Seating Arrangement | Logical Reasoning for CLAT PDF Download

What is Seating Arrangement?

The seating arrangement is the logical arrangement of either objects or people in a logical manner. One has to either perform the arrangement to answer the questions or decode the predefined arrangement by applying the logical analysis.

• Seating arrangement questions are the most common problem types in all entrance exams containing the Logical Reasoning section. 
• These concepts involve the arrangement of objects/ people in many possible ways. 

The question based on sitting arrangement can be classified into the following types:

Type 1: Person Sitting in a Circle / Around a Table

• In the questions of Type 1, the persons are sitting either around a table or circle. In either of the condition, the persons are facing the centre.
  
• The important point to be remembered is that the left side of the persons who is facingNorth, is just opposite of one, sitting opposite to him, who is facingSouth.

• From the diagram above, we observe that A is facing North and B is facing South. Also, the left side of A is just opposite to Right side of B. Similarly right side of A is just opposite of left side of B.
• Whenever we are presented with this kind of problem, the first step should be to locate the “Fulcrum,” i.e. the position around which we can locate the other positions. 
• The next step is to draw the circle or the table and start the process of allocating the positions.
• In almost all the questions, the position of one person in relation to two other persons is given. We find that two different positions are possible.
• Let us say, we are given that A is sitting between G and H, just opposite to B.
  In such a case, following are the two possibilities:
  

In Case 1, G is to the left of A and in Case 2, G is to the right of A

• If we are further provided with the information that C is sitting second to the right of H. 
• We note that this information can only be true in case 1, because in case 2, G is already second to the right of H. So we can reject case 2 and continue with case 1 only. 
• In the next step, the other positions given can be allocated up very easily and we can answer the questions given to us. 
• Generally based on one diagram, four to five questions are asked in the examinations. Once we have completed the diagram, all the questions can be answered. 

Type 2: Linear Arrangement

• Any logical arrangement of objects or people either horizontally or vertically or diagonally is known as Linear arrangement.Example: The row of the travellers in a train, students in a prayer hall, etc.