is impossible, cross it out.
- Keep checking all conditions.
- Every placement should satisfy every condition.
- Answer the questions based on your final arrangement.
C. Rules & Points to Remember
- Direction matters
- Facing north → left and right are opposite.
- Facing south → left and right are reversed.
- Always note fixed positions first
- People mentioned to be at ends, corners, or next to others.
- Handle conditional clues carefully
- “A is not next to B” → restrict positions, don’t ignore.
- Look for patterns
- Sometimes symmetry, alternate seating, or skipping helps.
- Use shorthand symbols for quick placements
- Example: A _ B = A and B with one seat between them.
D. Tricks / Shortcuts
- Start with fixed positions (ends, corners, front row, etc.).
- Combine clues
- Two clues together can give a definite position even if alone they don’t.
- Elimination first
- Don’t try random guessing; eliminate impossible positions.
- Use tables / grids for complex puzzles
- Columns = seat numbers, rows = people.
- Check conditions after each placement
- Saves time, avoids mistakes.
E. Types of Questions
- Linear Arrangement (people in a row)
- Example: 6 people sitting in a row, some facing north, some south; questions: who sits at ends, next to whom, etc.
- Circular Arrangement (people around a table)
- Example: 8 people sitting around a round table facing center; find neighbors, opposite positions, etc.
- Grid / Matrix Arrangement
- Example: People in 2 rows of 4 chairs; find positions based on height/color/weight.
- Conditional / Puzzle-based
- Example: “A is not next to B, C is to the left of D, etc.”
- Multiple constraints; need deduction.
F. How to Solve – Step by Step
Example problem (simple linear):
- Clues:
- A sits to the left of B.
- C sits at one of the ends.
- D is not next to B.
Solution:
- Draw 4 empty seats: _ _ _ _
- Place C at an end: C _ _ _
- A must be left of B → possibilities: C A B _ or C _ A B
- D is not next to B → place D in the remaining seat: C A B D ✅
- Check all conditions → correct.
Puzzles & Seating Arrangement – Complete Guide
1. Linear Arrangement (People in a row)
Setup: People sit in a straight line. They may face north (forward) or south (opposite). Questions ask about who is at the ends, neighbors, positions, etc.
Example 1: Basic Linear Puzzle
Clues:
- A sits to the left of B.
- C sits at one of the ends.
- D is not next to B.
- There are 4 seats in a row.
Solution:
- Draw seats: _ _ _ _
- Place C at an end: C _ _ _
- A left of B → C A B _ or C _ A B
- D not next to B → only C A B D works
✅ Answer: C A B D
Example 2: With Facing Directions
Clues:
- A, B, C, D, E sit in a row facing north.
- B is second to the left of D.
- E sits at one end.
- C is not next to B.
Solution:
- Draw seats: _ _ _ _ _
- Place E at an end: E _ _ _ _ or _ _ _ _ E
- B second left of D → if D in 4th seat, B in 2nd seat, etc.
- C not next to B → place C in remaining seat
✅ Final arrangement: E B A D C
Trick:
- North-facing → left = actual left, right = actual right.
2. Circular Arrangement (People around a table)
Setup: People sit around a circle. They may face center or outside. Questions: neighbors, opposite, position from a fixed point.
Rules:
- Facing center: left/right is clockwise/counterclockwise.
- Facing outside: left/right reversed.
Example 3: Circular Puzzle
Clues:
- 6 people A, B, C, D, E, F sit around a circle facing center.
- A is opposite D.
- B is to the immediate right of C.
- E is not next to D.
Solution:
- Draw a circle. Mark 6 positions.
- Place A opposite D.
- Place B right of C → clockwise.
- Place E → only remaining valid position.
✅ Arrangement: A, F, B, C, D, E (clockwise)
Trick:
- Always mark opposite pairs first, then neighbors, then remaining.
3. Matrix/Grid Arrangement (Rows & Columns)
Setup: People/objects arranged in rows and columns. Questions: who is in which row/column, left/right, above/below.
Example 4: Grid Puzzle
Clues:
- 6 students in 2 rows (3 in each).
- A is in front of B.
- C is not in the first row.
- D is to the left of E in the first row.
Solution:
- Draw 2×3 grid.
- Row1: _ _ _
- Row2: _ _ _
- A in front of B → Row1 & Row2, same column.
- C not in first row → Row2.
