Question

Read the following instructions and answer the question:
Eleven friends M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V and W are sitting in the first row of the stadium watching a cricket match.
(A) T is to the immediate left of P and third to the right of U.
(B) V is the immediate neighbour of M and N and third to the left of S.
(C) M is the second to the right of Q, who is at one of the ends.
(D) R is sitting next to the right of P and P is second to the right of O.
Who is sitting in the center of the row?

• A. N
• B. O
• C. S
• D. U

Hint:

Fix Q at the left end and M at seat 3 first, then slide the O-T-P-R block until it fits without clashing.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Start with the block formed by clues (A) and (D). O, T, P and R must sit in four consecutive seats in that exact order (O, then T, then P, then R), since T is just left of P and R is just right of P, while O is two seats left of P. Also U sits three seats to the left of T, that is, four seats to the left of P.
Step 2: Try shifting this whole block along the row of 11 seats. If P sits at seat 10, the block occupies seats 6 (U), 8 (O), 9 (T), 10 (P) and 11 (R), leaving seats 1 to 5 and 7 for the rest. This is the only shift that avoids clashing with Q, who by clue (C) must sit at seat 1 with M automatically at seat 3.
Step 3: Clue (B) says V is sandwiched between M and N. Seat 4 is the only open seat next to M (seat 3) that also has a further open seat next to it (seat 5) for N, so V = 4 and N = 5. Since S sits three seats to the right of V, S = 7, which is open. That leaves only seat 2 for W.
Step 4: The complete seating from left to right is Q, W, M, V, N, U, S, O, T, P, R.
Counting eleven seats, the middle one is the 6th seat, occupied by U.
\[\boxed{\text{Center person} = U}\]