If Maya is scheduled for the second performance, which one of the following could be true?

jstaff August 20, 2018

I watched the video. I was torn between answer choices C and E. Is the only difference between the two that 'L' violates a rule in scenario 2? Clearly, 'O' would not fit in scenario 1 because 'J' is in the 4th performance slot. Thanks for your timely response

Skylar May 2, 2020

@jstaff, happy to help!

We are asked to identify the answer choice that could be true under the given conditions. Answer choice (B) "Lalitha is scheduled for the third performance" is incorrect because it is impossible for L to be 3rd.

The question tells us that M is second. This gives us:
__ M __ __ __ __ __
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Rule #4 tells us that if P is not second, P is fifth. Since M is second in our scenario, P cannot be second. This means that P is fifth, which gives us:
__ M __ __ P__ __
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Rule #3 tells us that if L is third, N is fifth. The contrapositive of this is that if N is not fifth, L is not third. Since P is fifth in this scenario, N cannot be fifth. This means that L cannot be third.

Therefore, (B) L is third, cannot be true and is incorrect.

(E) "Olive is scheduled for the fourth performance" does not break any rules or conditions and is correct. This gives us a valid sequence of: L M N O P K J

Does that make sense? Please let us know if you have any other questions!

Evangeline March 2, 2023

This would still make Jamie in the 6th position so why is this wrong?

Emil-Kunkin March 4, 2023

J cannot be in 6, since j is immediately after K, and K cannot be fifth since P must be fifth.