Given that, five persons $\text{P, Q, R, S, and T}$ are sitting in a row.
- $Q$ and $R$ are separated by one person.
- $S$ should not be seated adjacent to $Q.$
We can follow the above two conditions, we get the following sitting orders:
- First fix the position of $Q,$ and $R,$ we get,
- ${\color{Red}{Q} } \;{\color{Green}{P} }\; {\color{Blue}{R} }\; S\; T$
- ${\color{Red}{Q} }\; {\color{Green}{P} }\; {\color{Blue}{R} }\; T\; S$
- ${\color{Red}{Q} }\; {\color{Green}{T} }\; {\color{Blue}{R} }\; S\; P$
- ${\color{Red}{Q} }\; {\color{Green}{T} }\; {\color{Blue}{R} }\; P\; S$
- Again fix the position of $Q,$ and $R,$ we get,
- $ {\color{Green}{P} }\;{\color{Red}{Q} }\; T \;{\color{Blue}{R} }\; S$
- $ {\color{Green}{T} }\;{\color{Red}{Q} }\; P \;{\color{Blue}{R} }\; S$
- Again fix the position of $Q,$ and $R,$ we get,
- ${\color{Green}{S} }\; P\; {\color{Red}{Q} }\;T\;{\color{Blue}{R} }$
- ${\color{Green}{S} }\; T\; {\color{Red}{Q} }\;P\;{\color{Blue}{R} }$
Now, we can fix the positions interchangeably, and get the following siting orders:
- First fix the position of $R,$ and $Q,$ we get,
- $ {\color{Blue}{R} }\; {\color{Green}{P} }\; {\color{Red}{Q} }\; T\; S$
- ${\color{Blue}{R} }\; {\color{Green}{T} }\; {\color{Red}{Q} }\; P\; S$
- Again fix the position of $R,$ and $Q,$ we get,
- ${\color{Green}{S}}\; {\color{Blue}{R} }\; P\; {\color{Red}{Q} }\; T$
- ${\color{Green}{S}}\; {\color{Blue}{R} }\; T\; {\color{Red}{Q} }\; P$
- Again fix the position of $R,$ and $Q,$ we get,
- ${\color{Green}{S}}\; P\; {\color{Blue}{R} }\; T\; {\color{Red}{Q} }$
- ${\color{Green}{S}}\; T\; {\color{Blue}{R} }\; P\; {\color{Red}{Q} }$
- $P\;{\color{Green}{S}}\; {\color{Blue}{R} }\; T\; {\color{Red}{Q} }$
- $T\;{\color{Green}{S}}\; {\color{Blue}{R} }\; P\; {\color{Red}{Q} }$
$\therefore$ The number of distinct seating arrangements possible $ = 16.$
So, the correct answer is $(D).$