Eight professionals — A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H — attended a networking dinner. They were seated at two round tables, Table 1 and Table 2, with exactly four people at each table, seated at equal distances and facing the centre. Each person works for one of four companies — Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta — and exactly two of the eight work for each company (two people working for the same company are called colleagues).
In the statements below, 'X sits immediately clockwise of Y' means X occupies the next seat after Y when moving clockwise around their table.
1. A sits at Table 1 and works for Alpha.
2. No two colleagues sit at the same table.
3. C sits opposite A, and E sits immediately clockwise of A.
4. A's colleague sits opposite B.
5. E and H are colleagues.
6. F works for Gamma and sits immediately clockwise of B.
7. G works for Delta.
8. The Beta employee at Table 2 sits immediately clockwise of D.
In the statements below, 'X sits immediately clockwise of Y' means X occupies the next seat after Y when moving clockwise around their table.
1. A sits at Table 1 and works for Alpha.
2. No two colleagues sit at the same table.
3. C sits opposite A, and E sits immediately clockwise of A.
4. A's colleague sits opposite B.
5. E and H are colleagues.
6. F works for Gamma and sits immediately clockwise of B.
7. G works for Delta.
8. The Beta employee at Table 2 sits immediately clockwise of D.
Question 1
Single correct option
Who sits opposite G?
- A. A
- B. E
- C. C
- D. H
Show answer and solution
Answer: (B) E
Solution grid:
| Table | Clockwise order | Opposite pairs |
|---|---|---|
| Table 1 | A → E → C → G | A–C, E–G |
| Table 2 | B → F → D → H | B–D, F–H |
| Company | Employees |
|---|---|
| Alpha | A, D |
| Beta | E, H |
| Gamma | C, F |
| Delta | G, B |
Reasoning: Table 1 has A, E (clockwise of A) and C (opposite A), plus one more seat. Colleagues never share a table, so H (E's colleague) is at Table 2, and A's colleague is at Table 2 opposite B — so B is at Table 2 too, with F (clockwise of B). Table 2 is therefore B, F, H and A's colleague. A's colleague cannot be G (Delta), so it is D, opposite B; clockwise order at Table 2 is B, F, D, H, and H is the Beta employee clockwise of D (clue 8 ✓). G fills Table 1's last seat. E–H cannot be Alpha, Gamma (F) or Delta (G), so they are Beta. F's Gamma colleague must be at Table 1, i.e. C; the last person, B, is G's Delta colleague.
At Table 1 the clockwise order is A, E, C, G, so G is opposite E.
| Table | Clockwise order | Opposite pairs |
|---|---|---|
| Table 1 | A → E → C → G | A–C, E–G |
| Table 2 | B → F → D → H | B–D, F–H |
| Company | Employees |
|---|---|
| Alpha | A, D |
| Beta | E, H |
| Gamma | C, F |
| Delta | G, B |
Reasoning: Table 1 has A, E (clockwise of A) and C (opposite A), plus one more seat. Colleagues never share a table, so H (E's colleague) is at Table 2, and A's colleague is at Table 2 opposite B — so B is at Table 2 too, with F (clockwise of B). Table 2 is therefore B, F, H and A's colleague. A's colleague cannot be G (Delta), so it is D, opposite B; clockwise order at Table 2 is B, F, D, H, and H is the Beta employee clockwise of D (clue 8 ✓). G fills Table 1's last seat. E–H cannot be Alpha, Gamma (F) or Delta (G), so they are Beta. F's Gamma colleague must be at Table 1, i.e. C; the last person, B, is G's Delta colleague.
At Table 1 the clockwise order is A, E, C, G, so G is opposite E.
Question 2
Single correct option
Who is C's colleague?
- A. B
- B. D
- C. F
- D. H
Show answer and solution
Answer: (C) F
Solution grid:
| Table | Clockwise order | Opposite pairs |
|---|---|---|
| Table 1 | A → E → C → G | A–C, E–G |
| Table 2 | B → F → D → H | B–D, F–H |
| Company | Employees |
|---|---|
| Alpha | A, D |
| Beta | E, H |
| Gamma | C, F |
| Delta | G, B |
Reasoning: Table 1 has A, E (clockwise of A) and C (opposite A), plus one more seat. Colleagues never share a table, so H (E's colleague) is at Table 2, and A's colleague is at Table 2 opposite B — so B is at Table 2 too, with F (clockwise of B). Table 2 is therefore B, F, H and A's colleague. A's colleague cannot be G (Delta), so it is D, opposite B; clockwise order at Table 2 is B, F, D, H, and H is the Beta employee clockwise of D (clue 8 ✓). G fills Table 1's last seat. E–H cannot be Alpha, Gamma (F) or Delta (G), so they are Beta. F's Gamma colleague must be at Table 1, i.e. C; the last person, B, is G's Delta colleague.
C cannot be with A (Alpha pair is A–D), E (Beta with H) or G (Delta). F is Gamma and must have a colleague at Table 1; the only unassigned person there is C. So C's colleague is F.
| Table | Clockwise order | Opposite pairs |
|---|---|---|
| Table 1 | A → E → C → G | A–C, E–G |
| Table 2 | B → F → D → H | B–D, F–H |
| Company | Employees |
|---|---|
| Alpha | A, D |
| Beta | E, H |
| Gamma | C, F |
| Delta | G, B |
Reasoning: Table 1 has A, E (clockwise of A) and C (opposite A), plus one more seat. Colleagues never share a table, so H (E's colleague) is at Table 2, and A's colleague is at Table 2 opposite B — so B is at Table 2 too, with F (clockwise of B). Table 2 is therefore B, F, H and A's colleague. A's colleague cannot be G (Delta), so it is D, opposite B; clockwise order at Table 2 is B, F, D, H, and H is the Beta employee clockwise of D (clue 8 ✓). G fills Table 1's last seat. E–H cannot be Alpha, Gamma (F) or Delta (G), so they are Beta. F's Gamma colleague must be at Table 1, i.e. C; the last person, B, is G's Delta colleague.
