Setup and Rule Diagrams

[stsai]

Q6-11. 3 actors--Gombrich, Otto, Raines audition for parts...

From the back of the bible, I learned that this is a Advanced Linear, Unbalanced-Overloaded, # Distribution game, and is very difficult for me to set up.
Though I know to mark the persons as GGOORR and XX (2 empty spots) for the 6 into 8 distribution. I only made it to Q7, but got both Q6 and 7 wrong.
Could someone please show the setup for this game?
Thanks!

[Dave Killoran]

Hi Stsai,

The game you reference is actually from June 2009, not June 2008. After glancing at your comments, I think your error is in assuming that there are exactly two auditions each day (and thus, with only six actor auditions, there are two X variables for empty spots). However, because there is no specification that there are exactly two auditions per day, there are no "empty spots" to fill.

Instead, look at this game as the six auditions going over the four days, with a minimum of one audition each day. This leads to two unfixed numerical distributions of the six auditions to the four days: 3-1-1-1 and 2-2-1-1.

Try the game again from that perspective and see if you don't find it to be easier.

Thanks!

[stsai]

I see. But the next step I could think of is to make templates---which would be 7 of them (1-3-1-1, 1-1-3-1, 1-1-1-3; 1-1-2-2, 1-2-1-2, 1-2-2-1, 2-2-1-1)---so this seems a bit inefficient. Is there another way to tackle this numerical distribution? Not laws? (But I can't think of a good way to make Not laws with this much uncertainty...)
Thanks!

[Dave Killoran]

You could do that, but that's not the direction I'd go because there are still plenty of options within each. Plus, with any of the 3-1-1-1 distributions, you know that GR is among the three, so that really makes those limited. So just considering the situation beforehand, we already have a lot of useful info before having to take the time to make templates.

Then, take a look at the questions:

#6 is a List question, so pretty easy.
#7 + #11 are Local questions, so that extra info helps limit the possibilities.

So, we have three questions where we likely wouldn't need the possibilities (The remaining Global questions actually aren't that tough either; for example, #8 is a question that trades directly on the first rule, and #9 has two answers eliminated by the answer to #6 and the question stem in #7)

Once you have the distributions and have considered the three rules, you actually have a lot of info--enough in my opinion not to need to take the time to write out templates. Just get into the questions and start attacking.

Thanks!

[adlindsey]

The phrase on the scenario, "on each of these days at least one of the actors auditions for parts." What does that mean? I looked at another explanation and it was stated that it meant some days could be empty. I interpreted it as each day must have a least one actor.

[Adam Tyson]

That definitely means there cannot be any empty days, adlindsey! Your interpretation is correct. I hope the other explanation you saw wasn't one of ours? If it was, please tell us where you found that, either in one of our books or in our online materials, so we can proofread it and make any needed corrections.

Thanks!

[adlindsey]

It was a different company.

[Adam Tyson]

Phew! Good to know. Stick with us, we won't steer you wrong like that!

[bella243]

Could someone please show the best way to diagram this game? The global list question shows actors as the base; I used weekdays as the base but still found the set up process challenging.

Thanks.

[Adam Tyson]

You should for sure use the days as the base, bella, because of the linear nature of the game, which is made especially clear by the first rule of the game. Start with one empty slot per day, since there is a minimum of one audition on each day, but since you have 6 total auditions over 4 days you have to remain aware of the possible numeric distributions. Either one day has three auditions and the others each have one, or there are two days with two auditions each and two with one each. From there you might want to try templates based on which of the three actors auditions on Thursday and Saturday, just to see if that pays off for you or not. I like that approach for this one, but not all of my esteemed colleagues would choose that approach, so you need to figure out whether that works for you.