A dance show will include exactly five pieces

Question

A dance show will include exactly five pieces: Requiem, Smooth Step, Trampoline, Unleashed, and Waltzy. Requiem will be presented immediately before Smooth Step. Unleashed will be presented earlier than Trampoline, with at least one piece in between. Waltzy will not be the final piece presented.

In the columns, select the two pieces of which neither can be the first piece presented and the two pieces of which neither can be the second-to-last piece presented. Make only two selections, one in each column.

FrozenDragon · Answer

Answer Explanation:

Infer

Since Requiem will be presented before Smooth Step, and Unleashed will be presented earlier than Trampoline, neither Smooth Step nor Trampoline can be the first piece presented.

At least one piece will follow Unleashed and precede Trampoline, so Unleashed cannot be the second to last piece presented.

Requiem will be presented immediately before Smooth Step. So if Smooth Step is the last piece presented, then Requiem and not Trampoline must be the second-to-last piece presented. On the other hand, if Smooth Step is not the last piece presented, then Smooth Step, Requiem, Unleashed, and Waltzy must all precede Trampoline. In that case, Trampoline must be the final piece presented, so again it cannot be the second-to-last piece presented.

So the two pieces of which neither can be the second-to-last piece presented are Trampoline and Unleashed.

First column:
  The correct answer is Smooth Step, Trampoline.

Second column:
  The correct answer is Trampoline, Unleashed.

MartyMurray · Answer

For the second column, Unleashed must be two earlier than Trampoline. So, Unleashed cannot be second to last, getting us down to two possible answers. Then, there's nothing constraining Requiem from being second to last. So, the (D) must be correct.

Usernamevisible · Answer

Instead of testing every answer choice:
From R immediately before S
S can never be first.
From U before T
T can never be first.
So Column 1 is immediately:
S, T
----

For Column 2:
If U is fourth, T must be fifth → no piece between → violates gap rule.
U cannot be fourth.
If T is fourth, U must be earlier and RS block forces W into fifth.
But W cannot be fifth.
Therefore T cannot be fourth.
-----------------------------

Thus:
U, T
----

Answer in under 45 seconds.

TheAdmissionHub · Answer

Let:
R = Requiem
S = Smooth Step
T = Trampoline
U = Unleashed
W = Waltzy

Rules :
 
 R immediately before S → block RS 
 U earlier than T, with at least one piece between them 
 W is not 5th

Column 1 : Cannot be presented first.

S  cannot be first because R must be immediately before it.

T  cannot be first because U must be earlier than T.

Check others:
R can be first: R S U W T
U can be first: U R S W T
W can be first: W U R S T

Answer: Smooth Step, Trampoline

Column 2 : Cannot be presented second-to-last (4th).

If T is 4th, the only possible configuration that respects the rules is: U R S T W
But W cannot be the last one.
Therefore,  T  cannot be 4th.

If U is 4th, then T must be 5th.
But the rule requires at least one piece between U and T, and there would be no piece between positions 4 and 5.
Therefore,  U  cannot be 4th.

Check the others:
W can be 4th: R S U W T
S can be 4th: U W R S T
R can be the 4th: U W T R S

Answer: Trampoline, Unleashed

A dance show will include exactly five pieces

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

Cannot be presented first	Cannot be presented second to last
		Requiem, Unleashed
		Smooth Step, Trampoline
		Trampoline, Waltzy
		Trampoline, Unleashed
		Requiem, Smooth Step

GMAT Two-part Analysis (TPA) Questions

A dance show will include exactly five pieces

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards