Question about phrasing of a condition....

[staceyhursh]

I am working on a practice LG and one of the conditions is phrased (not quoting verbatim) "M and H are exactly two spaces apart."

For some reason I am having a difficult time seeing as how this is written as M_H (or H_M) and not M_ _ H (or H _ _ M). Maybe just a brain freeze, but that doesn't make sense to me. I'm probably making it way too complicated, but it's got me stuck. Help would be appreciated.

[timmydoeslsat]

This is a common issue people have!

1) M and H are exactly two spaces apart = M_H or H_M

2) Two spaces between M and H = M _ _ H or H _ _ M


The second scenario is equivalent to three spaces apart. When you have M and H being two spaces apart, you cannot just count the spaces between them. You must also include the space that the M/H variable is occupying, as this is part of the separation of it and the other variable.

[chike_eze]

I am working on a practice LG and one of the conditions is phrased (not quoting verbatim) "M and H are exactly two spaces apart."

For some reason I am having a difficult time seeing as how this is written as M_H (or H_M) and not M_ _ H (or H _ _ M).

I get turned around on these too.

1. M and H are exactly two spaces apart (from each other)
2. M and H have exactly two spaces between them

Both are not the same.

1. M -- count space one, then H. Therefore, M_H or H_M. This statement is equivalent to "exactly one space between"

2. M -- space one, space two, then H. Therefore, M_ _H or H_ _M. This statement is equivalent to "exactly three spaces apart"

Spaces_Apart_or_Between.pdf

Spaces Apart or Between

(172.65 KiB) Downloaded 190 times

Hmm, maybe we could use a formula:
- A and B are X spaces apart = A and B have X-1 spaces between them
- A and B have X spaces between them = A and B have X+1 spaces apart

What do you think?

[chike_eze]

This is a common issue people have!

1) M and H are exactly two spaces apart = M_H or H_M

2) Two spaces between M and H = M _ _ H or H _ _ M

Interesting. You were posting, and I was thinking the exact same thing. Even now, I still slow down and think about which one is being referred to... tricky LSAT-ers!!

[staceyhursh]

Thanks everyone!!

[sw]

SUGGESTION for visualizing the difference:
" 1(G) and 3(H) are two spaces apart": Think of how many jumps it would take to get from one spot to another on a number line (draw arcs from one spot to the next as you jump down the number line)

G _ H

"1(G) and 4(H) have two spaces between them": Think of how many dots you are jumping over as you go down the number line.

G _ _ H

My daughter is in first grade.

Does this make sense, or is it just me?

[staceyhursh]

Yep, makes sense.