Question

Ten friends, Matt, Sam, Pat, Tom, Sid, Alex, Kat, Jim, Jane and John, are having dinner at a rectangular table. Eight of them sit facing each other along the two long sides of the table, four on each side. The other two sit facing each other along the two short sides. Pat sits diagonally opposite Kat. Alex faces Jim. John sits to the right of Jane. Tom sits between Sam and Jim. Pat sits at the extreme left and Jane sits at the extreme right along the long side of the table. Sid faces Tom. Matt sits to the right of Sam.

Sid is sitting between which of the following two?

• A. Sam and Kat
• B. Pat and Alex
• C. Alex and Jane
• D. Kat and Jane

Hint:

Fix Pat and Jane at the two ends of their row first, then use the two facing clues to slot in the middle two seats.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Instead of building the row seat by seat, use the two facing clues directly to fix Sid's neighbors and check each option against them.

1. Sam and Kat: Sam and Kat both sit on the opposite long side from Sid, next to Tom and across from Pat and Jane, so neither can be Sid's immediate neighbor.
2. Pat and Alex: Pat sits at the extreme left of Sid's row, and Alex sits directly across from Jim, one seat to Sid's other side. With Pat at one end and Jane at the far end, the only order that fits every clue is Pat, Sid, Alex, Jane, so Sid sits exactly between Pat and Alex.
3. Alex and Jane: this puts Sid one seat too far to the right; Alex is Sid's neighbor, but Jane is separated from Sid by Alex, not adjacent to Sid.
4. Kat and Jane: Kat is not even on Sid's row, so this pairing is not possible.

Checking the row order against all the clues confirms Sid sits between Pat and Alex.