Suppose the 8 seats are labeled A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H with 1. seat A opposite seat E, 2. seat B opposite seat F, 3. seat C opposite seat G, 4. seat D opposite seat H The two people can choose a pair of seats in any of C(8,2) = 28 ways. They can choose a pair of opposite seats in only 4 ways. So the probability is 4 out of 28 ways orwhich reduces to . -------------------------- Explanation: That's these four choices of ways to sit opposite each other: {A,E} {B,F} (C,G}, {D,H} out of these 28 ways to sit opposite or not: {A,B), {A,C}, {A,D}, {A,E}, {A,F}, {A,G}, {A,H} {B,C), {B,D}, {B,E}, {B,F}, {B,G}, {B,H}, {C,D} {C,E), {C,F}, {C,G}, {C,H}, {D,E}, {D,F}, {D,G} {D,H), {E,F}, {E,G}, {E,H}, {F,G}, {F,H}, {G,H} Edwin