LSAT 32, Game 1, Setup, Oral Reports

This is an explanation of the first logic game from Section III of LSAT Preptest 32, the October 2000 LSAT.

A group of eight students attended a seminar. They are George, Helen, Irving, Kyle, Lenore, Nina, Olivia, and Robert (G, H, I, K, L, N, O). Six students from this group need to make individual oral reports. The reports will be given for three days, from Monday through Wednesday (M, T, W), one in the morning (M) and one in the afternoon (A). The rules allow you to make schedules for them.

Game Setup

The game is complicated by the fact that there are eight people but only six spaces. So not everyone is in at once.

It’s easiest to set the game up horizontally. Here’s what my diagram looks like:

I put the first two rules directly on the diagram. G doesn’t go on Monday or Wednesday, and O and R can’t give reports in the afternoon.

The third rule is that if H gives a report on Monday or Tuesday, H and I give reports the day after.

Here’s how I drew it:

But the best thing is simply to memorize it. There are only three rules in this game. Two of them are directly on the diagram. The game will be much easier if you can memorize this final rule.

Wednesday is special. Wednesday is the only day N can go without triggering the final rule.

You should always draw the list of variables, and circle those with no rules. K and L are important, because we can put them anywhere.

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