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Circular Arrangement (Single Circle)

Introduction

The Circular Arrangement (Single Circle) puzzle tests your ability to visualize and logically position people or objects around a round table. This is a foundational reasoning topic in exams like SBI PO, IBPS Clerk, SSC, and CAT.

The main challenge lies in interpreting directional clues like “left” and “right” correctly depending on whether individuals are facing toward or away from the center.

Pattern: Circular Arrangement (Single Circle)

Pattern

People are seated around a circular table, and their positions depend on who faces the center or outside.

  • Facing Center: Left = Anticlockwise, Right = Clockwise.
  • Facing Outward: Left = Clockwise, Right = Anticlockwise.
  • Immediate Neighbors: The persons sitting directly next to someone.
  • Opposite Person: The person sitting directly across the circle (180° apart).

Step-by-Step Example

Question

Six people - A, B, C, D, E, and F - are sitting around a circular table facing the center. A is to the immediate left of B. D sits opposite A. C is between B and D. E is not adjacent to A. Who is sitting to the immediate right of F?

Options:
A) A    B) B    C) D    D) E

Solution

  1. Step 1: Fix first relation

    A is to the immediate left of B. Since all face the center, “left” means anticlockwise. So A sits immediately to the anticlockwise side of B.

  2. Step 2: Place D opposite A

    Position D directly across from A.

  3. Step 3: Use C’s clue

    C is between B and D → place C clockwise between B and D.

  4. Step 4: Use E’s restriction

    E is not adjacent to A → therefore E must sit next to D on the opposite arc.

  5. Step 5: Fill the remaining seat

    Place F in the last remaining seat, which is next to E.

  6. Step 6: Find F’s right (facing center)

    Right means clockwise. The person immediately clockwise to F is A.

  7. Final Answer:

    A → Option A

  8. Quick Check:

    A left of B ✅ D opposite A ✅ C between B & D ✅ E not next to A ✅

Quick Variations

1. All facing the center - simpler version.

2. Mixed facing directions (some inward, some outward).

3. Single circle with an added attribute (color, city, etc.).

4. “Immediate left/right” or “second to the left/right” variants.

Trick to Always Use

  • Step 1: Always start with “opposite” or “immediate” pair clues first.
  • Step 2: Use facing direction to determine left-right orientation.
  • Step 3: Add remaining members by elimination and adjacency logic.

Summary

Summary

  • Facing direction defines left-right orientation (center vs outward).
  • Start with fixed pairs like “A opposite B” to lock the circle.
  • Place “immediate” and “between” relations next.
  • Always check for adjacency or non-adjacency conditions before finalizing.

Example to remember:
For people facing the center - Left = Anticlockwise, Right = Clockwise.

Practice

(1/5)
1. Six friends - A, B, C, D, E, and F - are sitting around a circular table facing the center. A sits second to the left of B. C sits opposite B. D is to the immediate right of E. Who sits to the immediate left of F?
easy
A. A
B. B
C. C
D. E

Solution

  1. Step 1: Place B and C (opposite)

    Fix B and C opposite each other.

  2. Step 2: Place A (second left of B)

    Facing center → left = anticlockwise. A is two seats anticlockwise from B.

  3. Step 3: Place D and E (D right of E)

    Facing center → right = clockwise. D is clockwise next to E.

  4. Step 4: Fill remaining seat for F

    The only remaining seat is between E and B (clockwise order example: B → F → E → D → A → C → B). Thus F’s immediate left (anticlockwise) is E.

  5. Final Answer:

    E → Option D
Hint: Fix opposites first, then place second-left/right, then immediate pairs, then leftover seat.
Common Mistakes: Placing second-left as clockwise instead of anticlockwise for center-facing.
2. Eight people - P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, and W - sit around a circular table facing the center. P is to the immediate left of Q. S sits opposite Q. V is to the right of S. Who sits second to the right of P?
easy
A. R
B. S
C. U
D. T

Solution

  1. Step 1: Place P and Q

    P immediate left of Q → anticlockwise from Q.

  2. Step 2: Place S opposite Q

    S directly across from Q.

  3. Step 3: Place V right of S

    Facing center → right = clockwise → V clockwise next to S.

  4. Step 4: Fill remaining seats

    Remaining people R, T, U, W. The only arrangement that fits all clues: clockwise from P: P → Q → R → S → V → T → U → W → P. Second right of P (clockwise) = R then U.

  5. Final Answer:

    U → Option C
Hint: When opposite and immediate clues are given, fix them first; remaining seats fill uniquely.
Common Mistakes: Placing right as anticlockwise for center-facing.
3. Seven people - A, B, C, D, E, F, and G - sit around a circular table facing the center. A sits third to the right of B. C is to the immediate left of A. F sits opposite D. Who sits second to the left of C?
medium
A. E
B. F
C. B
D. G

Solution

  1. Step 1: Place B and A

    A third right of B → clockwise three seats from B.

  2. Step 2: Place C left of A

    C immediate anticlockwise from A.

  3. Step 3: Place F opposite D

    F and D across from each other.

  4. Step 4: Fill remaining seats

    Remaining E, G. The arrangement (clockwise): B → G → E → A → C → F → D → B. Second left of C (anticlockwise) = A then B.

  5. Final Answer:

    B → Option C
Hint: When opposite and third-right clues are given, fix them first; the second-left falls out automatically.
Common Mistakes: Counting third-right as anticlockwise.
4. Six persons - L, M, N, O, P, and Q - sit around a circular table facing outward. L is to the immediate left of M. P sits opposite N. Who is to the immediate right of Q?
medium
A. M
B. N
C. L
D. O

Solution

  1. Step 1: Note facing direction

    All face outward → left/right directions are reversed (Left = Clockwise, Right = Anticlockwise).

  2. Step 2: L left of M (facing outward)

    Left = clockwise → L is clockwise to M.

  3. Step 3: P opposite N

    Place them directly across.

  4. Step 4: Find Q’s right

    Facing outward → right = anticlockwise. The person anticlockwise to Q is L.

  5. Final Answer:

    L → Option C

  6. Quick Check:

    Left-right reversal verified ✅
Hint: For outward-facing, reverse all left/right logic.
Common Mistakes: Applying inward logic (clockwise for right) to outward cases.
5. Eight people - A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H - sit around a circular table facing the center. A sits opposite D. C sits to the immediate left of A. G sits opposite F. Who sits between H and B?
medium
A. E
B. F
C. C
D. G

Solution

  1. Step 1: Place A-D and G-F opposites

    Opposites fixed at 180° apart.

  2. Step 2: C left of A

    Facing center → left = anticlockwise → C sits immediately anticlockwise of A.

  3. Step 3: Complete circle with B, E, H

    Arrange remaining to balance gaps. E lies between H and B.

  4. Final Answer:

    E → Option A

  5. Quick Check:

    A↔D, G↔F, C left of A all verified ✅
Hint: Opposite pairs fix the circle; remaining neighbors can be fitted by adjacency clues.
Common Mistakes: Not visualizing positions when multiple pairs are opposite.

Mock Test

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