Question

After retiring, eight friends: Balram, Bhandari, Das, Munshi, Nadkarni, Parmar, Patel and Sethuraman purchased a square plot of land. They divided the land in 8 equal plots and a common back garden as shown. Parmar was allotted plot number 1. Balram preferred a house on the west. Patel chose to stay the farthest from Nadkarni’s house. Munshi and Bhandari became neighbours of Nadkarni. Sethuraman became a neighbour of Patel. Nadkarni hails from the North East, so he chose the plot on the North East.
Which of the options MUST BE true?

• A. Das stays in plot number 5.
• B. Munshi could be a neighbour of Parmar.
• C. Balram and Nadkarni could be neighbours.
• D. Balram shares a wall with Bhandari.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A, B

In order to solve this problem, we need to carefully analyze the conditions and the arrangement of the plots. Let's outline the given information:

• Parmar is allocated plot number 1.
• Balram prefers a house on the west.
• Patel wants to stay the farthest from Nadkarni’s house.
• Munshi and Bhandari are neighbors of Nadkarni.
• Sethuraman is a neighbor of Patel.
• Nadkarni, from the North East, chose the plot on the North East.

Let's lay out the plots in an 8-plot format surrounding a common garden area:

3	2	1
4	Garden	8
5	6	7

Given the positions based on conditions:

• Plot #1 is Parmar's.
• Plot #3 is Nadkarni's (North East).
• Plots #2 and #4 are Munshi and Bhandari’s, as they are neighbors of Nadkarni.
• Since Patel wants to be the farthest from Nadkarni (Plot #3), Patel will choose Plot #7 or Plot #8.
• Sethuraman is Patel's neighbor, so if Patel is in Plot #7, Sethuraman must be in Plot #8, or vice versa.
• Balram prefers the west side, Plot #5 or Plot #6.

Let's analyze each of the options:

• Option: Das stays in plot number 5.
• Das staying in plot number 5 is consistent as there is no rule tying him to a specific plot, leaving #5 or #6 for Balram and Das interchangeably.
• Option: Munshi could be a neighbor of Parmar.
• Munshi could occupy Plot #2 or #4, both making him a potential neighbor of Parmar, located on Plot #1, considering neighbors across the garden.
  
• Option: Balram and Nadkarni could be neighbors.
• Balram, preferring the west, cannot neighbor Nadkarni directly, as Nadkarni occupies Plot #3.
• Option: Balram shares a wall with Bhandari.
• With Bhandari next to Nadkarni in Plot #2 or #4, Balram being on Plot #5 or #6 does not make them direct wall neighbors considering the plot layout.

Based on the deductions, the correct statements are "Das stays in plot number 5" and "Munshi could be a neighbor of Parmar."