#8 - Local, Could Be True

[Dave Killoran]

Complete Question Explanation
(The complete setup for this game can be found here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=15592)

The correct answer choice is (B)

The question stem indicates that the computer in office 3 was bought in an earlier year than the printer in office 3. Because the printer in office 3 was purchased in 1988, we can infer that the computer in office 3 was purchased in 1987. In addition, from the third rule we can then infer that the printer in office 4 was purchased in 1987. Finally, from the first rule, we can infer that the computer in office 4 was purchased in 1987:

PT1-Jun1991 game 2 #8 diagram 1.png

Accordingly, answer choice (B) could be true and is correct.

[oommenj2]

Can you explain how we got B for number 8?

[KelseyWoods]

Hi oommenj2!

We know from the last rule that the printer in office 3 was bought in 1988. So if the computer in office 3 was bought in an earlier year than the printer in office 3, then the computer in office 3 must have been purchased in 1987. That would mean that the printer in office 4 would have also had to been purchased in 1987 (Rule #3) and the computer in office 4 would, therefore, have to have also been bought in 1987 (Rule #1).

So our local diagram would look like this:

C:                    8           8/9      7           7
P:                      8/9     8/9      8           7
Offices:          1          2          3          4

This is a could be true question, meaning that the 4 incorrect answers will be things that cannot be true and the 1 correct answer will be something that is possible. According to our local diagram, (A), (C), (D), & (E) are all things that cannot be true. The computer in office 2 could be bought in either 1988 or 1989, so answer choice (B) is possible and, therefore, correct.

Hope this helps!

Best,
Kelsey