- D left of E → Row1 arrangement: D _ E
- Fill remaining → A above B in 1st column, C in Row2
✅ Final grid:
Row1: D _ E
Row2: A B C
Trick:
- Rows = horizontal, Columns = vertical → map clues carefully.
4. Conditional / Puzzle-Based Questions
Setup: Multiple conditions; must eliminate impossible options.
Example 5: Complex Conditional Puzzle
Clues:
- Five friends P, Q, R, S, T sit in a row.
- P sits at an end.
- Q is not next to P.
- R is to the immediate left of T.
- S is somewhere to the right of Q.
Solution:
- Draw 5 seats: _ _ _ _ _
- P at end → P _ _ _ _ or _ _ _ _ P
- Q not next to P → only certain positions left
- R left of T → R immediately left to T
- S to right of Q → place S
✅ Final arrangement: P Q R T S
Trick:
- Place absolute positions first (ends, opposites).
- Use relative conditions next (left/right, immediate).
- Use elimination for last.
5. People Facing Each Other / Mixed Directions
Setup: Some facing north, some south. Left/right rules reverse depending on direction.
Example 6: Facing North/South
Clues:
- A, B, C, D sit in a row. A & D face north, B & C face south.
- A is left of B.
- C is not next to D.
Solution:
- Map left/right carefully → North-facing: left = actual left; South-facing: left = opposite.
- After checking, final arrangement: A C B D
Trick: Always draw arrows for direction to avoid mistakes.
✅ Summary Tricks for All Types
- Draw diagram first (line, circle, grid).
- Place fixed positions (ends, opposites, center, front row).
- Handle absolute clues first, relative next.
- Use elimination → cross impossible seats.
- Check all conditions at the end before answering.
- For circular / facing problems, mark directions carefully.
Puzzles & Seating Arrangement – Example Questions with Solutions
1. Linear Arrangement (People in a row)
Question:
Five friends A, B, C, D, and E sit in a row facing north.
- B is to the immediate left of C.
- D sits at one end.
- A is not next to B.
- E sits to the right of C.
Question: Who sits in the middle?
Solution:
- Draw 5 seats: _ _ _ _ _
- D at one end → D _ _ _ _ or _ _ _ _ D
- B left of C → B immediately left of C
- E right of C → place E
- A not next to B → place A in remaining seat
✅ Arrangement: D B C E A → C sits in the middle
Trick: Start with fixed positions (ends), then relative positions (left/right), then elimination.
2. Circular Arrangement (People around a table)
Question:
Eight people P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W sit around a circle facing the center.
- P is opposite S.
- Q is to the immediate right of R.
- T is not next to S.
- U is between V and W.
Question: Who is sitting to the left of P?
Solution:
- Draw 8-seat circle.
- Place P opposite S.
- Q right of R → clockwise direction.
- U between V and W → place them consecutively.
- T not next to S → avoid adjacent seat.
✅ Arrangement (clockwise): P, T, Q, R, V, U, W, S → T is to the left of P
Trick: Always mark opposites first, then neighbors, then remaining.
3. Matrix/Grid Arrangement (Rows & Columns)
Question:
Six students sit in 2 rows of 3 seats each (Row1 in front of Row2).
- A is in front of B.
- C is not in the first row.
- D is to the left of E in Row1.
Question: Who sits behind D?
Solution:
- Draw grid:
Row1: _ _ _
Row2: _ _ _
- A in front of B → Row1 above Row2, same column
- C not in first row → Row2
- D left of E in Row1 → place D and E
- Place remaining → A above B
✅ Final grid:
Row1: D _ E
Row2: A B C
Answer: A sits behind D
Trick: Map columns carefully, front = Row1, back = Row2.
4. Conditional / Puzzle-Based Questions
Question:
Five friends P, Q, R, S, T sit in a row.
- P sits at an end.
- Q is not next to P.
- R is to the immediate left of T.
- S is somewhere to the right of Q.
Question: Who sits second from the left?
Solution:
- Draw 5 seats: _ _ _ _ _
- P at end → P _ _ _ _ or _ _ _ _ P
- Q not next to P → place Q away from P
- R immediately left of T → place them
- S right of Q → place S
✅ Arrangement: P Q R T S → Q is second from left
Trick: Place absolute positions first, then relative conditions, then eliminate remaining.
5. Facing North/South (Mixed Directions)
Question:
Four people A, B, C, D sit in a row. A & D face north; B & C face south.
