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Difficulty: MediumSeating Arrangement

Six journalists—Arthur, Beatrice, Cedric, Daphne, Elias, and Fiona—are seated along one side of a long rectangular press table, all facing the speaker at the front (North). Read the following seating conditions carefully:

1. Arthur is seated third from the left end of the table.
2. Cedric is seated immediately to the right of Arthur.
3. Only one person sits between Cedric and Fiona.
4. Elias sits second to the left of Cedric.
5. Beatrice is not an immediate neighbor of Elias.

Arrange the journalists in their correct seating order from the extreme left end to the extreme right end.

  1. 1Daphne
  2. 2Elias
  3. 3Arthur
  4. 4Cedric
  5. 5Beatrice
  6. 6Fiona

Answer

The correct order from left to right is Daphne, Elias, Arthur, Cedric, Beatrice, and Fiona.
By following the constraints sequentially, each seat resolves uniquely without any contradiction. Arthur's exact position anchors the arrangement, Cedric and Elias fill in relative to him, and Fiona's distance from Cedric forces her to the end. The negative constraint on Beatrice perfectly resolves the final two seats.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the total number of positions and place Arthur.
Positions: _ _ Arthur _ _ _
The table has 6 seats. The first condition explicitly places Arthur third from the left.
2
Place Cedric relative to Arthur.
Positions: _ _ Arthur Cedric _ _
The second condition states Cedric sits immediately to the right of Arthur, taking the fourth seat.
3
Place Elias relative to Cedric.
Positions: _ Elias Arthur Cedric _ _
The fourth condition states Elias is second to the left of Cedric. Since Cedric is fourth, Elias must be second.
4
Determine Fiona's position.
Positions: _ Elias Arthur Cedric _ Fiona
The third condition states only one person sits between Cedric and Fiona. This means Fiona is either in seat 2 or 6. Since Elias is already in seat 2, Fiona must take seat 6.
5
Use the negative constraint to place Beatrice.
Positions: _ Elias Arthur Cedric Beatrice Fiona
The fifth condition states Beatrice is not an immediate neighbor of Elias. The empty seats are 1 and 5. Seat 1 is next to Elias, so Beatrice must sit in seat 5.
6
Place the final person, Daphne.
Positions: Daphne Elias Arthur Cedric Beatrice Fiona
Daphne is the only remaining journalist and takes the final empty seat at the extreme left (seat 1).

Key Concept

Linear Seating Arrangement with Positional and Negative Constraints
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Topics

Seating Arrangement

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