#9 - Local, Could Be True

[Dave Killoran]

Complete Question Explanation
(The complete setup for this game can be found here: lsat/viewtopic.php?f=391&p=94117)

The correct answer choice is (C)

If K is scheduled for Wednesday, then from the fourth rule V must be scheduled for Tuesday. Consequently, only H and I are available to be scheduled for Monday.

If H is scheduled for Monday, then N must be scheduled for Friday, forcing I to be scheduled on Thursday:

G2-Q9-d1.png

If I is scheduled for Monday, then H and N rotate between Thursday and Friday

G2-Q9-d2.png

The above two diagrams encompass all of the possibilities for this question, and in combination prove that answer choice (C) is correct.

[erikariasss]

Hello,

I had trouble seeing why number 9 is C. It was a 'could be true' but I'm not sure why (A) or (D) are wrong answer choices.

[Dave Killoran]

Hello!

In #9, the question stem establishes that K is scheduled for Wednesday. So, from the last rule, V must be scheduled for Tuesday, which would look something like this:

• ___ _V_ _K_ ___ ___

With answer choice (A), a tricky chain reaction occurs that causes an issue so let's look at that more closely. I is first placed on Friday from the answer condition:

• ___ _V_ _K_ ___ _I_

Now there is only Monday or Thursday left. From the second rule, if H goes on Monday then N has to go on Friday, which can't happen since I is now there. So, H would have to go on Thursday:

• ___ _V_ _K_ _H_ _I_

So far, so good it would seem. But, that leaves N to be scheduled on Monday (the last remaining spot), and that can't happen from the first rule. So, we can't get a viable solution here with (A), and it can be eliminated.

With (D), we now have an N I sequence. For N to be scheduled earlier than I, it would have to be on Monday or Thursday. But wait, from the first rule N can't be scheduled for Monday, which forces N into Thursday, and consequently I into Friday:

• ___ _V_ _K_ _N_ _I_

That now leaves H to be scheduled on Monday (the last remaining spot), and from the second rule when that happens then N is scheduled for Friday, but N can't do that since it is already on Thursday. So again, no viable solution exists with the condition in (D).

A tough one since it ends up having more steps that you'd expect from a five-variable linear game!

Please let me know if that helps, thanks!

[erikariasss]

That helps a lot, thank you!

I guess my next question would be clarification as to why (C) is the correct answer.

[Adam Tyson]

Because in this situation, N COULD be earlier than H, erikariasss.

With VK on Tuesday and Wednesday, only H or I can go on Monday (because N cannot per the first rule). If H is Monday, N is Friday (the second rule) and I must be Thursday:

HVKIN

But when I goes on Monday, H and N become interchangeable on Thursday and Friday:

I V K H/N N/H

So in that case, it could be true that N is before H: IVKNH would work. It doesn't have to be that way, but it could be, and that's all that matters!