Seating Arrangement: Concepts and
Tricks
Introduction:
The questions on seating arrangement are regular feature of almost every
competitive examination. In these questions, you have to arrange a group of
persons fulfilling certain conditions. This is also written as sitting arrangement
or sitting arrangement reasoning at some places. Here we can classify these
problems into 4 types:
1. Linear Arrangement: Here the arrangement of the persons is linear i.e. you
have to arrange them in a line. Here generally a single row of arrangement is
formed.
2. Double row arrangement: In these questions, there will be two groups of
persons. You have to arrange one group in one row and the other group in other
row. The persons in these rows normally face each other.
3. Circular arrangement: In the circular seating arrangement questions, you
have to arrange the persons around a circular table etc. fulfilling certain
conditions.
4. Rectangular arrangement: These arrangements are almost similar to the
circular arrangements; the only difference is that the persons are sitting around a
rectangular table.
Seating arrangement tricks to solve the problems:
Questions on seating arrangement are generally asked in blocks of 4 – 5
questions. You are given some information and then there will 4 -5 questions
based on the information. These questions have two types of information:
1. Direct information: This is the information which is clearly mentioned in
the statement of the question. This is the information which you will use when
you start solving the questions.
2. Indirect information: After filling the direct information you will look for
the connection between different parts of the information. These connections
form the indirect information.
While arranging the persons, the direction to which the persons are facing is
very important.
Let us take the case of linear arrangements. Here if it is stated that there are five
persons sitting facing North then the arrangement will be like
On the other hand if these persons are sitting facing South then the
arrangement will be like
Similarly if the arrangement is a double row arrangement, then one group of
people will be facing north and the second will face south and the directions
will be taken as similar to the above figures.
In case of circular arrangements questions, or rectangular arrangement, the
persons may be facing the centre of the circle or they may be looking away
from the center. If they are looking towards the centre, then the right hand side
will be in the anticlockwise direction and left hand side will be in the clockwise
direction as shown below:
If the persons are looking away from the centre then the right hand side
will be in the clockwise direction and left hand side will be in the anti
clockwise direction as shown below:
The same concept of directions follows if the persons are sitting around a
rectangular table.
Next, while solving the questions related to linear arrangements or double row
arrangements, the information regarding the position of the persons is very
important. If it is written that A is sitting next to B, then it means that A and B
are sitting together. B may be to the right or left of A. Further if it is given that
B is sitting to the right/left of A, then it does not mean that B is sitting
immediate right/left of A. There may be some other persons sitting between A
and B. If B is sitting immediate right/left of A then it will be mentioned in the
statement of the question.
1. X, Y, Z, P, Q, and S are sitting in a row. Q and S are in the centre while X
and Y are at the ends. Z is sitting next to X on the left side. Who is sitting to the
right of Y?
A. P B. Q
C. X D. Y
This type of arrangement will be formed:
Y P Q S Z X
Thus the correct answer is (3).
Circular Arrangement
For a rectangle or circular based arrangement, the group of people can be either be
sitting facing towards the circle or opposite of the circle. If they are looking away
from the centre than their left hand will be in the anticlockwise direction and the
right-hand side will be in the clockwise direction. This will be similar to the figure
given below.
While for the group looking towards the circle, their left hand will be clockwise
direction and right hand will be in the anticlockwise direction. This will be similar
to the figure given below.
This type of arrangement is for the rectangle arrangements as well. While solving
questions based on a rectangle or circular arrangement it is important that you are
well aware of the directions. And based on this you can determine the clockwise
and anticlockwise direction.
Practice Questions
Q. Five friends are seeing a movie together. X is sitting next to Y, P is sitting next
to Q, Q is not with R who is on the left end. P is sitting two seats on the right. X is
on the right side of Y and R. X and P are sitting together. What is the position of
A?
A. Between Y and Q B. Between X and Y
C. Between P and Q D. Between P and Y
The answer is D
Q. There are six friends sitting in a circle and facing away from the centre of the
circle. Ravi is between Ram and Shyam. Preet is sitting between Ramesh and
Mahesh. Ram and Ramesh are sitting opposite to each other. Based on the above
information answer the following three questions.
1. Who is to the right of Ram?
A. Ravi B. Mahesh
C. Preet D. Ramesh
The answer is A
2. Who are neighbours of Ramesh?
A. Ravi and Ram B. Preet and Ramesh
C. Preet and Mahesh D. Shyam and Preet
The answer is D
3. How is opposite to Ravi?
A. Ram B. Mahesh
C. Preet D. Ramesh
The answer is C.
5 Golden Rules
Rule 1: Always start the arrangement with 100% fixed
information
Example: 8 persons A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H are sitting around a circular table
. A is sitting 3rd to the right of B, C is sitting opposite to D who is 3rd left to
the person opposite to A…………………… so on.
If the question is like this then one should start with A is sitting 3rd to the
right of B. Because this is only the confirmed information.
Note: If nothing is mention regarding the direction they are facing like
facing towards center or facing away from centre then by default take it as
facing centre.
Rule 2:
For a closed figure (circle, square, rectangle , octagon etc..,)
arrangement, Only persons sit opposite to each other when there are
even number of members.
In a given arrangement if four persons are given as in first diagram then
two persons can be accommodated exactly opposite to each other but not
in case of figure (ii)
Rule-3: “And” vs “Who”
In a given question if it is given as
o In a circular arrangement, there are four persons A, B, C, D sitting
in the following way. A is right of B, who is left of C
In this case WHO refers to B: Thus A is placed right to B and B is placed
left to C.
o In a circular arrangement, there are four persons A, B, C, D sits in
the following way. A is right of B and is left of C
In this case AND refers to A: Thus A is placed left to C as well as right to B.
Rule 4: Left vs Immediate left
Either in circular or linear arrangement unless it is mentioned in the
question we cannot assume left an immediate left.
Example: 5 persons standing in a row ,namely X,Y,Z,P,A. No one sits
left to the vowel. Only 3 persons are to the right of X. X sits immediate left
of Y and left to Z. Z does not sit at extreme ends.
In the Above arrangement, X is immediate left to Y, whereas X is left to Z.
No matter how many places far from Z but it is left to Z.
Rule 5: Identifying the left and right in a given arrangement
For Circular/closed figure:
Whenever it is given towards right go for anti-clockwise direction.
Whenever it is given
Towards left go for clockwise rotation.
These are the important rules one should be aware of while solving seating
arrangement questions. A competitive exam needs speed, but not
hurry.
