Nine football fans are watching a match in a stadium. Seated in one row, they are A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H and I (not necessarily in the same order). C is at the right of D and at third place at the right of E. B is at one end of the row. H is seated adjacent to both F and G. F is at the third place at the left of B. A is right next to left of F.
Who is sitting at the center of the row?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → A
Number the nine seats 1 to 9 from the left; “left” and “right” are taken as seen by the reader. The centre of a row of nine is seat 5. The fixed clues are placed first:
B is at one end, and F is third to the left of B. If B were at the left end there would be no seat to the left of B, so B is at seat 9 and F at seat 6
A is just to the left of F, so A is at seat 5
H sits next to both F and G. Seat 5 is taken, so H is at seat 7 and G at seat 8
C is third to the right of E, and C is next to D on D’s right. In seats 1-4 this gives E at 1, D at 3, C at 4, and I takes the last seat, 2
Seat 5 was fixed by the second clue, so A is in the centre whatever the order of the other fans.