Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: Ramesh
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This is a classic circular seating arrangement question, which is a common topic in logical reasoning and aptitude tests. It checks a candidate's ability to convert verbal position clues about left, right, and between into a correct mental or diagrammatic arrangement. The goal is to identify who sits immediately to the right of a particular person, in this case Ajay.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
When people sit in a circle and face the centre, left and right directions are defined relative to each person. The person to the immediate left of someone is reached by moving one position anti clockwise, and the person to the immediate right is reached by moving one position clockwise. Solving such problems usually involves drawing a circle, placing one person, and then using the clues step by step to place the others consistently.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Start by using the left relations. If Suleman is to the left of Vikas and Ramesh is to the left of Suleman, then going clockwise around the circle, the order must be Ramesh, Suleman, Vikas in three consecutive seats.
Step 2: Now place Ajay between Ramesh and Damanik. Being between them means Ajay must sit with Ramesh on one side and Damanik on the other side as immediate neighbours.
Step 3: Integrate this with the earlier sequence. If the order Ramesh, Suleman, Vikas is clockwise, then Ajay can only fit between Ramesh and Damanik by placing him adjacent to Ramesh on the side opposite Suleman.
Step 4: One consistent arrangement in clockwise order is Damanik, Ajay, Ramesh, Suleman, Vikas. This satisfies all given clues.
Step 5: In this arrangement, the person immediately to the right of Ajay (moving clockwise) is Ramesh.
Verification / Alternative check:
We can rotate the entire arrangement around the circle and still preserve relative positions. For example, another valid order is Ajay, Ramesh, Suleman, Vikas, Damanik. In every such rotation, Ajay remains between Ramesh and Damanik, and the sequence Ramesh, Suleman, Vikas in clockwise order is preserved with left relations intact. In all these equivalent patterns, the immediate right neighbour of Ajay is always Ramesh, so the result is stable and verified.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Suleman is one step further clockwise from Ramesh and is therefore not directly to the right of Ajay. Vikas is even further clockwise and also not adjacent to Ajay in the required position. Damanik sits on the opposite side of Ajay, serving as the left neighbour rather than the right neighbour. Thus, only Ramesh fits the description of immediate right neighbour.
Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to confuse left and right in a circular arrangement or to forget that everybody faces the centre. Some candidates also misinterpret between as meaning somewhere in the middle instead of directly between as two immediate neighbours. Drawing a clear circle and placing each person carefully according to the clues prevents these typical errors.
Final Answer:
The person sitting immediately to the right of Ajay in the circle is Ramesh.
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