Question

Directions: A, B, C, D and E sit on a long bench. C does not sit next to A or E. A and E have three persons sitting between them.
Who are sitting at the extreme ends of the bench?

• A. A & E
• B. B & D
• C. C & E
• D. None of these

Hint:

Work out how many seats are needed given three people between A and E, then place C using the adjacency restriction.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Translate the clues into a seat count.
There are 5 seats in a row. "Three persons between A and E" fixes the gap between A and E at exactly 3 seats, which is only possible if A and E sit in the two outermost seats of a 5-seat row (seats 1 and 5), because any other placement would leave fewer than 3 people between them.
Step 2: Use the restriction on C to fix its seat.
Since C must avoid sitting beside A and beside E, and A and E occupy seats 1 and 5, C is barred from seats 2 and 4, the seats immediately touching the ends. Of the three inner seats (2, 3, 4), only seat 3 is untouched by this restriction, so C sits at seat 3.
Step 3: Fill the remaining seats with B and D.
The only seats left, 2 and 4, must hold B and D. Their exact order can go either way without breaking any given rule, so the arrangement is not unique beyond this point.
Step 4: Check every option against the seating.
"B & D" describes the two middle-adjacent seats, not the ends. "C & E" is impossible since C never reaches an end seat. "None of these" fails because a valid pair does exist. Only "A & E" correctly names the people at the two ends.
Step 5: State the final result.
A and E sit at the extreme ends of the bench, confirming option (1).