Linear Arrangement

Question

Five boys - Vinod, Varun, Vijay, Viru and Vinay - two girls Swapna and Soumya, their class teacher and the Principal are standing in a row for a photograph.
No two boys stand next to each other. The teacher does not want Vinod or Varun to stand beside him.The Principal, who is standing 2nd from the right, does not want Vinay beside him.Vinod is standing beside Soumya. Vijay is standing exactly between the two girls.
Who among the following is standing at the extreme right end?

A)Vijay
B)Varun
C)Vinod
D)Viru

Please provide the solution with explanation.

KarishmaB · Answer

This is an analytical reasoning CAT question, not a GMAT question.

Anyway, we can solve it easily.

There are 9 people and 5 boys and no two boys can be together. This means that 4 spots between the 5 boys should be taken. There should be a boy each of either end.

B __ B __ B __ B __ B

Let's first focus on who should be together:

Principal is standing second from right - B1 __ B2 __ B3 __ B4 Principal B5 
(B4 annd B5 are not Vinay). We need to find B5.

Vijay is between two girls - G Vijay G

Vinod is standing beside Soumya - "Vinod Soumya Vijay Swapna" OR "Swapna Vijay Soumya Vinod"

The teacher does not want Vinod or Varun to stand beside him. - Also, Vijay cannot stand next to the teacher since Vijay is surrounded by girls. So we must have - Viru Teacher Vinay OR Vinay Teacher Viru

So B5 must be Varun since B5 is next to only the Principal and all other 4 boys are next to at least one other person.

Answer (B)

Linear Arrangement

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