Which one of the following CANNOT be the second seminar given on the second day of the sales training conference?

Victoria on July 23, 2020

Hi @Anna2020,

Happy to help!

The stimulus tells us that there are three short seminars (G, O, and P) and three long seminars (H, N, and T). These seminars are scheduled over a three-day conference with each seminar given exactly once. Each day features two seminars given consecutively.

_ _ _
_ _ _
1 2 3

Now let's go through the rules.

Rule 1: Exactly one short seminar and exactly one long seminar will be given each day.

This means that two short seminars or two long seminars cannot be scheduled on the same day.

Rule 2: T will not be given until both G and O have been given.

G and O are both short seminars and T is a long seminar. This means that T cannot be given on the first day and G/O cannot be the second seminar on the final day of the conference.

Rule 3: N will not be given until P has been given.

N is a long seminar and P is a short seminar. This rule means that N cannot be given first on the first day and P cannot be given last on the last day.

The question stem asks us to identify which seminar cannot be the second seminar given on Day 2 of the conference. To eliminate an answer choice, we only have to find one scenario where it is possible for that seminar to be given as the second seminar on Day 2.

We know that G and O must be given before T. It is possible for T to be given on the final day of the conference with G or O given as the second seminar on the second day.

P H G
N O T
1 2 3

G and O are interchangeable as they are both short seminars which must precede T. Therefore, we can eliminate answer choices (C) and (E).

Looking again at the scenario outlined above, we could switch the positions of H and O and still follow all of the rules. Therefore, we can eliminate answer choice (A).

We are left with answer choices (B) and (D). Can we put N in the second slot on the second day? We know that P must precede N.

H P G
O N T
1 2 3

If we switch Days 1 and 2 from our earlier scenario, we can see that this is possible. Therefore, we can eliminate answer choice (D).

This suggests that answer choice (B) is our correct answer but let's double check.

Placing P in the second slot on the second day means that N must be given on the third day. This looks like it may cause an issue. N is a long seminar. T is also a long seminar that is restricted by the placement of both G and O. This gives us a couple options, both of which violate the rules in some way.

Option 1:

G T N
O P H
1 2 3

G and O are given before T and P is given before N, but this violates Rule 1 as Day 1 has two short seminars and Day 3 has two long seminars.

Option 2:

G O T
H P N
1 2 3

Again, G and O are given before T and P is given before N, but this violates Rule 1 as there are two short seminars on Day 2 and two long seminars on Day 3.

If we place P in the second slot on Day 2, then G and O must be scheduled on Days 1 and 3 to satisfy Rule 1.

G/O O/G
P
1 2 3

If we place N in the remaining slot on Day 3, we satisfy Rule 3, but violate Rule 2. If we place T in the remaining slot on Day 3, we satisfy Rule 2, but violate Rule 3.

There is no way that P can be given in the second slot on Day 2 without violating one of the three rules we are provided with. Therefore, P cannot be the second seminar given on the second day and answer choice (B) is the correct answer.

Hope this is helpful! Please let us know if you have any further questions.