Diagramming Solutions for PrepTest 72

Utilizing methods taught in The LSAT Trainer.

Game 1 (Option 1)

Step 1

Per the given scenario and the first rule, we can write out the five elements to be placed - I, N, S, T, and W - notate which of those are general interest (g) or local (l), and lay out the five positions to be placed, with three spots in one segment and two in the next.

Step 2

We can utilize the second rule to understand the significance of the rules that follow - within each of the segments, a longer report must always come before a shorter one.

Step 3

Per the third rule, we can notate that each segment must have at least one L. We can also notate this by stating that all three L’s can’t go together in the first segment, as we have here.

Step 4

Per the fourth, fifth, and sixth rules, we know that N must always go first in any segment, S must always go last in any segment, and I must go before W in any segment. We can link and notate all of these ordering rules together.

Step 5

We can also notate that T is not mentioned directly in any of the rules.

Game 1 (Option 2)

Step 1

Step 2

We can utilize the second rule to understand the significance of the rules that follow - within each of the segments, a longer report must always come before a shorter one.

Step 3

Per the fourth rule, we can split our diagram into two frames: one with N at the beginning of the first segment, and another with N at the beginning of the second.

Step 4

Per the fifth rule, we can further split our two frames again, with each split representing the fact that S can either go at the end of the first segment or the end of the second.

Step 5

Per the sixth rule, we can notate that I must go before W.

Step 6

Per the third rule, we can infer that in frame 2A, the second report in the second section must one of the two remaining local reports T or W.

Step 7

We can notate that T is not mentioned directly in any of the rules.

Game 2 (Option 1)

Step 1

Per the given scenario, we can write out the five elements to be placed - Q, R, S, T, and V.

Step 2

Per the first and second rules, we can create three frames, representing our three options for placing R either first or second and T either first or last: R in 1 and T in 5, R in 2 and T in 1, and R in 2 and T in 5.

Step 3

Per the third rule, we can notate that either Q or V must be placed into the third position.

Step 4

Per the fourth rule, we can notate that Q and S cannot be placed consecutively.

Step 5

In frame 1, per the third and fourth rules, we can infer that V must go in the third position (otherwise Q and S would be consecutive), and that leaves Q and S, in either order, for open positions 2 and 4.

Step 6

In frame 2, per the third and fourth rules, we can infer that Q must go in the third position (otherwise Q and S would be consecutive) with V in the fourth position and S in the fifth.

Game 2 (Option 2)

Step 1

Per the given scenario, we can write out the five elements to be placed - Q, R, S, T, and V.

Step 2

Step 3

Per the third rule, we can split these frames up further, based on whether Q or V occupies the third position.

Step 4

Per the fourth rule, we can know that frame 1A can’t work and cross that out, and in frame 1B Q and S must occupy the remaining two positions, 2 and 4, in either order.

Step 5

Per the fourth rule, in frame 2A, V must go in 4 and S in 5, and frame 2B can’t work.

Step 6

Per the fourth rule, in frame 3A, S must occupy the first position and V the fourth. In frame 3B, S and Q must occupy the remaining two positions, 1 and 4, in either order.

Step 7

We are left with four working total, and, optionally, we can rewrite them out to make things neater for our work moving forward.

Game 3

Step 1

Per the given scenario, we can write out the five elements to be placed - V, W, X, Y, and Z, and we can lay out the possible assignments - I, N, and S.

Step 2

Per the first rule, we can notate that W and Y must be assigned together.

Step 3

Per the second rule, we can notate that X must be assigned to N or S. Alternatively, as we have done here, we can notate, that X cannot be assigned to I.

Step 4

Per the third rule, we can notate that there are more elements assigned to I than N. We can also notate the inference that at least one element must thus be assigned to I.

Step 5

Per the fourth rule, we can notate conditionally that if V is from I, then Z must be from S, as well as the contrapositive.

Game 4

Step 1

Per the given scenario, we can write out the four elements to be placed - J, K, L, and M, and we can also lay out positions - 4 in order - for each of the four workpieces. Per the given scenario, we can assign the first shift of each of the workpieces to each of the four employees.

Step 2

Per the first rule, we can notate that M cannot immediately follow J. We can also make and notate an inference that that when J is first, L or K must be second.

Step 3

Per the second rule, we can notate that J cannot immediately follow K. We can also make and notate an inference that when K is first, L or M must be second.

Step 4

Per the third rule, we can notate that J cannot immediately follow L. We can also make and notate the inference that when L is first, K or M must be second.

Step 5

Since J now can’t be second anywhere else, we can infer that J must be second when M is first.

More Information About The Trainer Logic Games Diagrams

These pages offer diagramming suggestions for every game that has appeared in every Logic Games section from PrepTests 52 through 81. Please keep in mind that there are many different ways to effectively diagram Logic Games, and it’s often a very subjective decision as to which inferences to notate, when to split diagrams, and so on.

One significant advantage of the Trainer diagramming methods is that they provide a universal diagramming system that you can use for any game that appears in the section. This is in contrast to most other LSAT learning systems, which separate games out into distinct categories, each with its own, and often conflicting, notational system.

General Suggestions on How to Diagram Logic Games

Always read through the scenario and rules completely, and pause to mentally consider and visualize the game, before setting pencil to paper.
Think of all games in terms of elements to place and positions to place them into. Nearly every game places these positions into an order, into groups, or both.
Whenever you find it useful, feel free to deal with the rules in an order that makes it most convenient for you to draw an effective diagram.
Always be on the lookout for inferences—things that you can figure out by bringing information, such as rules, together. The purpose of your diagram is to, in fact, help you uncover inferences correctly, and these inferences (more so than the rules as they are given) are what determine right and wrong for the vast majority of problems.
Look for opportunities to split up your game board into multiple frames - which are a set of diagrams that collectively represent all of the possibilities of a game. Most commonly, we can create frames around a very limited set of options for how to fill a certain position or positions (“either F or K must be third,” for example) or where to place an element or elements (“K must go first or last,” for example).
Whenever you have trouble notating a rule clearly, don’t be afraid to write it out or provide as much detail as you feel necessary. Better to be safe than overly clever.
When you are done with your diagram, evaluate your notations carefully and check them back against the scenario and rules as written. Make sure that you understand what your notations mean, and that they represent the given information correctly.

Table of Commonly Used Notations

Here is a downloadable and printable infographic that includes the symbols and notations that we will most commonly utilize to set up games. Please click to open full screen.

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