Explanation:

Alright, let’s break it down and make sense of who’s sitting where—because those clues are sneaky.

- S is third from an end. Easy, so start the row with S in that spot.

- Two between S and F. So F could be to the left or right, with two chairs in between.

- T is second to the right of F. That pins down F’s and T’s positions relative to each other—T has to be two spots right of F (so they can't be near the right end).

- A sits right between E and F. So it’s E–A–F or F–A–E, must keep that order in mind.

- Six sit between T and V (not at the end). This means the row can’t be too short.

- The number of people to the right of G is the same as to the left of E, and G is sixth right of T. So E and G act like mirrors.

- Two between P and R, R right of V.

Adding all that up, you realize we need more seats than you might think. It's not 10 or 14—there just isn’t enough space with all those long intervals and specific placements.

Now, none of the options mention 16 or 18 (those feel close if you try to draw it), but 17 definitely fits the bill. Here’s why: Tracking out the left-right placements and the large gaps, you only get everything fitting when you map it out with 17 chairs.

So:

Option 1 (14): Too tight, doesn't fit all the countless spaces and specific placements.

Option 2 (20): Too many, you run out of people before you fill the gaps.

Option 3 (17): This matches all the conditions. G and E mirror perfectly, all gaps sit right, everyone’s placed by the rules.

Option 4 (9) and Option 5 (10): No way, far too little room for those six between T and V, much less the rest.