Circular Seating Arrangements

A question the students have probably encountered when studying for a competitive test is the one in which you must arrange the individuals such that each condition is met. Seating arrangement issues and reasonings are the two most common terms for this sort of issue. Most individuals have trouble with this subject.

An overview: Circular Seating Arrangement

In this form of seating arrangement, the items, objects or individuals are set up in a way that they form a closed circular loop or an arc. 

Different Types or Forms of Circular Seating Arrangement 

• Circular Bidirectional Seating 

In this form of seating arrangement, the objects, people or items are seated in a way that they face each other in two different directions. They form a circular closed loop. In this, few people face outside and few face inside. 

• Circular Unidirectional Seating

In this form of seating arrangement, the objects, people or items are seated in a way that they face each other in the same direction They form a circular closed loop. In this, all the people either face outside or inside in a circular manner. 

Solving Questions Based on Circular Seating Arrangement: Tips and Tricks 

The following are some tricks of solving the problems associated with Circular Seating Arrangement:

• Circular Seating Arrangement can be anticlockwise, clockwise or in any direction 
• Then, one should draw a circle and count the number of objects, items or people. Then draw a line and mark it on the circle equivalent to the number of items, objects or people
• For example, there is a circular arrangement and if A is right away 3 positions from B. This means that there are 2 people between them (3 – 1) 

• In case there are 2 items, people, objects between A and B then this will be understood as A_ _ B 
• In case, A is seated at a distance of 2 seats away from B then this will be understood as  A/B_ _ B/A
• In case, A is seated at a distance of 2 seats away on the right side or left side from B then this will be understood as  A_B
• In case, A is seating second to the right side of B, then this will be understood as B _ A
• In case A is seated second to the left side of B, then this will be understood as A _ B

Circular Seating Arrangement Example Question

All of the participants are seated in an eight-person circle facing the middle of the table. It’s not necessary to list them in the order in which they hold each of their several professional titles: 

Chartered Accountant, Columnist; Doctor; Engineer; Financial Analyst; Lawyer; Professor; and Scientist. 

In the second row of seats to the left of K, F is situated. K’s next-door neighbour is the Scientist. Only three persons separate E. from the Scientist. The Engineer and E. are separated by only one person. Next to the Engineer sits the Columnist. After K, M is the second from the right. It’s H’s job to research. G and J live in the same building. It should be noted that neither G nor J is a professional engineer. F. is to the immediate right of the Financial Analyst. The Columnist is to the left of the Lawyer. The Engineer’s next-door neighbour is the Professor. The Chartered Accountant’s right hand is occupied by G.

Which of the following statements is true according to the given arrangement?

• The doctor is second to the right of the lawyer
• Financial analyst is the immediate neighbour of E
• H is in the middle of Financial Analyst and F 
• There are 4 people in between columnist and F
• All the options given above is true

Solution: 

Counter clockwise starting from:

E (Charter Accountant) -> J (Lawer) -> G (Financial Analyst) -> F (Doctor) -> H (Scientist) -> K (Professor) -> L (Engineer) -> M (Columnnist)

Conclusion

Seating arrangement questions around a round table are common in competitive exams to test participants’ logical thinking. The capability of solving questions using pictorial relations not mechanical calculations. We have discussed terminologies and tips and tricks to solve circular seating arrangement questions. Moreover, to master these questions one should do regular practice.