#23 - Global, Must Be True

[Dave Killoran]

Complete Question Explanation
(The complete setup for this game can be found here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=16592)

The correct answer choice is (E)

Because there are currently six assistants, and one must be promoted this year, at most there will be five assistants next year. Because at least one assistant must be promoted next year, at most there will be four assistants after next year’s review. It follows that answer choice (E) is correct.

[gracekim]

I was looking at this game today and I'm not sure if I'm understanding the questions right. I saw the explanation for question 22 in another post but I couldn't figure out 23. If anyone can help me out it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[Jon Denning]

Hey Grace (Kim?) - thanks for the question. It would help me out if you could be a little more specific about exactly what gave you trouble with the question, but I'll try to add some insight anyway.

23. Since this question is about "next year's review" then we have two reviews to consider (this year's AND next year's). And since, according to the scenario given, at least one assistant is promoted at each review, then at least two of the assistants must have been promoted. So it must be true after two reviews that at most only four of the original six assistants remain, answer choice D.

Hope that helps!

[gracekim]

Thank you for your reply. I reread the problem and I missed a rule! Doh!

[Jon Denning]

Haha happens to the best of us - glad I could help!

[lawlandmem]

I'm a bit thrown off by this game... so the rules say that at least 1 assistant and associate must be promoted, but that doesn't mean that only 1 assistant was promoted, right? So how can we assume that only 1 assistant was promoted this year?

[Rachael Wilkenfeld]

We aren't assuming that only one assistant was promoted, lawlandmem, we are following the rule that at least one assistent per year is promoted. That's why our correct answer choice says that there are at most four assistants left. Each year at least one gets promoted. That's a minimum of two assistants out of six that are promoted, leaving at most four assistants. It's possible that two assistants are promoted each year. That's consistent with the rules and the answer choice. There's still at most four assistants.

Hope that helps!

[goingslow]

Hi! I have a follow-up question for answer (D). For question #23, after next year's review, could it be true that there were NO assistants? My thought process is that during this year's promotion review, all 6 assistants can be promoted except J. So J is the only one who has to be left behind this year. Next year, maybe J can be promoted, leaving no assistants behind. Am I right in thinking this way?

[Adam Tyson]

You are correct that the maximum number of assistants after next year's review is zero, goingslow! Everyone but J could be promoted this year, and then J would have to be promoted the following year. That disproves answer D!