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Q4748/80Q49
Q48·CSAT · Prelims 2022

Data sufficiency for determining immediate neighbors in circular seating

DI / DSSeating ArrangementFactual singleMedium

Question

Six persons A, B, C, D, E and F are sitting equidistant from each other around a circular table (facing the centre of the table). Question: Who is sitting on the immediate left of A? Statement-1: B is sitting opposite to C and D is sitting opposite to E. Statement-2: F is sitting on the immediate left of B.

Options

a

Statement-1 alone is sufficient to answer the Question

b

Statement-2 alone is sufficient to answer the Question

c

Both Statement-1 and Statement-2 are sufficient to answer the Question

d

Both Statement-1 and Statement-2 are not sufficient to answer the Question

Answer

Explanation

Evaluate the circular arrangement using 6 numbered slots (1 to 6 clockwise).

Statement 1 provides opposite pairs: (B, C) and (D, E). Since there are 6 seats, the remaining pair (A, F) must also sit opposite each other. However, this yields no specific left/right positioning. Insufficient.

Statement 2 states F is immediate left of B. Insufficient.

Combine both statements: Assume B is at Position 1. Since F is immediately left of B (facing center), F sits at Position 2. From Statement 1, C is opposite B, so C sits at Position 4. A is opposite F, so A sits at Position 5. This leaves Positions 3 and 6 open for the opposite pair (D, E).

We do not know whether D is at 3 and E is at 6, or vice-versa. The question asks: Who is on the immediate left of A (Position 5)? The seat to the left of 5 is Position 6. Because Position 6 could be occupied by either D or E, we cannot definitively answer the question.

In seating arrangement data sufficiency, if the final target seat falls exactly onto a superposition of two interchangeable entities (D/E), the data is definitively insufficient.

Answer: (d).

Question details

Year

2022

Paper

CSAT

Question

Q48

Section

Data Interpretation & Sufficiency

Sub-topic

Seating Arrangement

Type

Factual single

Difficulty

Medium

Source hint

Who is sitting on the immediate left of A?

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