Sequencing Rules - Q is inspected example

[Stephanie Oswalt]

We recently received the following question from a student. An instructor will respond below. Thanks!

I was wondering you if could help me out. I have question about an example in p. 50 & 51 of the Logic Games Bible. The example states that "Q is inspected before R is inspected but after H is inspected." Then on page 51 it states in the paragraph that "Q may be inspected before H".

How can that be if it states on p. 50 that "Q is inspected before R is inspected but after H is inspected." ?

Thanks!

Sy

[Adam Tyson]

Hey Sy, thanks for asking. On those pages we are describing a variety of ways that rules can be presented in the language of the scenario and rules, and then showing how different variations would be diagrammed. In the first instance you mentioned, the one you found on page 50 (which is where I find it in my 2016 edition of that book), it's showing us how to diagram a rule that says "Q is inspected before R but after H", as you stated, and that diagram is:

H Q R

Right after that diagram, though, on page 51, we are showing you how to diagram a similar but crucially different rule. That rule instead says "H and Q are both inspected before R is inspected". That's not meant to be part of the same rule set as the previous rule, but is supposed to show you an entirely new rule with a new diagram and a new set of challenges and inferences. That rule is diagrammed as shown just below the rule in the book, somewhat approximated here (where I cannot draw an angled line, so bear with me on this):

H
R
Q

In this case, which is NOT supposed to be read along with the rule on page 50, but as an entirely new rule, it is possible for Q to be before H, or for H to be before Q. In some game, ties are allowed, and Q and H could be simultaneous. We just cannot tell from this new rule what the relationship is between Q and H, only that they both have a known relationship to R.

Sorry for the confusion, I hope that clears things up!