LSAT Logic Games
Overview
LSAT Logic Games test your ability to understand logical constraints, map out question set-ups, and make deductions based on a system of rules. While Logic Games make up just one section of the LSAT, it's the most daunting part of the test for many test-takers. The good news is that the Analytical Reasoning section is also where students improve the most with practice. Over time, you'll learn to quickly identify different game types, work through your sketch, and choose the right answers without breaking a sweat.
Wondering what you need to work on? Try one of our sample Logic Games and see how you do.
Question 1
Hans is considering purchasing each of six items arranged from left to right on a shelf at the travelers' warehouse—a razor, a stereo, a television, a UV lamp, a video camera, and a watch. Each of these items is powered either by batteries or by an adapter, but not by both. The following conditions apply:
- The UV lamp is either the leftmost or the rightmost item on the shelf.
- No item powered by batteries is adjacent to any other item powered by batteries.
- The watch is powered by batteries.
- The fourth item on the shelf is not powered by an adapter.
- The razor, which is powered by batteries, is to the left of the watch, and to the right of the video camera and the stereo.
Which one of the following could be the order, from first to sixth, in which the items are arranged on the shelf?
Explanation
Though this appears to be an acceptability question, it only asks about an acceptable ordering of the items, and not the type of power for each item. Thus, this is a partial acceptability question in which only some of the rules will help to eliminate answer choices, and the rest of the answers will have to be eliminated by deductions.
- Rule 1: eliminates C (U cannot be second)
- Rule 2: does not eliminate any answer choices
- Rule 3: does not eliminate any answer choices
- Rule 4: does not eliminate any answer choices
- Rule 5: eliminates D (S must precede R) and A (R must precede W)
We are left with choices B and E, which we can cross-check with our final sketch. Since we were able to deduce that W must be in slot 6, it cannot be in slot 5, eliminating choice E.
Thus, B, the remaining answer choice, is correct.
Game Setup:
This is an advanced absolute ordering game; we must determine the order in which six items are arranged on a shelf, and whether each is powered by batteries or by an adapter. Our sketch will be an ordered list with one row for the items (R, S, T, U, V, and W), and one row for the type of power (a or b).
Rules:
- U = 1 or 6
- ~bb
- (W,b)
- Place b in slot 4 of the power row.
- V...(R,b)...W and S...(R,b)...W
Deductions:
- If the fourth item is powered by batteries, and no two adjacent items can be powered by batteries, both the third and fifth items must be powered by an adapter. Place a in slot slots 3 and 5 of the power row.
- Since R is preceded by both S and V, it can be third at the earliest. But since the third item is powered by an adapter, and the razor is powered by batteries, R cannot be third. Thus, R can be fourth at the earliest.
- Since R is followed by W, it can be fifth at the earliest. But since the fifth item is powered by an adapter, and the razor is powered by batteries, R cannot be fifth. Thus, R can be fourth at the latest.
- If R can be fourth at the earliest and at the latest, it must be fourth. Place R in slot 4 of the item row.
- Since W must follow R, it must be either fifth or sixth. But since the fifth item is powered by an adapter, and the watch is powered by batteries W cannot be fifth. Thus, W must be sixth.
- If W is sixth, U cannot be. Thus, U must be first.
- Since S and V must both precede R in slot 4, and slot 1 is occupied by U, one of S and V must be in slot 2 and the other in slot 3.
- This leaves slot 5 for T.
Summary of Setup:
Question 2
Hans is considering purchasing each of six items arranged from left to right on a shelf at the travelers' warehouse—a razor, a stereo, a television, a UV lamp, a video camera, and a watch. Each of these items is powered either by batteries or by an adapter, but not by both. The following conditions apply:
- The UV lamp is either the leftmost or the rightmost item on the shelf.
- No item powered by batteries is adjacent to any other item powered by batteries.
- The watch is powered by batteries.
- The fourth item on the shelf is not powered by an adapter.
- The razor, which is powered by batteries, is to the left of the watch, and to the right of the video camera and the stereo.
Which of the following could be true?
Explanation
Choices A, B, and C directly violate our sketch, which tells us that U is first, R is fourth, and the fifth item is powered by an adapter.
