We know that there are two boats, each of which will be assigned exactly four people.
Boat 1: _ _ _ _ Boat 2: _ _ _ _
Exactly eight people must be assigned to the boats. There are three adults: F, G, and H. There are five children: V, W, X, Y, and Z.
Now let's go through the conditions:
Rule 1 - each boat is assigned at least one adult
Therefore, the maximum number of adults in one boat is two.
Rule 2 - if F is assigned to Boat 2, then G is assigned to Boat 2
F2 --> G2 Not G2 --> Not F2 - in other words - G1 --> F1 (because there are only two options)
Rule 3 - if V is assigned to Boat 1, then W is assigned to Boat 2
V1 --> W2 Not W2 --> Not V1 - in other words - W1 --> V2 (because there are only two options)
This means that both V and W cannot be in Boat 1 together.
Rule 4 - X and Z are assigned to different boats.
The question stem asks us to identify the answer choice which depicts an acceptable assignment of people to Boat 1.
We can eliminate answer choice (A) because all three adults are on Boat 1. This means that there will be no adults left for Boat 2, breaking Rule 1.
We can eliminate answer choice (B) because neither X nor Z is on Boat 1. This means that they would both have to be on Boat 2, violating Rule 4.
We can eliminate answer choice (D) because it breaks Rule 3. V is assigned to Boat 1; therefore, W must be assigned to Boat 2. However, here, W is also assigned to Boat 1.
Finally, we can eliminate answer choice (E) because it breaks Rule 2. As F is not assigned to Boat 1, F must be in Boat 2. This means that G must also be in Boat 2; however, G is assigned to Boat 1.
This means that answer choice (C) should be our correct answer, but let's double check. With this assignment of individuals to Boat 1, Boat 2 must have G, V, W, and X.
1: F H Y Z 2: G V W X
Notice that this meets all of our conditions:
1) Each boat is assigned at least one adult. Boat 1 has F and H. Boat 2 has G.
2) F is not assigned to Boat 2; therefore, this rule does not apply.
3) V is not assigned to Boat 1; therefore, this rule does not apply.
4) X is assigned to Boat 2 and Z is assigned to Boat 1.
Hope this helps! Please let us know if you have any further questions.
