by jdillier Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:54 am
A crayon manufacturer is designing a box with ten colors of crayons _ M, N, O, P, R, S, T, V, W, and Y"”which will be arranged in two rows"”front and back"”and five columns, labeled 1-5 from left to right.
This asks to assign crayons to rows and columns. The diagram will look like this.
Back Row ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
Front Row___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
1 2 3 4 5 6
The following conditions apply:
P is in the same row as O, and there are exactly three slots between them.
Notate by P __ ___ __ O or O __ __ __ P
S is in the same column as W.
Notate by putting S over W like: S or W
W S
T is directly to the left of P.
This constraint says (TP) So, we now that O __ __ T P. This is a big chunk. We can also forget the possibility of P __ __ __ O because there would be no where to place T
If M is in the front row, W and Y will be in the back row.
M (frt) "”> W & Y (bck)
If W is in the front row, O will be in the back row.
W (frt) "”> O (bck)
R is in the third column.
R=3 Notate by putting R about column 3 to make it "˜float’
1st Diagram:
M, N, O, P, R, S, T, V, W, and Y
(R)
Back Row ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ S or W O ___ ___ T P
Front Row___ ___ ___ ___ ___ W S
1 2 3 4 5
M (frt) "”> W & Y (bck)
W (frt) "”-> O (bck)
1. Which of the following could be a possible arrangement of crayons, from left to right?
This problem is best answered by taking each constraint and applying it to each answer choice and then eliminating wrong choices.
(A) Front: O,S, R, T, P eliminate because S and W must be in the same column
     Back: W, N, M, Y, V
(B) Front: O, S, R, T, P correct answer!
     Back: N, W, V, Y, M
(C) Front: Y, W, N, R, V eliminate because T must be directly left of P
     Back: P, S, M, T, O
(D) Front: O, R, S, T, P eliminate because R is not in the 3rd column
     Back: N, V, W, Y, M
(E) Front: N, W, Y, V, M eliminate because if M is in the front Y and V must be in the back
     Back: O, S, R, T, P
2. If O is in the first column of the front row, which of the following must be true?
(A) R is in the third column of the front row.
(B) M is in the third column of the front row.
(C) M is in the third column of the back row.
(D) V is in the fifth column of the back row.
(E) W is in the second column of the back row. Correct!
This requires a new diagram:
First place O in the first column in the front row. We now can see the rest of that chunk must fit in the front row. T and P go in 4 and 5 in the front row. This still does not give enough information to answer the question though.
Back Row ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ S or W O ___ ___ T P
Front Row O __ ___ T P W S
1 2 3 4 5
Now we still know that S and W must have a column all to themselves so this must be column 2 but we are not sure which row each must go in. BUT WAIT, if W were to be in the front row then O would be forced to the back which can’t be true. Thus we know W will be in the back and S in the front of column 2!
Final Diagram
(R)
Back Row ___ W ___ ___ ___ S or W O ___ ___ T P
Front Row O S ___ T P W S
1 2 3 4 5
M (frt) "”> W & Y (bck)
W (frt) "”-> O (bck)
3. If W is in the front row, how many exact positions of crayons can be determined?
(A) 4
(B) 5
(C) 6
(D) 7 correct!
(E) 8
For this "IF" question again we will need a new diagram for the condition.
(R)
Back Row ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
Front Row___ ___ ___ ___ ___ W
1 2 3 4 5
We know from the constraints that is W is in the front then O must be in the back. Which will also put T and P in the back as well.
(R)
Back Row O ___ ___ T P
Front Row___ ___ ___ ___ ___ W
1 2 3 4 5
Because of the S/W constraint S must also be in the back row because it will be in the same column as W. There are two open spots, 2 and 3 and at least one spot in column 3 will be for R so the S and W column combination will be in column 2.
(R)
Back Row O S ___ T P
Front Row___ W ___ ___ ___
1 2 3 4 5
We also know that if M were to be in the front row W and Y would be in the back. Not possible here so M will go in the final spot in column 3 in the back row and R will be in the front row of column 3. These are the only inference to be make so the answer is B) 7.
Back Row O S M T P
Front Row___ W R ___ ___
1 2 3 4 5
4. If M is in the front row, it must be true that
(A) O is in the front row.
(B) S is in the front row. Correct!
(C) T is in the back row.
(D) R is in the front row.
(E) R is in the back row.
For this question we will build a new diagram with the "IF" statement included. Place the M out to the side of row one since we are still unsure which column it will fit in.
Back Row ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
Front Row___ ___ ___ ___ ___ M
1 2 3 4 5
We know from the constraints that if M is in the front then W and Y will be in the back. If W is in the back then S must be in the front because they must be in the same column. B is the correct answer!
Back Row ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Y, W
Front Row___ ___ ___ ___ ___ M, S
1 2 3 4 5
5. If V and Y are in the front row, which of the following could be true?
(A) S is in the front row.
(B) O is in the front row.
(C) T is in the front row.
(D) M is in the front row.
(E) R is in the back row.
We are looking to eliminate answers that must be false. Again, we must build another diagram with V and Y in the front row.
Back Row ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
Front Row___ ___ ___ ___ ___ V, Y
1 2 3 4 5
If Y is in front then we know for sure M is in the back since putting it in front would violate the M (frt) "”> W & Y (bck) rule.
Back Row ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ M
Front Row___ ___ ___ ___ ___ V, Y
1 2 3 4 5
We can eliminate D.
There are no other inferences here so we are forced to use trial and error.
Starting with A it doesn’t seem to violate any rules so it could be true and the answer is A! Just to be sure here is why B, C and E are wrong.
B_ O is in front and C_ T is in front
Back Row ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ M
Front Row O ___ ___ T P V, Y
1 2 3 4 5
There is now no room for the S/W column so O, T, and P must be in the back row.
E_ R is in the back.
Now we finally know O,T and P are in the back. Remembering the S/W column there would be no room for O, T, P, M, R and S/W.
Back Row O ___ ___ T P M,
Front Row ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ V, Y
1 2 3 4 5
6. Which of the following conditions, if true, would determine the complete order for at least one of the rows?
(A) T is in the fourth column in the back row.
(B) V is in the fourth column of the front row.
(C) S is in the second column in the front row.
(D) W is in the second column in the front row. Correct!
(E) P is in the fifth column of the front row.
The best way to attempt this is with a time killing trial and error approach. But the bright side is by this point the constraints and inferences are familiar.
(R)
A) Back Row O W ___ T P
Front Row __ S ___ ___ ___
1 2 3 4 5
This can’t be continued any farther because either M or Y will go in the back of the 3rd column.
(R)
B) Back Row ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
Front Row___ ___ ___ V ___
1 2 3 4 5
V does not lead us anywhere.
(R)
C) Back Row ___ W ___ ___ ___
Front Row___ S ___ ___ ___
1 2 3 4 5
This does not fill a row either.
(R)
D) Back Row O S M T P
Front Row___ W ___ ___ ___
1 2 3 4 5
With W in the 2nd column in the front we know that S will go in the back of the 2nd column. Now if W is in the front O along with it’s chunk T and P will also go in the back. M will also be forced in the back too in the final spot because if it were in the front it would violate the M (frt) "”> W & Y (bck) constraint. D is the answer.
(R)
E) Back Row ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
Front Row O ___ ___ T P
1 2 3 4 5
This does not fill in a row either.