Eight boys M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, and T are sitting in a row, facing towards the…
2024
Eight boys M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, and T are sitting in a row, facing towards the north (but not necessarily in the same order). R is fifth to the right of M. P is fifth to the right of Q. Q is to the immediate right of M. T is third to the left of P. N is third to the right of S. S is an immediate neighbor of M. Which of the following statements is/are NOT correct?
I. N is third to the left of R.
II. P is sixth to the right of M.
- A.
Only I
- B.
Both I and II
- C.
Only II
- D.
Neither I nor II
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
In row-arrangement puzzles, relative-position clues such as ‘immediate right/left’ and ‘nth to the right/left’ are first converted into position offsets measured from one reference person. Placing every person by these offsets along a single row resolves the exact seating order, and any given statement about relative positions can then be verified directly by comparing seat numbers in that order.
Since Q is the immediate right of M and S is an immediate neighbour of M, and the seat to the right of M is already taken by Q, S must sit immediately to the left of M.
R is fifth to the right of M, and P is fifth to the right of Q — both are placed using these fixed offsets from M and Q respectively.
T is third to the left of P, and N is third to the right of S — placing these fixes seven of the eight seats.
The only seat left over is assigned to O, giving the complete row: S, M, Q, N, T, O, R, P (seats 1 to 8).
Checking each statement against this row: N sits at seat 4 and R at seat 7, a gap of three seats, so ‘N is third to the left of R’ holds. P sits at seat 8 and M at seat 2, a gap of six seats, so ‘P is sixth to the right of M’ also holds. Both statements are therefore factually correct.
Since neither statement is incorrect, the statement that is NOT correct is neither I nor II.