LSAT PrepTest 44 Section 3 Question 5 Explanation | Logic Games

I didn't write the following blog post. It was already on the blog when I took over the URL. The following blog post may contain mistakes. -Steve

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This Logic Games question is from the October 2004 LSAT.

As always, we'll use a diagram composed of a table filled with symbols (FMRST). Remember that a simple table will solve almost every games question. Let's eliminate a few answer choices before we even start diagramming, since the rules allow this.

The question says S - R (S comes right before R) and the rules say T - S, so we have T - S - R to start with. Before we diagram, we can eliminate several answer choices. A is out because R can't be second (it's third in T - S - R, so 3rd at the earliest).

We know that the F's can't be consecutive. If we put T - S - R in the first three spots, there's no way to separate all the F's (try putting T - S - R in the first three spots, and you see the remaining four don't let you separate the F's). So, eliminate B.

The same is true on the other end...T - S - R can't occupy the last three spots, since that crowds all the F's into the first four spots without room to be separated (not consecutive) as the rules require. So, eliminate E.


We're left with only C and D before we even start diagramming, which saves us a lot of time. Let's try C, putting R in the 5th spot (the x's mean we don't know what goes in that spot yet):

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6| 7|
x | x | T| S |R |x | x|

Again, we see there's no room to put the all F's in non-consecutive order. So, we eliminate C and find that D is correct.

Remember:

1) When the rules allow it, try to eliminate a few answer choices before diagramming. However, if you're not sure, be sure to diagram. You can't go wrong there. Only eliminate answer choices without diagramming if the rules make it obvious that these answer choices can't be right, as was the case with choice A, B, and E here.

2) Use a table with symbols in it whenever you need to diagram (and don't let #1 confuse you, you should still be diagramming on most questions, just not when the rules make eliminating a certain answer choice very obvious).