REMEMBER THE LOWER TEAM WON BOTH MATCH
Original: RJSML
ODD: 2 switch with 3 and 4 switch with 5
RSJLM
EVEN: 1 switch with 2 and 3 switch with 4
SRLJM
All of the following must be true EXCEPT:
E. M is in position 3.
M must be in the 5th position.
You are welcome Mehran and the LSATMAX team.
RaviMarch 11, 2019
@hannah93092, @Madison, and @Michaelchueroa,
Happy to provide a written explanation. I've let our video team know you guys would like a video also.
We know the starting position of the game is
R J S M L
From the game, our rules are
1) Matches are played alternately in odd-position rounds and in even-position rounds
2) In odd rounds, teams in 3 and 5 play teams in 2 and 4
3) In even rounds, teams in 2 and 4 play teams in 1 and 3
4) When a lower-positioned team plays a higher-positioned team, the two teams switch positions after the round is over
We're told that exactly two rounds of matches have been played, starting with the odd-position round. We're also told that the lower-position teams have won every match of these two rounds, and we need to figure out which answer choice doesn't have to be true (this is a must be true except question). Four of the answers must be true, and one of them doesn't have to be true.
As noted above, we have R J S M L initially
For round 1, teams in 3 and 5 are playing 2 and 4, and the lower-ranked teams win. This means S is playing J, and L is playing M. it also means that J is switching spots with S and M is switching spots with L.
R S J L M
For round 2, teams in 2 and 4 are playing 1 and 3, and the lower-ranked teams win. This means that S is playing R and L is playing J. It also means that S is switching spots with R and L is switching spots with J.
S R L J M
Now, let's look at the answer choices.
(A) says L is one position higher than J. This must be true since it's what appears on our board. (A) is out.
(B) says R is one position higher than L. This must be true since it's what appears on our board. (B) is out.
(C) says S is one position higher than R. This must be true since it's what appears on our board. (C) is out.
(D) says J is in 4. This also must be true since it's what appears on our board. (D) is out.
(E) says M is in 3. M is in 5 on our board, so this doesn't have to be true (in fact, it must be false). Since this is asking which answer doesn't have to be true, (E) is our correct answer choice.
Does this make sense? Let us know if you have any questions!
