- Mon Jun 24, 2013 8:06 am
#88228
Setup and Rule Diagram Explanation
This is a Grouping: Balanced-Defined, Moving, Identify the Templates game.
A brief glance at this game reveals that there are only five variables being distributed into three groups, with just four rules controlling the placement of the variables. This type of scenario suggests that the game should be on the easier side, and indeed this game is favorable for most test takers.
The first sentence of the game scenario establishes that five performers—T, W, X, Y, and Z—sign with three different agencies—F, P, and S. This can be diagrammed as:
The second sentence establishes that each performer signs with only one agency, creating a Balanced scenario. With each agency also signing at least one performer, the minimum requirement of performers-to-agencies is 1-1-1, leaving two performers unassigned. This creates two unfixed numerical distributions: 3-1-1 and 2-2-1.
With the basics of the grouping arrangement established, we can turn to analyzing the rules.
Rule #1. This rule establishes that X is assigned to agency F.
Because performers can only sign with one agency, this rule eliminates X from further placement consideration, and it also allows F to meet the minimum requirements of signing at least one performer.
Rule #2. If X and Y do not sign with the same agency, then Y cannot sign with agency F because X is already assigned to F per the first rule. This rule is best diagrammed as a not-block and a Y Not Law:
Rule #3. This rule establishes that Z and Y are a vertical block, and when this rule is combined with the first and second rules, we can infer that Z does not sign with F. This inference is best drawn as a Z Not Law:
With the ZY block eliminated from signing with F, the only two options for ZY are P or S. This strongly suggests making two templates—one with ZY signing with P, and one with ZY signing with S. However, we will hold off on taking that approach until after evaluating the final rule.
Rule #4. This rule introduces a conditional relationship that is best represented as:
Note that this rule does not form a constant TW block because as long as T is not signed with S, T and W do not have to sign with the same agency (this is an important insight, and one that is tested in the questions). Nonetheless, this rule allows for the further inference that when T signs with S, then Z and Y must sign with P (because when T signs with S then W signs with S, and adding the ZY block to S would leave four performers signed with S, one with F, and no performers for P, a violation of the numerical conditions imposed in the game scenario). Thus, if T signs with S, Z and Y must sign with P.
With this final rule considered, the most productive step is to explore the two templates created by the ZY block.
Note that this rule does not form a constant TW block because as long as T is not signed with S, T and W do not have to sign with the same agency (this is an important insight, and one that is tested in the questions). Nonetheless, this rule allows for the further inference that when T signs with S, then Z and Y must sign with P (because when T signs with S then W signs with S, and adding the ZY block to S would leave four performers signed with S, one with F, and no performers for P, a violation of the numerical conditions imposed in the game scenario). Thus, if T signs with S, Z and Y must sign with P.
With just the two templates in hand, you should feel in control of the game as you attack the questions. If you take the further step and consider the numerical implications created by each template (as you always should), you will find this game easy.
This is a Grouping: Balanced-Defined, Moving, Identify the Templates game.
A brief glance at this game reveals that there are only five variables being distributed into three groups, with just four rules controlling the placement of the variables. This type of scenario suggests that the game should be on the easier side, and indeed this game is favorable for most test takers.
The first sentence of the game scenario establishes that five performers—T, W, X, Y, and Z—sign with three different agencies—F, P, and S. This can be diagrammed as:
The second sentence establishes that each performer signs with only one agency, creating a Balanced scenario. With each agency also signing at least one performer, the minimum requirement of performers-to-agencies is 1-1-1, leaving two performers unassigned. This creates two unfixed numerical distributions: 3-1-1 and 2-2-1.
With the basics of the grouping arrangement established, we can turn to analyzing the rules.
Rule #1. This rule establishes that X is assigned to agency F.
Because performers can only sign with one agency, this rule eliminates X from further placement consideration, and it also allows F to meet the minimum requirements of signing at least one performer.
