This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Logic Game Components
Each logic game has three separate components: the premise, the conditions, and the questions. The premise establishes the subjects (objects or people) and setting for the game. Part of the difficulty level of the question is established via the number of subjects in a game. This generally ranges from 5 to as many as 10.
In our original example of a logic game, the premise would be
Charles has to put together a roster for his company's annual softball game against their cross-town rival. He's got eight healthy people that want to bat for the team: Corwin, Dorian, Hal, Joseph, Kamal, Peter, Ralph, and Seth.
Conditions follow the premise by imposing series of rules or conditions that determine the relationships among the subjects. Together with the premise, the number of the conditions (usually 4 to 6) is the second variable in determining how difficult the question is. Obviously, the more premises and conditions there are, the higher the level of difficulty you can from expect the question. Continuing with our example, the conditions would include
If Ralph plays, Hal must play immediately after Ralph on the roster.
Two of the three managers, Dorian, Kamal, and Ralph, have to be on the team.
Corwin and Seth can't be next to each other on the roster.
If Kamal is on the team, then Joseph can't be picked.
Peter has to play either first or second.
Questions based on the relationship of the conditions to premises will follow. For this example, one question could be
Which one of these rosters can be submitted?
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Peter, Hal, Corwin, Kamal, Ralph
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Peter, Dorian, Kamal, Corwin, Seth
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Dorian, Ralph, Hal, Peter, Joseph
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Dorian, Peter, Ralph, Hal, Seth
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Peter, Seth, Joseph, Ralph, Hal
Unlike what you may find in the sections on Logical Reasoning or Reading Comprehension, there is usually less hesitation when it comes to picking answers to the question. Rather like mathematical problems, only one—or at most two—answers will be correct—or seem to be correct—based on your deductions. While it is possible to pick the wrong answer if you've misread the question or diagrammed it out incorrectly, you will rarely if ever be in the position where "It could be answer A, B, or C, what does my gut feeling say?"