Five people A, B, C, D and E are sitting in a row facing you. It is known that D is on the left of C, B is on the right of E, A is on the right of C and B is on the left of D. If E occupies one of the corner positions in the row, then who is sitting in the centre position?

Introduction / Context:
This is another linear seating arrangement puzzle involving five persons A, B, C, D and E, all facing you. You are given several relational clues about who sits to the left or right of whom, and you are told that E occupies a corner seat. The task is to determine who ends up in the central seat of the row. This question checks your ability to combine multiple relational constraints to construct a unique arrangement.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- People: A, B, C, D and E sit in a single row facing you.- D is on the left of C.- B is on the right of E.- A is on the right of C.- B is on the left of D.- E occupies a corner position (either the far left or the far right).- We must identify who is sitting in the centre position of the row.

Concept / Approach:
We assume five positions numbered 1 to 5 from left to right as seen by you. The condition that E is at a corner means E is either at position 1 or position 5. We then use the inequalities such as D left of C, B left of D and B right of E to gradually fix positions. When a consistent arrangement emerges that satisfies all clues, we can check which person occupies the centre position, namely position 3.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Number the positions from left to right as 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.Step 2: E is at a corner, so E is either at position 1 or position 5.Step 3: B is on the right of E, so if E were at position 5 there would be no seat to the right. Therefore E cannot be at position 5. E must be at position 1.Step 4: Because B is on the right of E, B must occupy some position greater than 1.Step 5: B is on the left of D, so D must be to the right of B.Step 6: D is on the left of C, so D is to the left of C.Step 7: A is on the right of C, so A must be to the right of C.Step 8: The only arrangement that satisfies all these left-right relationships and uses all five positions is: E at 1, B at 2, D at 3, C at 4 and A at 5.

Verification / Alternative check:
Check each clue with the arrangement E B D C A. D (position 3) is left of C (position 4). B (position 2) is right of E (position 1). A (position 5) is right of C (position 4). B (position 2) is left of D (position 3). E is at corner position 1. Every condition is satisfied simultaneously, and there is no alternative arrangement that fits all constraints. The central seat, position 3, is occupied by D.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
A is at position 5, which is the rightmost corner, not the centre. B is at position 2, which is second from the left. C is at position 4, which is second from the right. Only D is placed at the middle seat, position 3, making the other options inconsistent with the fully derived arrangement.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates attempt to place E at the right corner and quickly get stuck because B cannot then be to the right. Others mix up the relative order constraints, especially when several left-right conditions apply at once. Writing the positions clearly and gradually filling them with names while checking each clue prevents these errors and leads to the correct unique arrangement.

Final Answer:
The person sitting in the centre of the row is D.