Setup and Rule Diagrams

[rororo]

Does rule 3 have a contrapositive? If not, why not?

[Beatrice Brown]

Hi Rororo! Thanks so much for your question

Yes, there is a contrapositive to rule 3. Rule 3 tells us that if a student presents on Machiavellianism (M), then that student also presents on Shakespeare's villains (S). The word "anyone" signifies that this is a conditional rule. The contrapositive of this statement is that if a student does not present on Shakespeare's villains (NOT S), then that student does not present on Machiavellianism (NOT M).

I hope this helps, and let me know if you have any further questions!

[hope]

You should always try to build some diagram, menkenj, even if you aren't entirely clear on what makes the best base. Internalizing the rules with no diagram and diving in will usually result in a lot of wasted time as you keep mulling them over, drawing out new diagrams, etc.

This is an unusual game in that it seems like either variable set could make a good base. Robert's setup has the students as the base, an you could use that to set up some templates based on who presents on Shakespeare's villains (either R does and W does not, or W does and R does not, or neither of them does and G must). You could do the same with the presentations as the base, and I would again look at doing those same templates (I am a template junkie!) But to go forward with nothing but the rules, and no base into which to place them, will, for most students, mean a lot more time ultimately spent on the questions than if you had some sort of starting point.

When you aren't sure what to use for the base, think about the numbers. Here, every student has to do one or more presentations, so students could be a good base. Every presentation has to be done by at least one students, so that gives you essentially the same numeric information and indicates that presentations could be a good base, too. At that point, pick one and run with it! Almost without exception you will be better off than with no base at all.

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ADAM CAN YOU DRAW OUT THE TEMPLATES THAT YOU MENTIONED? THANKS AHEAD OF TIME.

[Adam Tyson]

Sure thing, Hope! Here are three templates that use the students as the base and built around who does Shakespeare's villains (R, W, or neither R nor W):

1. M: (not W)
J: W
S: R (not W)

2. M: (not R)
J: R
S: W (not R)

3. M: G (not R or W)
J: RW
S: G (not R or W)

These templates leave a lot unknown, and so it would be understandable if you chose not to pursue them. Only a true template junkie like me would be pleased with this limited information! For example, in the first template, I know that W does not do M, but I don't know if M includes just G, or just R, or both. J has W, but could also include G and R or just R, or it could be W alone. S might include G but also might not. A lot is left uncertain, so using them might still involve doing a lot of work and drawing out local scenarios.