In a row of 5 girls facing North, Rita is sitting second to the right of Lata…

Concept

Linear (single-row) seating-arrangement puzzles are solved by converting each relational clue ("X is n seats to the right/left of Y") into an algebraic relationship between numbered seat positions, then solving that system together with any stated restriction (such as an excluded end-seat) to fix every person's exact seat.

Application

1. Number the five seats 1 (extreme left) through 5 (extreme right). Since all five girls face North, each girl's own right hand points toward seat 5 and her own left hand points toward seat 1.

2. Translate "Alka is sitting third to the left of Seema" into an equation: Alka = Seema - 3.

3. Alka's seat number must be at least 1, so Seema >= 4. Seema is not at either extreme end of the row (not seat 1 or seat 5), so the only value left for her is Seema = 4, which gives Alka = 1.

4. Translate "Rita is sitting second to the right of Lata" into an equation: Rita = Lata + 2.

5. With seat 1 (Alka) and seat 4 (Seema) fixed, the remaining seats are {2, 3, 5}. Among these, the only pair satisfying Rita = Lata + 2 is Lata = 3 and Rita = 5.

6. The one seat still unassigned, seat 2, belongs to the fifth (unnamed) girl in the row.

7. Final seat map: seat 1 = Alka, seat 2 = unnamed girl, seat 3 = Lata, seat 4 = Seema, seat 5 = Rita.

Cross-check

Verify every clue against the seat map: Rita (seat 5) is exactly two seats to the right of Lata (seat 3) - matches. Alka (seat 1) is exactly three seats to the left of Seema (seat 4) - matches. Seema (seat 4) is not at either extreme end - matches. All conditions hold.

Seat 3 is the middle seat of the five-seat row, and seat 3 is occupied by Lata. So Lata is sitting in the middle of the row.