If, as in choice D, S is powered by batteries, it must be in slot 2, since the item in slot 3 is powered by an adapter. This, means V must be in slot 3, and U must be powered by an adapter, since two consecutive items cannot be powered by batteries. Our sketch is:
This is an acceptable sketch, so choice D is correct.
As for choice E, if both U and V are powered by batteries, V must be in slot 2, since the item in slot 3 is powered by an adapter. Since we cannot have items in consecutive slots powered by batteries, choice E can also be eliminated.
Game Setup:
This is an advanced absolute ordering game; we must determine the order in which six items are arranged on a shelf, and whether each is powered by batteries or by an adapter. Our sketch will be an ordered list with one row for the items (R, S, T, U, V, and W), and one row for the type of power (a or b).
Rules:
- U = 1 or 6
- ~bb
- (W,b)
- Place b in slot 4 of the power row.
- V...(R,b)...W and S...(R,b)...W
Deductions:
- If the fourth item is powered by batteries, and no two adjacent items can be powered by batteries, both the third and fifth items must be powered by an adapter. Place a in slot slots 3 and 5 of the power row.
- Since R is preceded by both S and V, it can be third at the earliest. But since the third item is powered by an adapter, and the razor is powered by batteries, R cannot be third. Thus, R can be fourth at the earliest.
- Since R is followed by W, it can be fifth at the earliest. But since the fifth item is powered by an adapter, and the razor is powered by batteries, R cannot be fifth. Thus, R can be fourth at the latest.
- If R can be fourth at the earliest and at the latest, it must be fourth. Place R in slot 4 of the item row.
- Since W must follow R, it must be either fifth or sixth. But since the fifth item is powered by an adapter, and the watch is powered by batteries W cannot be fifth. Thus, W must be sixth.
- If W is sixth, U cannot be. Thus, U must be first.
- Since S and V must both precede R in slot 4, and slot 1 is occupied by U, one of S and V must be in slot 2 and the other in slot 3.
- This leaves slot 5 for T.
Summary of Setup:
Question 3
Hans is considering purchasing each of six items arranged from left to right on a shelf at the travelers' warehouse—a razor, a stereo, a television, a UV lamp, a video camera, and a watch. Each of these items is powered either by batteries or by an adapter, but not by both. The following conditions apply:
- The UV lamp is either the leftmost or the rightmost item on the shelf.
- No item powered by batteries is adjacent to any other item powered by batteries.
- The watch is powered by batteries.
- The fourth item on the shelf is not powered by an adapter.
- The razor, which is powered by batteries, is to the left of the watch, and to the right of the video camera and the stereo.
Which of the following must be true?
Explanation
Since this question asks what must be true, we can cross-check the answer choices with our sketch to see if one of the answer choices matches one of our deductions. Since we have T and a in slot 5 in our sketch, choice A is correct.
Choices B and D could be true, but do not have to be.
Choices C and E must be false.
Game Setup:
This is an advanced absolute ordering game; we must determine the order in which six items are arranged on a shelf, and whether each is powered by batteries or by an adapter. Our sketch will be an ordered list with one row for the items (R, S, T, U, V, and W), and one row for the type of power (a or b).
Rules:
- U = 1 or 6
- ~bb
- (W,b)
- Place b in slot 4 of the power row.
- V...(R,b)...W and S...(R,b)...W
Deductions:
- If the fourth item is powered by batteries, and no two adjacent items can be powered by batteries, both the third and fifth items must be powered by an adapter. Place a in slot slots 3 and 5 of the power row.
- Since R is preceded by both S and V, it can be third at the earliest. But since the third item is powered by an adapter, and the razor is powered by batteries, R cannot be third. Thus, R can be fourth at the earliest.
- Since R is followed by W, it can be fifth at the earliest. But since the fifth item is powered by an adapter, and the razor is powered by batteries, R cannot be fifth. Thus, R can be fourth at the latest.
- If R can be fourth at the earliest and at the latest, it must be fourth. Place R in slot 4 of the item row.
- Since W must follow R, it must be either fifth or sixth. But since the fifth item is powered by an adapter, and the watch is powered by batteries W cannot be fifth. Thus, W must be sixth.
- If W is sixth, U cannot be. Thus, U must be first.
- Since S and V must both precede R in slot 4, and slot 1 is occupied by U, one of S and V must be in slot 2 and the other in slot 3.
- This leaves slot 5 for T.
