LG Game 4 Question 19 Explanation, by LSATHacks
This question places R second. You should always look at restricted spots. If R is second, then there is exactly one program before R. Which program could it be?
Not T. T can’t start on the hour.
Not W. If W goes before R, then W is also before T. But the fourth rules says that T has to come right after W is W is before T.
Not S. S has to go after R.
So only GG can go before R. This means R is in the third slot (but they are still the second variable). Remember that GG only counts as one variable:
T, W and S are left to place. S can go anywhere, since it’s automatically after R. So let’s focus on T and W.
T can only go on the half hour. So T can go fourth or sixth. If T is fourth, W and S can go in either order:
If T is sixth, then W must go immediately before T (rule 4). S is left to go fourth:
D is CORRECT. There is no way to put W third.
All of other answers are possible, on one of the two diagrams.
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How is it that C can be true? C says that Terry is the fifth program, but since Terry can only start on the half-hour, it doesn’t make sense for that to be true.
If T is 5th, that means everything else goes beforehand. Including generations, the hour long program. So there are 2.5 hours of programming before T, and T starts on the half hour.
The stimulus seems to be unclear about what constitutes a “program” leading to errors of reasoning that would otherwise be avoided… It is completely reasonable to understand program to mean individual variables (G R S T W).
I really appreciate the explanation. Once I realized the distinction between the variables and programs programs this was a very easy game. Can’t afford to gloss over these little kinks in the rules and variables on test day.
Isn’t this also possible?
W T R S S G G
Sorry I meant:
W T R S G G
That’s a possible gameboard, but this question is asking us what happens when R is the second program. In that gameboard, R is third.
Isn’t R third here as well? G G R S W T? Which is the solution given..? I think I’m missing something.