Examkin

Question

Difficulty: HardSeating Arrangement

Seven diplomats—K, L, M, N, O, P, and Q—are sitting in a straight row facing either North or South. Their seating arrangement is based on the following conditions:
1. P sits at one of the extreme ends of the row.
2. M sits third to the right of P.
3. The person sitting exactly in the middle of the row faces North.
4. Only two people sit between M and Q.
5. O sits second to the left of Q.
6. L sits to the immediate right of O.
7. K is not an immediate neighbor of P.
8. N sits to the immediate right of K.
9. The immediate neighbors of M face opposite directions (i.e., if one faces North, the other faces South).
10. The people sitting at the extreme ends face opposite directions.
11. N faces a direction opposite to that of L, while L faces the same direction as M.

Based on the given seating arrangement, which of the following statements is true?

  1. A
    O sits second to the right of K.
  2. B
    L sits second to the left of M.
  3. Only one person sits between K and O.Answer
  4. D
    Q sits to the immediate left of L.

Answer

The statement 'Only one person sits between K and O' is true.
By mapping out the rules, the exact seating sequence from position 1 to 7 is: P(North), N(South), K(South), M(North), O(North), L(North), and Q(South). Analyzing this layout, K is located at position 3 and O is at position 5. The only person seated between them is M at position 4. Therefore, exactly one person sits between K and O.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the exact positions of P and M.
P is at position 1 facing North, and M is exactly in the middle at position 4 facing North.
M must be exactly in the middle (position 4) because it's the only way M can be third to the right of an extreme end (P). If P were at position 7, P would face South and M would be at 4. If P is at position 1, P faces North and M is at 4. Rule 3 states the middle person faces North.
2
Place Q and O to eliminate the invalid scenario for P.
Q is at position 7 facing South, and O is at position 5 facing North.
Two people sit between M(4) and Q, meaning Q must be at 1 or 7. If P is at 7, Q is at 1 (facing North due to opposite ends rule), making it impossible for O to sit second to the left of Q. Therefore, P must be at 1 and Q must be at 7 facing South. Second to the left of Q(South) is position 5, where O sits.
3
Determine L's position and O's direction.
L is at position 6 facing North.
L is to the immediate right of O(5). The only empty adjacent seat is 6. For position 6 to be on the right, O must face North.
4
Place K and N, and resolve remaining facing directions.
K is at position 3 facing South, and N is at position 2 facing South.
K cannot be next to P(1), so K is at 3, leaving N at 2. Since N is to the immediate right of K, K must face South. M's neighbors (K and O) face opposite directions, confirming K faces South since O faces North. L faces the same as M (North), and N faces opposite to L (South).

Key Concept

Linear Bidirectional Seating Arrangement
Estimated Time:2m 30s
Rate this question

Topics

Seating Arrangement

More questions from this topic