Puzzle & Seating Arrangement
Delhi Police Exam
1. What are Puzzles & Seating Arrangement?
Puzzles & Seating Arrangement involve arranging people, objects, or items based on given conditions in specific patterns or positions. These questions test your logical reasoning and analytical skills.
Logical Arrangement
Condition-Based Solving
Analytical Thinking
Multiple Constraints
Simple Definition: Puzzles and seating arrangements are logical problems where you arrange elements according to given conditions to find specific positions or relationships.
Types of Puzzles & Seating Arrangements
Common Problem Types
| Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Linear Arrangement | People sitting in a straight line | Row facing North/South |
| Circular Arrangement | People sitting around a circle | Circular table facing center |
| Rectangular Table | People around rectangular table | Four sides with people |
| Square Table | People around square table | Four corners with people |
| Floor-based Puzzles | People on different floors | Multi-story building |
| Scheduling Puzzles | Time-based arrangements | Days, months, time slots |
| Category-based Puzzles | Grouping by categories | Colors, cities, professions |
| Comparison Puzzles | Ranking and ordering | Height, weight, marks ranking |
2. Key Concepts & Terminology
Important Terms to Remember
Direction Concepts
Immediate Left/Right
Direct adjacent positions
Second to Left/Right
One person between them
Facing Center/Outside
Direction people are facing
Position Concepts
Immediate Neighbors
People sitting next to each other
Opposite Position
Directly across in circular arrangement
Diagonal Opposite
In rectangular/square arrangements
3. How to Solve Puzzle & Seating Arrangement?
Follow these step-by-step methods to solve puzzle and seating arrangement questions:
Read All Information
Carefully read all given conditions and statements
Identify Fixed Points
Find definite positions or relationships
Draw Diagram
Create visual representation of arrangement
Apply Conditions Step by Step
Use each condition to fill the arrangement
Check & Verify
Ensure all conditions are satisfied in final arrangement
4. Circular Arrangement Rules
Important Circular Arrangement Concepts
| Concept | Description | Example (8 people A-H) |
|---|---|---|
| Left/Right | Clockwise/anti-clockwise direction | If A left of B, then B right of A |
| Immediate Neighbors | Direct adjacent positions | A and B are immediate neighbors |
| Opposite Position | Exactly across in circle | In 8 people: Position 1 opposite Position 5 |
| Facing Center/Outside | Direction people are facing | Affects left/right directions |
| Number of People Between | Count excluding both ends | A and D have 2 people between them |
| Clockwise Direction | Standard reference direction | Always assume clockwise unless specified |
5. Linear Arrangement Rules
Important Linear Arrangement Concepts
Position Concepts
Extreme Ends
First and last positions
Middle Position
Center position in odd number
Immediate Neighbors
Direct adjacent positions
Direction Concepts
Facing North/South
Direction people are facing
Left/Right End
Based on facing direction
Immediate Left/Right
Based on facing direction
6. Solved Examples
Example 1: Linear Arrangement
Six people A, B, C, D, E, F sit in a row facing North. A sits third from left. B sits immediate right of A. C sits at extreme right end. D sits immediate left of F. Who sits between B and F?
Step 1: Position 1: ?, Position 2: ?, Position 3: A, Position 4: B, Position 5: ?, Position 6: C
Step 2: D sits immediate left of F, so D and F are together
Step 3: Remaining positions 1,2,5 for D, E, F
Step 4: D and F must be in positions 1-2 or 5-6, but position 6 is C
Step 5: So D and F in positions 1-2: Position 1: D, Position 2: F
Step 6: Position 5: E. Between B (position 4) and F (position 2) is position 3: A
Answer: A sits between B and F
Example 2: Circular Arrangement
Six people sit around a circular table facing center. A sits opposite B. C sits immediate right of A. D sits immediate left of B. E sits between C and D. Who sits between A and E?
Step 1: Draw circle with 6 positions. A opposite B
Step 2: C immediate right of A
Step 3: D immediate left of B
Step 4: E between C and D
Step 5: Final arrangement: A-C-E-D-B-F (clockwise)
Step 6: Between A and E is C
Answer: C sits between A and E
Example 3: Floor-based Puzzle
Six people live on 6 different floors (1-6). A lives above B. C lives immediately above D. E lives on top floor. F lives below B. Who lives on floor 3?
Step 1: Floor 6: E (given)
Step 2: C immediately above D, so C-D are together
Step 3: A above B, F below B
Step 4: Possible arrangement: Floor 6: E, Floor 5: A, Floor 4: B, Floor 3: F, Floor 2: C, Floor 1: D
Step 5: Check all conditions: A above B ✓, C above D ✓, E top ✓, F below B ✓
Answer: F lives on floor 3
7. Puzzle Solving Techniques
Effective Solving Strategies
Diagram Methods
Circular Diagram
Draw circle with positions for circular arrangements
Linear Diagram
Draw straight line with positions numbered
Floor Diagram
Vertical arrangement for floor-based puzzles
Solving Strategies
Start with Fixed Points
Begin with definite information
Use Elimination
Eliminate impossible options
Make Assumptions
Try different possibilities when stuck
8. Quick Recap
| Arrangement Type | Key Features | Important Points |
|---|---|---|
| Linear Arrangement | Straight line, facing same direction | Left/right based on facing direction |
| Circular Arrangement | Around circle, facing center/outside | Left/right clockwise/anti-clockwise |
| Rectangular Table | Four sides, people on each side | Opposite and adjacent positions |
| Floor-based Puzzles | Multi-story building arrangement | Above/below relationships |
| Scheduling Puzzles | Time, days, months arrangement | Before/after relationships |
9. Delhi Police Exam Tips
Always draw diagrams - visual representation is crucial
Start with definite information - fixed positions first
Practice different types - linear, circular, floor-based
Manage time wisely - skip if taking too long
Verify all conditions - ensure no condition is violated
Use abbreviations - save time in writing
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