#9 - Global, Cannot Be True

[Administrator]

Complete Question Explanation
(The complete setup for this game can be found here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=15645)

The correct answer choice is (C)

The earliest M can be harvested is sixth, and thus answer choice (C) is correct.

Answer choice (A) is proven incorrect by the following hypothetical solution: P-L-H-J-G-K-T-M.

Answer choice (B) is proven incorrect by the following hypothetical solution: P-L-H-G-J-K-T-M.

Answer choice (D) is proven incorrect by the following hypothetical solution: G-L-H-J-P-K-T-M.

Answer choice (E) is proven incorrect by the following hypothetical solution: P-L-H-G-T-K-M-J.

[mariana_costaxx@yahoo.com]

I don't understand how you got the inference that the earliest M can be is 6th.

[Adam Tyson]

Check out the main diagram in the Setup thread for this game, Mariana, which you'll find here:

viewtopic.php?f=200&t=15645

Once we connect all the rules together, you can see that P, G, and L are all somewhere before K, and K is before M. That means that at least those four variables (P, G, L, and K) are before M, which already pushes M to being no earlier than 5th. But then you have to take into account the last rule of the game, which also puts T somewhere before M, so that now there are at least FIVE things before M. That's how we get that it cannot be 5th, making it the correct answer here. Even if H and J were after M, it could still be no earlier than 6th.

If you're still unsure, try creating a diagram where M is 5th and see if you can make it work without breaking at least one rule. I think you'll find out that it cannot be done!