Rule #2. If X and Y do not sign with the same agency, then Y cannot sign with agency F because X is already assigned to F per the first rule. This rule is best diagrammed as a not-block and a Y Not Law:
Rule #3. This rule establishes that Z and Y are a vertical block, and when this rule is combined with the first and second rules, we can infer that Z does not sign with F. This inference is best drawn as a Z Not Law:
With the ZY block eliminated from signing with F, the only two options for ZY are P or S. This strongly suggests making two templates—one with ZY signing with P, and one with ZY signing with S. However, we will hold off on taking that approach until after evaluating the final rule.
Rule #4. This rule introduces a conditional relationship that is best represented as:
Note that this rule does not form a constant TW block because as long as T is not signed with S, T and W do not have to sign with the same agency (this is an important insight, and one that is tested in the questions). Nonetheless, this rule allows for the further inference that when T signs with S, then Z and Y must sign with P (because when T signs with S then W signs with S, and adding the ZY block to S would leave four performers signed with S, one with F, and no performers for P, a violation of the numerical conditions imposed in the game scenario). Thus, if T signs with S, Z and Y must sign with P.
With this final rule considered, the most productive step is to explore the two templates created by the ZY block.
Note that this rule does not form a constant TW block because as long as T is not signed with S, T and W do not have to sign with the same agency (this is an important insight, and one that is tested in the questions). Nonetheless, this rule allows for the further inference that when T signs with S, then Z and Y must sign with P (because when T signs with S then W signs with S, and adding the ZY block to S would leave four performers signed with S, one with F, and no performers for P, a violation of the numerical conditions imposed in the game scenario). Thus, if T signs with S, Z and Y must sign with P.
Template #1: Z and Y sign with P
When Z and Y sign with P, only T and W remain unsigned. As one of the two must sign with S in order to meet the numerical minimums established in the game scenario, we can infer that W must sign with S. This occurs because if T signs with S, then from the fourth rule W must also sign with S. And, if T does not sign with S, then W is the only remaining performer, and thus must sign with S. Thus, each performer except for T is placed, and T can sign with any of the three agencies:
This template has several numerical configurations, and both the 3-1-1 and 2-2-1 distributions are possible. The 3-1-1 can only occur if P is the “3” (because P already has Z and Y), leading to a fixed 1-3-1 distribution. The unfixed 2-2-1 can match any configuration as long as P is one of the “2s,” leading to either a 2-2-1 or 1-2-2 fixed distribution.
Template #2: Z and Y sign with S
When Z and Y sign with S, T cannot sign with S because then there would be no available performer to sign with P (the last rule would force W to sign with S if T signs with S). So, T must sign with F or P.
W can sign with any of the agencies, unless T signs with F, in which case W must sign with P in order to meet the minimum numerical requirements.
This template also has several numerical configurations, and both the 3-1-1 and 2-2-1 distributions are possible. The 3-1-1 can only occur if S is the “3” (because S already has Z and Y), leading to a fixed 1-1-3 distribution (and W would be the third performer signed with S). The unfixed 2-2-1 can match any configuration as long as S is one of the “2s,” leading to either a 1-2-2 or 2-1-2 fixed distribution.Combining the numerical information in both templates, only the following fixed configurations are possible:
With just the two templates in hand, you should feel in control of the game as you attack the questions. If you take the further step and consider the numerical implications created by each template (as you always should), you will find this game easy.
Dave Killoran
PowerScore Test Preparation
Follow me on X/Twitter at http://twitter.com/DaveKilloran
My LSAT Articles: http://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/author/dave-killoran
PowerScore Podcast: http://www.powerscore.com/lsat/podcast/
PowerScore Test Preparation
Follow me on X/Twitter at http://twitter.com/DaveKilloran
My LSAT Articles: http://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/author/dave-killoran
PowerScore Podcast: http://www.powerscore.com/lsat/podcast/