Summary of Setup:
Question 4
Hans is considering purchasing each of six items arranged from left to right on a shelf at the travelers' warehouse—a razor, a stereo, a television, a UV lamp, a video camera, and a watch. Each of these items is powered either by batteries or by an adapter, but not by both. The following conditions apply:
- The UV lamp is either the leftmost or the rightmost item on the shelf.
- No item powered by batteries is adjacent to any other item powered by batteries.
- The watch is powered by batteries.
- The fourth item on the shelf is not powered by an adapter.
- The razor, which is powered by batteries, is to the left of the watch, and to the right of the video camera and the stereo.
At most, how many of the items are powered by batteries?
Explanation
We know for sure that R and W in slots 4 and 6, respectively, are powered by batteries, thus the answer must be at least two. Eliminate choice A.
We also know that V/S and T in slots 3 and 5 are powered by adapters, thus the answer is at most four. Eliminate E.
It cannot be true that the items in both slots 1 and 2 are powered by batteries, since items in consecutive slots cannot both be powered by batteries. However, as we saw in our sketch for the previous question...
...it can be true that one of the first two items is powered by batteries. Therefore, at most three of the items are powered by batteries. Choice C is correct.
Game Setup:
This is an advanced absolute ordering game; we must determine the order in which six items are arranged on a shelf, and whether each is powered by batteries or by an adapter. Our sketch will be an ordered list with one row for the items (R, S, T, U, V, and W), and one row for the type of power (a or b).
Rules:
- U = 1 or 6
- ~bb
- (W,b)
- Place b in slot 4 of the power row.
- V...(R,b)...W and S...(R,b)...W
Deductions:
- If the fourth item is powered by batteries, and no two adjacent items can be powered by batteries, both the third and fifth items must be powered by an adapter. Place a in slot slots 3 and 5 of the power row.
- Since R is preceded by both S and V, it can be third at the earliest. But since the third item is powered by an adapter, and the razor is powered by batteries, R cannot be third. Thus, R can be fourth at the earliest.
- Since R is followed by W, it can be fifth at the earliest. But since the fifth item is powered by an adapter, and the razor is powered by batteries, R cannot be fifth. Thus, R can be fourth at the latest.
- If R can be fourth at the earliest and at the latest, it must be fourth. Place R in slot 4 of the item row.
- Since W must follow R, it must be either fifth or sixth. But since the fifth item is powered by an adapter, and the watch is powered by batteries W cannot be fifth. Thus, W must be sixth.
- If W is sixth, U cannot be. Thus, U must be first.
- Since S and V must both precede R in slot 4, and slot 1 is occupied by U, one of S and V must be in slot 2 and the other in slot 3.
- This leaves slot 5 for T.
Summary of Setup:
Question 5
Hans is considering purchasing each of six items arranged from left to right on a shelf at the travelers' warehouse—a razor, a stereo, a television, a UV lamp, a video camera, and a watch. Each of these items is powered either by batteries or by an adapter, but not by both. The following conditions apply:
- The UV lamp is either the leftmost or the rightmost item on the shelf.
- No item powered by batteries is adjacent to any other item powered by batteries.
- The watch is powered by batteries.
- The fourth item on the shelf is not powered by an adapter.
- The razor, which is powered by batteries, is to the left of the watch, and to the right of the video camera and the stereo.
If the UV lamp is powered by batteries, each of the following must be true EXCEPT:
Explanation
If the UV lamp is powered by batteries, then we know the item in slot 2 must be powered by an adapter, since it cannot be true that items in consecutive slots are both powered by batteries. Thus, our sketch is:
Each of the first four answer choices must be true, so they can all be eliminated.
This leaves correct answer choice E. It does not have to be true that S is in slot 3 in the sketch above, since S could be in slot 2.
Game Setup:
This is an advanced absolute ordering game; we must determine the order in which six items are arranged on a shelf, and whether each is powered by batteries or by an adapter. Our sketch will be an ordered list with one row for the items (R, S, T, U, V, and W), and one row for the type of power (a or b).
Rules:
- U = 1 or 6
- ~bb
- (W,b)
- Place b in slot 4 of the power row.
- V...(R,b)...W and S...(R,b)...W
Deductions:
- If the fourth item is powered by batteries, and no two adjacent items can be powered by batteries, both the third and fifth items must be powered by an adapter. Place a in slot slots 3 and 5 of the power row.
