#10 - Local

[Administrator]

Complete Question Explanation

The correct answer choice is (E).

Answer choice (A):

Answer choice (B):

Answer choice (C):

Answer choice (D):

Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice.

This explanation is still in progress. Please post any questions below!

[anonymous123]

Why is B wrong? How did you guys arrive at E?

[Adam Tyson]

Let's run through the possibilities, anonymous123:

What if S is the one that is on the 1st and 3rd? The rules would forbid us to put O on either 2 or 4, but with J already taking up the slots for the 5th and 6th, that would mean O never appears, and that also violates the rule about using each format at least once (check back in the scenario for that one). So S cannot be the one that appears 1st and 3rd. That eliminates answer B.

If we try O on the 1st and 3rd, then J must be 2nd and 4th, per the first rule. We would have a solution of OJOJJJ, with no S, and that also violates the rule in the scenario about each format being used at least once. Answer A is now eliminated.

So we must put J 1st and 3rd, leaving open the slots on the 2nd and 4th. One of those slots will be an O and the other will be an S, and it doesn't matter which is which. That looks like this:

J O/S J S/O J J

That's all we need to prove that answer E COULD be true, while none of the others could happen. J cannot be 2nd or 4th, because that's where O and S have to go.