Read the following information carefully and answer the given question.
Nine friends A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H and I are sitting around a circle facing the centre. I sits fifth to the right of G. C is not an immediate neighbour of either G or I. B sits between H and E. C sits fourth to left of the E. D sits second to the right of F. H is not an immediate neighbour of I. Which of the following is D's position with respect to B in the anti-clockwise direction starting from B?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Fifth to the right
For people sitting round a circle and facing the centre, a person’s right is the anticlockwise direction and the left is the clockwise direction. Number the nine seats 0 to 8 anticlockwise, starting with G at seat 0, so that “to the right” means a higher seat number.
Fixing I and the places open to C:
I sits fifth to the right of G, so I is at seat 5.
C is not next to G (seats 8, 1) or I (seats 4, 6), so C can only be at seat 2, 3 or 7.
Testing each place of C (E is fourth to the right of C, since C is fourth to the left of E):
C at 3: E at 7; B must sit next to E between H and E, at 6 or 8, which leaves H at 5 or 0, seats of I and G. Not possible.
C at 7: E at 2; B at 1 or 3 puts H at 0 (G’s seat) or at 4, next to I. Not possible.
C at 2: E at 6; B at 7 and H at 8, not next to I. This works.
Placing D, F and A:
Seats 1, 3 and 4 are left. D is second to the right of F, so F is at 1 and D at 3; A takes seat 4.
Going anticlockwise from B (seat 7), the seats are H, G, F, C and then D, so D is fifth to the right of B. Counted the other way (clockwise), the same seat is fourth to the left of B, but the question asks for the anticlockwise direction.