Diagram

[lisahollchang]

I'm sure this was taught in the LG bible but I finally got it through my head, which is how effective writing out hypotheticals using the major "influencer element" to work as frames throughout the game. Case in point, this game was much easier after I wrote two frames for it. First of all, the setup gave my a diagram kind of like this:

..X.....Y
1........
2.K....L
3......... ~J, ~M
4........<--O

X-->J,K
Y-->M,N,L

Then I placed O into X for one frame and O into Y for the other. I followed each rule for the inferences they made and ended up with two very useful frames:

O in X

..X......Y
1.J.......
2.K.....L
3.R/P.... ~J, ~M
4.O.......

(after answering question 21 and 22 I finally got the inference that N must be 3rd in this frame as well as in the next one)

O in Y

..X......Y
1........M
2.K.....L
3.R/P..N...... ~J, ~M
4........O

[ManhattanPrepLSAT1]

Now that's the sort of thinking that the LSAT rewards. Great work!

Framing is not necessary to doing well on the LSAT. But if you can follow inferences you can frame. If you can frame you have more time then you need for LG. It's simple, you become unstoppable.

Here's what our frames look like. See if you can figure out how these were found and then check your work below!

[timmydoeslsat]

I just did this game for the first time thanks to Manhattan LSAT for having it in its course materials! (It is not found in the preptest books from the LSAC)

I set this game up in this manner:



I know from the rules that each of the 8 members is used exactly once, which will fill all of the slots.

From the first rule saying that J is on the same team as K, I denote that to the side of my diagram, although I am not certain as to whether they are together on team X or team Y.



The second rule tells me that K and N are not on the same team. I plug that information in, although I still am not aware of which side is X or Y.



The next rule gives me a relative ordering of two variables not yet mentioned, R and P. I know that R must come before P, but these two variables do not have to be on the same team. I keep that in mind and move on to the rest of the rules.



Our fourth rule gives me very exact information. It tells me that M and N are on team Y. I now know that J and K are on team X.



The next rule tells me that J and M cannot go third. I denote that in my global diagram. I also use checkmarks above my inventory list of variables to denote its use in the rules. This will indicate variables not used so I can list them as randoms or find out which variables will be interchangeable. I notice the last rule involves O, so I will not have true randoms. I also see that this is not going to be a game with interchangeability.



The next rule tells me that both K and L run in spot 2. Since I already know that J is on team X, I can infer that L is on team Y. I also show on the left side of each team which variables must be used on that team.



I am told that O must be 4th. I decide the most prudent action to take is to split this game into what happens with O being on team X and then on team Y.



I decide to start with filling out the hypothetical with O being on team Y, as there are two variables that must go in 2 slots, and M cannot be 3rd, thus it must be first, and then N must go 3rd.

For team X, I have 3 variables left to place: J R P. I know that J cannot go third and I know that R must come before P. So I know that either R or P must go third. I decide to make this into 2 hypotheticals because I feel that this game is going to be very limited and I believe that I will save time by flying through the questions.



With the top hypothetical, I know that P will have to go 4th to maintain the ordering aspect, which leaves J going 1st.

In the second hypothetical, I know that R must go first and J must go last.

I am now done with what happens when O is on team Y.



With O being on team X, I know that J must be first. It cannot go into 3 and 1 is the only slot left.



So we now know that M and N must go on team Y. The only two variables left are R and P. Those are the only two variables that can be on team X. I decide to show this split.



I now focus on the relative ordering rule of R-P. This means that in the first hypothetical, the P must be 4th on team Y. This also means that in the second hypothetical, R must be first on team Y.



I now only have M and N left to place and I already know that M cannot be third.



So now we know what happens when O is on team X.

We have four scenarios total for this game. You can now fly through the questions.

[ManhattanPrepLSAT1]

I am told that O must be 4th. I decide the most prudent action to take is to split this game into what happens with O being on team X and then on team Y.

Great move Timmy!

Question, how long did that take you? I think that's about a 4 or 5 minute operation, but that you'll still make up for it 3-fold in the questions.

Great work!

[timmydoeslsat]

I am told that O must be 4th. I decide the most prudent action to take is to split this game into what happens with O being on team X and then on team Y.

Great move Timmy!

Question, how long did that take you? I think that's about a 4 or 5 minute operation, but that you'll still make up for it 3-fold in the questions.

Great work!

I would say 4 minutes. When I first saw the split of O being either team X or Y, I was not anticipating solving all of the scenarios, but it was so limited that I knew it would be worth my time to solve it.

[matthew.mainen]

What's the intuition regarding building the frames around where O goes? I framed it around the possible locations for the R-P. I see now that framing around O is much easier.

[ManhattanPrepLSAT1]

After the initial setup, we should have the following setup and rule notation:



The reason it looks easier to frame based on the position of O is that there are 4 possible locations of R and P, while there are only 2 possible locations of O--it's simply the path of least resistance.

After placing the O in both positions a few other inferences fall into place leaving us with the following two frames:



At that point we could stop and move to the questions or we could recognize that there is a position in both frames (3rd position of X) that must either be R or P and could lead to further dividing our frames into a total of 4. This a personal judgment, you do not need to create 4 frames, but if you do, you'll probably find the questions much easier.