Q16

[ManhattanPrepLSAT2]

Here is a solution for this problem.

[Emily-L]

Hi Mike,
Thanks for the solution. Can you please explain how you would attack this problem though? Would you be drawn to answer C immediately, because Theresa has a constraint? Or would you just start from the top?

Thanks,
Emily

[tommywallach]

Hey Emily,

Unfortunately not. On a question like this one, where you haven't been given any new rules to work with, you generally have no choice but to work through the answer choices from top to bottom. this is a VERY difficult question, in terms of time, because you really have to think through the answer choices one by one.

Yes, there is a constraint with Theresa, but there are constraints with other riders as well, so that's hardly helpful.

One other quick thing, for everyone: I noticed in the drawing that the rules are TERRIBLY described (lots of errors). So here's a corrective text:

THE CHAIN OF INFERENCES (not "one possible" chain):

If F goes in T2...
H has to go in T1...
F has to go in S1...
G has to go in S1...
G has to go in S2...
No place for the 2 J's!

Hope that helps!

-t

[Emily-L]

Thanks Tommy. Good to know that there isn't a faster way that I missed. But I'm not sure I understand your chain of inferences- I am with you for this part:
If F goes in T2...
H has to go in T1...
F has to go in S1...

But then I don't follow the rest (below). F has to go in S1, but then you write that G has to go in S1? I'm not sure what you mean, but also, can we just at F has to go in S1 and see that there is no place for the two J's?

G has to go in S1...
G has to go in S2...
No place for the 2 J's!

Thank you!
Emily

[Emily-L]

Correction to the paragraph below that I wrote:

But then I don't follow the rest (below). F has to go in S1, but then you write that G has to go in S1? I'm not sure what you mean, but also, can we just stop at "F has to go in S1" and see that there is no place for the two J's?