LSAT 69, Game 4 Setup, Paralegals, LSATHacks

This is the fourth logic game from Section II of LSAT 69, the June 2013 LSAT. There are five paralegals: Frank, Gina, Hiro, Kevin and Laurie (F, G, H, K, L). They are assigned to one of three cases: Raimes, Sicoli or Thompson (R, S, T).

This is a grouping game. Above all else, you have to remember the rules. If you remember them, there’s not much to this game.

Actually, why don’t you go reread the rules before you read my explanations?

I drew the last rule first – H is with S. You should always start with the most definite rules:

Next, I drew two versions of the main diagram to show the first rule. Either F is with R and K is with T, or they both aren’t:

I didn’t always use these not rules when I made local diagrams. But I glanced at this diagram when drawing and reminded myself of the rule.

The second rule is a bit unique. One, but only one, of F or G is alone. I prefer just to memorize that.

It’s not hard to memorize one out of three rules. That’s why it’s so important to draw as many rules as you can directly on the diagram.

That said, I did draw something when I did this game. It was just a placeholder to help me remember:

Finally, L is random. The circle indicates that L has no rules:

Only Two Groups To Be Alone In

That’s it. Not much to say about these rules. Remember that each group needs at least one person.

A few questions place variables alone in a group. Variables can only be alone in groups R or T, since H is already in group S.

So when a question tells you someone is alone, there are only two possibilities. Whenever there are only two possibilities, you should make two diagrams: One with the person alone in R, the other with the person alone in T.

Drawing both diagrams lets you find different deductions for each diagram. The LSAT makers expect you to draw two diagrams when there are only two possibilities.

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