SSC CPO Circular Seating Arrangement

In circular seating, positions are relative to each other. There is no first or last position. The key is to fix one person's position first, then arrange others relative to that person

1) Always fix one person's position to eliminate rotational possibilities 2) Clockwise and anti-clockwise directions matter 3) 'Opposite' means diametrically across 4) Adjacent means immediate left or right 5) Use process of elimination systematically.

immediate neighbors, opposite positions, counting positions between people, and conditional arrangements. Most questions give 6-8 people with 4-6 conditions

Always start by placing one person at the 'top' of the circle. This eliminates confusion about rotational arrangements. Mark positions as 1,2,3... clockwise from this fixed person

In a circle of n people, if person A is at position x, then the person opposite to A is at position x + n/2 (if n is even). For odd numbers, no one sits exactly opposite

Six friends A,B,C,D,E,F sit around a circular table. B sits two places to the right of A. C sits opposite to A. D sits immediately left of C.

Where does E sit

immediate left of position 4 is position 5 (going anti-clockwise). So D at position 5. Step 5: Remaining positions are 2 and 6. E and F occupy these

E sits at either position 2 or 6

Seven people sit in a circle. P sits third to the right of Q. R sits second to the left of P. How many people sit between Q and R when counted clockwise from Q

position 3 is first left, position 2 is second left. So R at position 2 Step 4: Count from Q(position 1) to R(position 2) clockwise: only position 7 comes between them Answer: 1 person sits between Q and R

To count people between positions A and B clockwise: if B > A, count = B - A - 1. If B < A, count = n - A + B - 1 (where n is total people)

Students often confuse 'left' and 'right' directions

in clockwise numbering, right means higher numbers, left means lower numbers. Also, 'second to the right' means there's one person in between, not sitting in the second chair. Many students miss this and count wrong positions.