- Since R is preceded by both S and V, it can be third at the earliest. But since the third item is powered by an adapter, and the razor is powered by batteries, R cannot be third. Thus, R can be fourth at the earliest.
- Since R is followed by W, it can be fifth at the earliest. But since the fifth item is powered by an adapter, and the razor is powered by batteries, R cannot be fifth. Thus, R can be fourth at the latest.
- If R can be fourth at the earliest and at the latest, it must be fourth. Place R in slot 4 of the item row.
- Since W must follow R, it must be either fifth or sixth. But since the fifth item is powered by an adapter, and the watch is powered by batteries W cannot be fifth. Thus, W must be sixth.
- If W is sixth, U cannot be. Thus, U must be first.
- Since S and V must both precede R in slot 4, and slot 1 is occupied by U, one of S and V must be in slot 2 and the other in slot 3.
- This leaves slot 5 for T.
Summary of Setup:
Question 6
Hans is considering purchasing each of six items arranged from left to right on a shelf at the travelers' warehouse—a razor, a stereo, a television, a UV lamp, a video camera, and a watch. Each of these items is powered either by batteries or by an adapter, but not by both. The following conditions apply:
- The UV lamp is either the leftmost or the rightmost item on the shelf.
- No item powered by batteries is adjacent to any other item powered by batteries.
- The watch is powered by batteries.
- The fourth item on the shelf is not powered by an adapter.
- The razor, which is powered by batteries, is to the left of the watch, and to the right of the video camera and the stereo.
Suppose the condition that the fourth item is not powered by an adapter were replaced by the condition that the fifth item is not powered by an adapter. In that case, which of the following could be false?
Explanation
If the fifth item is powered by batteries, and no two adjacent items can be powered by batteries, both the fourth and sixth items must be powered by an adapter. Place a, b, and a in slots 4, 5, and 6, respectively, of the power row.
From here we can try to place R in the sketch. Since it is preceded by S and V, R can be third at the earliest, and since it is followed by W, it can be fifth at the latest. However, if R were fifth, then W would have to be sixth, and we know the sixth item is powered by an adapter. Thus, R cannot be fifth. Likewise, it cannot be fourth, since the item in slot 4 is powered by an adapter. Therefore, R must be third, and W must be fifth. So far we have:
Since S and V must precede R, we can place S/V in slot 1 and V/S in slot 2. Since U can no longer be first, it must be sixth, pushing T to slot 4. Finally, we know the item in slot 2 cannot be powered by batteries, since the item in slot 3 is, so we can place a in slot 2 of the power row. Our sketch is:
Since it does not have to be true that V is powered by an adapter (it could be in slot 1, and powered by batteries), choice E is correct.
Game Setup:
This is an advanced absolute ordering game; we must determine the order in which six items are arranged on a shelf, and whether each is powered by batteries or by an adapter. Our sketch will be an ordered list with one row for the items (R, S, T, U, V, and W), and one row for the type of power (a or b).
Rules:
- U = 1 or 6
- ~bb
- (W,b)
- Place b in slot 4 of the power row.
- V...(R,b)...W and S...(R,b)...W
Deductions:
- If the fourth item is powered by batteries, and no two adjacent items can be powered by batteries, both the third and fifth items must be powered by an adapter. Place a in slot slots 3 and 5 of the power row.
- Since R is preceded by both S and V, it can be third at the earliest. But since the third item is powered by an adapter, and the razor is powered by batteries, R cannot be third. Thus, R can be fourth at the earliest.
- Since R is followed by W, it can be fifth at the earliest. But since the fifth item is powered by an adapter, and the razor is powered by batteries, R cannot be fifth. Thus, R can be fourth at the latest.
- If R can be fourth at the earliest and at the latest, it must be fourth. Place R in slot 4 of the item row.
- Since W must follow R, it must be either fifth or sixth. But since the fifth item is powered by an adapter, and the watch is powered by batteries W cannot be fifth. Thus, W must be sixth.
- If W is sixth, U cannot be. Thus, U must be first.
- Since S and V must both precede R in slot 4, and slot 1 is occupied by U, one of S and V must be in slot 2 and the other in slot 3.
- This leaves slot 5 for T.
Summary of Setup: