#8 - Global, Must Be True

[Dave Killoran]

Complete Question Explanation
(The complete setup for this game can be found here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=11277)

The correct answer choice is (C)

This question contains the “5 if” format, and if you are slow at games, this is a good question to skip since “5 if” questions are typically quite time-consuming.

The following hypothetical eliminates answer choices (A), (B), and (E):

June 05_game #2_M12_L4_explanations_game#2_#8_diagram_1.png

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

Answer choice (D): The scenario in this answer choice can never occur because Tape 2 can never have a side of J.

[rameday]

Hello,

http://forum.powerscore.com/lsat/viewto ... f=6&t=6075

A similar question popped up in this game. How did they know to draw up that hypothetitcal?

For this one I had an inclination that the correct answer would involve tape 2 in some way and as seen from answer choice B & C that would determine what happens with tape 1. but from there I was stuck. How do you go about answering these 5 if questions? They always puzzle me and seem time consuming.

[Emily Haney-Caron]

Hi rameday,

The 5 "if" questions are definitely among the most time-consuming. Fortunately, you can quickly eliminate D, because we know Tape 2 can never have J.
After that, the way I would approach this question is by trying out game solutions to see if any of them violate an answer choice. Starting with A, I'd try putting two sides of J on Tape 1, but not put any R on Tape 4. I might come up with this, quickly, and see that Tape 4 does not have R, but the rules aren't violated:
J-R-H-F
J-R-H-F
Therefore, I can cross off A.

Then I'd do the same with B. If Tape 2 has FF, then I know Tape 1 is JJ, since 1 can only have J or F. Can I do that without putting H on 3?
J-F-R-H
J-F-R-H
Yep, that works, so B is wrong.

For answer C, I'll put RR on Tape 2, and then try to avoid putting F on Tape 4:
J-R-
F-R-
Once I get that far, I realize that I can't put F on Tape 3, because that would be one higher than R. Therefore, at least one F is going to have to go on Tape 4. That means C is the right answer.

If I was moving on to answer E, I would look back to by solution to answer B and see that Tape 4 had HH, and Tape 3 did not have F, showing that E is also an incorrect answer.

Hope that helps!