Diagram

[zuckermaus22]

I don't even know how to approach this one, though it seems really easy. Any advice?

[aileenann]

Hello!

I can certainly understand the confusion - this is something of a funky game because of the element that the swimmers effectively repeat.

I'm attaching a diagram of what I did. The key is to make it visual. I think once you do that, you realize that mostly what you need to do is worry about assigning the first 5 and all else will follow from that. The only caveat is that of course you need to watch the 5/6 spots to see if you break any rules there that you don't break in the ordering of the first 5.

Take a look at this, and see if you might even make some additions to the diagram I've posted. Then take a crack at some of the problems. Sometimes if you're confused it helps to do the problems without time pressure to give yourself the comfort to really take time with a problem to think out all the nuances.

Please let me know if you still have questions after working through the diagram and trying out a problem or two!

[ElianaG559]

Regarding Question 23, I understand based on the diagram why J cannot occupy the 2/7 space, but I’m nit sure how option A (lap 1) also isn’t a valid answer given that O and M are before J in the diagram.

[ohthatpatrick]

Check out the thread for Q23

https://www.manhattanprep.com/lsat/foru ... t4554.html

The confusion you're having is stemming from the fact that every one goes twice.
The rules you're seeing on the diagram involve "at least one".

M's 1st is before O's 1st.
And at least one of J's is immediately after one of O's.
But that doesn't mean that both J's have to be after both O's.

here's a scenario that gets rid of (A)
J L M K O | J L M K O