Q5

[aap]

Setting this up as a closed assignment, I got to question 5 fairly readily, but then got stumped. I'm wondering if I missed an inference. Here's what I have thus far.
_ _ _ am
_ _ _ pm
M T W

G must be in T
not O and not R in pm
Nm -> [H,I]t
Nt -> [H,I]w
not Ht or not It -> not Nm
not Hw or not Iw -> not Nt

5. If Kyle gives the afternoon report on Tuesday, and Helen gives the afternoon report on Wednesday, which one of the following could be the list of the students who give the morning reports on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively?

(a) Irving, Lenore, and Nina [nixed it because no George]
(b) Lenore, George, and Irving
(c) Nina, Irving, and Lenore [nixed it because no George]
(d) Robert, George, and Irving
(e) Robert, Irving, and Lenore [nixed it because no George]

Now I get down to (b) and (d). I don't see why either L or R wouldn't be appropriate.

Any help would be appreciate.

thnx

[superfilms]

"G must be in T"

The original rule says that the only day G can be on is T. This does not mean that G must be on T, but that G cannot be on M or W. Remember, G might not be one of the six presenting a report.

Between the information given in the question (K=T/pm, H=W/pm) plus the three in the morning given in the answers, the only spot left is Monday afternoon (M/pm), and in each case there will be three people remaining who could go in that spot (two of whom will not present).

(a) Irving, Lenore, and Nina

Leaves G/O/R for M/pm, none of whom can go there.

(b) Lenore, George, and Irving

Leaves N/O/R for M/pm, none of whom can go there (if N were M, then HI would have to be on T).

(c) Nina, Irving, and Lenore

Same as A. Leaves G/O/R for M/pm.

(d) Robert, George, and Irving

Leaves L/N/O for M/pm. L works, so it's the right answer.

(e) Robert, Irving, and Lenore

Leaves G/N/O for M/pm, and none can go there (N can't go in Mon. since H is on Fri).

[noah]

I agree with superfilms.

This question reminds me of what is required for some of the questions in the Dinosaur game from the June 2009 exam: exclusion used to force incorrect answers. It's a useful tool when there's a limited number of options for part of a scenario. Here, the question creates that limitation, though in the Dinosaur game it is built into the original scenario.

[aap]

Thanks for the help. A simple fundamental flaw in my thinking late at night.

thnx

[noah]

Thanks for the help. A simple fundamental flaw in my thinking late at night.

thnx

That's when so many fundamental flaws reveal themselves

[LYM.randy]

I initially tried to be clever and go for some eliminations, so I knocked off C for putting N too far away from H, but then everything else looked legal.
I resorted to plugging and chugging, and while I ended up with the correct answer, I could have saved so much time having a perspective of "whose left to fill what" and really nailed it quicker.