- A is left of B.
- C is not next to D.
Question: Who sits at the extreme right?
Solution:
- Map left/right carefully: North-facing → left = actual left, right = actual right; South-facing → reversed
- After checking all conditions, final arrangement: A C B D
✅ Answer: D sits at extreme right
Trick: Draw arrows for facing directions, then interpret left/right.
Quick Exam Tips
- Draw a diagram first (line, circle, grid).
- Start with absolute/fixed positions.
- Place relative positions next (left/right, immediate).
- Use elimination for remaining.
- Double-check directions in facing questions.
Puzzles & Seating Arrangement – Difficult Questions with Solutions
1. Linear Arrangement (Difficult)
Question:
Seven friends A, B, C, D, E, F, G sit in a row facing north.
- B is to the immediate right of C.
- D sits at one end.
- A is not next to B or C.
- E is between B and F.
- G is not next to D.
Question: Who sits in the middle?
Solution:
- Draw 7 seats: _ _ _ _ _ _ _
- D at an end → D _ _ _ _ _ _ or _ _ _ _ _ _ D
- B immediately right of C → B sits just after C
- E between B and F → E sits directly between B and F
- A not next to B or C → place A away from B/C
- G not next to D → restrict G’s position
✅ After placement: _ G C B E F A D (from left to right)
Middle seat (4th): B
Trick: Handle multiple relative positions first, then absolute positions, then eliminate conflicts.
2. Circular Arrangement (Difficult)
Question:
Eight friends P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W sit around a circle facing center.
- P is opposite S.
- Q is to the immediate right of R.
- T is not next to S or P.
- U is between V and W.
- R is second to the left of P.
Question: Who is to the immediate left of W?
Solution:
- Draw 8-seat circle.
- Place P opposite S.
- R second left of P → clockwise counting
- Q right of R → clockwise
- U between V and W → consecutive placement
- T not next to S/P → place T in remaining valid seat
✅ Arrangement (clockwise): P, R, Q, T, S, V, U, W
Immediate left of W = U
Trick: Start with opposite/fixed positions, then relative neighbors, then block consecutive placements.
3. Matrix/Grid Arrangement (Difficult)
Question:
Nine students sit in 3 rows of 3 seats each.
- A is in front of B but not in the first row.
- C is not in the last row.
- D is to the left of E in the first row.
- F is behind C.
- G is somewhere in the last row but not in the middle column.
Question: Who sits diagonally opposite D?
Solution:
- Draw 3×3 grid:
Row1: _ _ _
Row2: _ _ _
Row3: _ _ _
- A in front of B but not first row → A in Row2, B in Row3
- C not in last row → Row1 or Row2
- D left of E → Row1 arrangement: D _ E
- F behind C → place F in next row, same column
- G in last row, not middle → place in last row side column
✅ Final grid:
Row1: D C E
Row2: A _ _
Row3: B F G
Diagonally opposite D = G
Trick: Map rows & columns carefully; handle diagonal/relative placements.
4. Conditional / Puzzle-Based (Difficult)
Question:
Six friends P, Q, R, S, T, U sit in a row.
- P sits at an end.
- Q is not next to P.
- R is immediately left of T.
- S is somewhere to the right of Q.
- U is not next to S.
Question: Who sits third from the left?
Solution:
- Draw 6 seats: _ _ _ _ _ _
- P at end → P _ _ _ _ _ or _ _ _ _ _ P
- Q not next to P → place Q away
- R left of T → place them consecutively
- S right of Q → place S
- U not next to S → place in remaining seat
✅ Arrangement: P Q R T S U → third from left = R
Trick: Multiple conditions → layer placements carefully; start with absolute, then relative, then restrictions.
5. Facing North/South (Difficult)
Question:
Six people A, B, C, D, E, F sit in a row. A, C, E face north; B, D, F face south.
- B is to the immediate left of D (consider facing directions).
- A is to the left of B.
- F is not next to E.
- C is not at an end.
Question: Who sits at the extreme left?
Solution:
- Draw 6 seats: _ _ _ _ _ _
- North-facing: left = actual left, right = actual right; South-facing: left/right reversed
- Place B left of D (facing directions considered)
- A left of B → place A
- F not next to E → place F
- C not at end → place in remaining seat
✅ Arrangement: A F C B E D → Extreme left = A
Trick: Always draw arrows for directions; check each left/right condition carefully.