C cannot be with A (Alpha pair is A–D), E (Beta with H) or G (Delta). F is Gamma and must have a colleague at Table 1; the only unassigned person there is C. So C's colleague is F.
Question 3
Single correct option
Who works for Delta along with G?
- A. B
- B. D
- C. F
- D. H
Show answer and solution
Answer: (A) B
Solution grid:
| Table | Clockwise order | Opposite pairs |
|---|---|---|
| Table 1 | A → E → C → G | A–C, E–G |
| Table 2 | B → F → D → H | B–D, F–H |
| Company | Employees |
|---|---|
| Alpha | A, D |
| Beta | E, H |
| Gamma | C, F |
| Delta | G, B |
Reasoning: Table 1 has A, E (clockwise of A) and C (opposite A), plus one more seat. Colleagues never share a table, so H (E's colleague) is at Table 2, and A's colleague is at Table 2 opposite B — so B is at Table 2 too, with F (clockwise of B). Table 2 is therefore B, F, H and A's colleague. A's colleague cannot be G (Delta), so it is D, opposite B; clockwise order at Table 2 is B, F, D, H, and H is the Beta employee clockwise of D (clue 8 ✓). G fills Table 1's last seat. E–H cannot be Alpha, Gamma (F) or Delta (G), so they are Beta. F's Gamma colleague must be at Table 1, i.e. C; the last person, B, is G's Delta colleague.
Alpha = A, D; Beta = E, H; Gamma = C, F. The remaining person, B, is G's colleague at Delta. Note that B is at the other table, consistent with clue 2.
| Table | Clockwise order | Opposite pairs |
|---|---|---|
| Table 1 | A → E → C → G | A–C, E–G |
| Table 2 | B → F → D → H | B–D, F–H |
| Company | Employees |
|---|---|
| Alpha | A, D |
| Beta | E, H |
| Gamma | C, F |
| Delta | G, B |
Reasoning: Table 1 has A, E (clockwise of A) and C (opposite A), plus one more seat. Colleagues never share a table, so H (E's colleague) is at Table 2, and A's colleague is at Table 2 opposite B — so B is at Table 2 too, with F (clockwise of B). Table 2 is therefore B, F, H and A's colleague. A's colleague cannot be G (Delta), so it is D, opposite B; clockwise order at Table 2 is B, F, D, H, and H is the Beta employee clockwise of D (clue 8 ✓). G fills Table 1's last seat. E–H cannot be Alpha, Gamma (F) or Delta (G), so they are Beta. F's Gamma colleague must be at Table 1, i.e. C; the last person, B, is G's Delta colleague.
Alpha = A, D; Beta = E, H; Gamma = C, F. The remaining person, B, is G's colleague at Delta. Note that B is at the other table, consistent with clue 2.
Question 4
Numerical answer
If C and H exchange their seats, how many of the eight people will then be sitting at the same table as their colleague?
Show answer and solution
Answer: 4
Solution grid:
| Table | Clockwise order | Opposite pairs |
|---|---|---|
| Table 1 | A → E → C → G | A–C, E–G |
| Table 2 | B → F → D → H | B–D, F–H |
| Company | Employees |
|---|---|
| Alpha | A, D |
| Beta | E, H |
| Gamma | C, F |
| Delta | G, B |
Reasoning: Table 1 has A, E (clockwise of A) and C (opposite A), plus one more seat. Colleagues never share a table, so H (E's colleague) is at Table 2, and A's colleague is at Table 2 opposite B — so B is at Table 2 too, with F (clockwise of B). Table 2 is therefore B, F, H and A's colleague. A's colleague cannot be G (Delta), so it is D, opposite B; clockwise order at Table 2 is B, F, D, H, and H is the Beta employee clockwise of D (clue 8 ✓). G fills Table 1's last seat. E–H cannot be Alpha, Gamma (F) or Delta (G), so they are Beta. F's Gamma colleague must be at Table 1, i.e. C; the last person, B, is G's Delta colleague.
After the swap: Table 1 = A, E, H, G and Table 2 = B, F, D, C.
- E and H (Beta) are now together at Table 1 → 2 people
- C and F (Gamma) are now together at Table 2 → 2 people
- A–D and G–B remain split.
Answer: 4.
| Table | Clockwise order | Opposite pairs |
|---|---|---|
| Table 1 | A → E → C → G | A–C, E–G |
| Table 2 | B → F → D → H | B–D, F–H |
| Company | Employees |
|---|---|
| Alpha | A, D |
| Beta | E, H |
| Gamma | C, F |
| Delta | G, B |
Reasoning: Table 1 has A, E (clockwise of A) and C (opposite A), plus one more seat. Colleagues never share a table, so H (E's colleague) is at Table 2, and A's colleague is at Table 2 opposite B — so B is at Table 2 too, with F (clockwise of B). Table 2 is therefore B, F, H and A's colleague. A's colleague cannot be G (Delta), so it is D, opposite B; clockwise order at Table 2 is B, F, D, H, and H is the Beta employee clockwise of D (clue 8 ✓). G fills Table 1's last seat. E–H cannot be Alpha, Gamma (F) or Delta (G), so they are Beta. F's Gamma colleague must be at Table 1, i.e. C; the last person, B, is G's Delta colleague.
After the swap: Table 1 = A, E, H, G and Table 2 = B, F, D, C.
- E and H (Beta) are now together at Table 1 → 2 people
- C and F (Gamma) are now together at Table 2 → 2 people
- A–D and G–B remain split.
Answer: 4.
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