Eight delegates — P, Q, R, S, T, U, V and W — are seated at equal intervals around a circular table at an international conference, all facing the centre. Exactly two delegates are from each of four countries: India, Japan, Kenya and Brazil. "Clockwise" is as seen from above the table; "k seats clockwise from X" means moving k seats from X in the clockwise direction.
The following is known:
1. R is two seats clockwise from P, and V is two seats clockwise from W.
2. U is from Kenya and sits next to P. Both of P's neighbours are from the same country.
3. W sits directly opposite U.
4. The two Indian delegates sit directly opposite each other, and Q is one of them.
5. No two delegates from the same country sit next to each other.
6. V is from Japan, and R is from the same country as V.
7. S is from Brazil and does not sit next to Q.
The following is known:
1. R is two seats clockwise from P, and V is two seats clockwise from W.
2. U is from Kenya and sits next to P. Both of P's neighbours are from the same country.
3. W sits directly opposite U.
4. The two Indian delegates sit directly opposite each other, and Q is one of them.
5. No two delegates from the same country sit next to each other.
6. V is from Japan, and R is from the same country as V.
7. S is from Brazil and does not sit next to Q.
Question 1
Single correct option
Who sits directly opposite T?
- A. S
- B. Q
- C. V
- D. W
Show answer and solution
Answer: (C) V
Deduction. Place P at seat 1 and number seats clockwise; R is at seat 3 (clue 1). U is next to P, so U is at seat 2 or 8, and W (opposite U) is at seat 6 or 4; V, two seats clockwise from W, is then at seat 8 or 6.
If U = 2, then W = 6 and V = 8, so P's neighbours would be U (Kenya) and V (Japan) — violating clue 2. Hence U = 8, W = 4, V = 6.
Seats 2, 5 and 7 remain for Q, S and T. Seat 2 is P's other neighbour, so it must be Kenyan like U; Q (Indian) and S (Brazilian) cannot sit there, so T = 2 (Kenya). Q is at 5 or 7 and must face the other Indian: seat 7 faces R (Japanese), so Q = 5 and P (seat 1) is Indian. S = 7. The last country, Brazil, goes to W. Clue 5 is satisfied all round.
Final arrangement (clockwise, starting from P):
| Seat | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delegate | P | T | R | W | Q | V | S | U |
| Country | India | Kenya | Japan | Brazil | India | Japan | Brazil | Kenya |
T is in seat 2; the seat opposite is seat 6, occupied by V.
If U = 2, then W = 6 and V = 8, so P's neighbours would be U (Kenya) and V (Japan) — violating clue 2. Hence U = 8, W = 4, V = 6.
Seats 2, 5 and 7 remain for Q, S and T. Seat 2 is P's other neighbour, so it must be Kenyan like U; Q (Indian) and S (Brazilian) cannot sit there, so T = 2 (Kenya). Q is at 5 or 7 and must face the other Indian: seat 7 faces R (Japanese), so Q = 5 and P (seat 1) is Indian. S = 7. The last country, Brazil, goes to W. Clue 5 is satisfied all round.
Final arrangement (clockwise, starting from P):
| Seat | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delegate | P | T | R | W | Q | V | S | U |
| Country | India | Kenya | Japan | Brazil | India | Japan | Brazil | Kenya |
T is in seat 2; the seat opposite is seat 6, occupied by V.
Question 2
Single correct option
Which country is T from?
- A. India
- B. Kenya
- C. Japan
- D. Brazil
Show answer and solution
Answer: (B) Kenya
Final arrangement (clockwise, starting from P):
| Seat | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delegate | P | T | R | W | Q | V | S | U |
| Country | India | Kenya | Japan | Brazil | India | Japan | Brazil | Kenya |
Both neighbours of P (T and U) must be from the same country (clue 2), and U is from Kenya. So T is from Kenya.
This also explains why P is not Kenyan: if P were Kenyan, three Kenyans would be needed.
| Seat | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delegate | P | T | R | W | Q | V | S | U |
| Country | India | Kenya | Japan | Brazil | India | Japan | Brazil | Kenya |
Both neighbours of P (T and U) must be from the same country (clue 2), and U is from Kenya. So T is from Kenya.
This also explains why P is not Kenyan: if P were Kenyan, three Kenyans would be needed.
Question 3
Numerical answer
Moving clockwise from Q, how many delegates are seated strictly between Q and U?
Show answer and solution
Answer: 2
Final arrangement (clockwise, starting from P):
| Seat | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delegate | P | T | R | W | Q | V | S | U |
| Country | India | Kenya | Japan | Brazil | India | Japan | Brazil | Kenya |
Q is at seat 5 and U at seat 8. Moving clockwise from Q: seat 6 (V), seat 7 (S), then seat 8 (U).
Delegates strictly between them: V and S → 2.
| Seat | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delegate | P | T | R | W | Q | V | S | U |
| Country | India | Kenya | Japan | Brazil | India | Japan | Brazil | Kenya |
Q is at seat 5 and U at seat 8. Moving clockwise from Q: seat 6 (V), seat 7 (S), then seat 8 (U).
Delegates strictly between them: V and S → 2.
Question 4
Single correct option
Who are the two neighbours of W?
- A. R and Q
- B. Q and V
- C. R and T
- D. T and Q
Show answer and solution
Answer: (A) R and Q
Final arrangement (clockwise, starting from P):
| Seat | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delegate | P | T | R | W | Q | V | S | U |
| Country | India | Kenya | Japan | Brazil | India | Japan | Brazil | Kenya |
W is at seat 4, so its neighbours are seat 3 (R) and seat 5 (Q) → R and Q.
Note the country pattern around W: Japan – Brazil – India, consistent with clue 5.
| Seat | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delegate | P | T | R | W | Q | V | S | U |
| Country | India | Kenya | Japan | Brazil | India | Japan | Brazil | Kenya |
W is at seat 4, so its neighbours are seat 3 (R) and seat 5 (Q) → R and Q.
Note the country pattern around W: Japan – Brazil – India, consistent with clue 5.
Question 5
Single correct option
If R and S exchange their seats (everyone else stays put), how many pairs of adjacent delegates would then be from the same country?
- A. 0
- B. 1
- C. 2
- D. 3
Show answer and solution
Answer: (C) 2
Final arrangement (clockwise, starting from P):
| Seat | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delegate | P | T | R | W | Q | V | S | U |
| Country | India | Kenya | Japan | Brazil | India | Japan | Brazil | Kenya |
After the swap the clockwise order is P, T, S, W, Q, V, R, U with countries India, Kenya, Brazil, Brazil, India, Japan, Japan, Kenya.
Check all 8 adjacent pairs: P–T (I–K), T–S (K–B), S–W (B–B), W–Q (B–I), Q–V (I–J), V–R (J–J), R–U (J–K), U–P (K–I).
Exactly 2 pairs share a country.
| Seat | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delegate | P | T | R | W | Q | V | S | U |
| Country | India | Kenya | Japan | Brazil | India | Japan | Brazil | Kenya |
After the swap the clockwise order is P, T, S, W, Q, V, R, U with countries India, Kenya, Brazil, Brazil, India, Japan, Japan, Kenya.
Check all 8 adjacent pairs: P–T (I–K), T–S (K–B), S–W (B–B), W–Q (B–I), Q–V (I–J), V–R (J–J), R–U (J–K), U–P (K–I).
Exactly 2 pairs share a country.
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