Start here · the first lesson of Days x people/events
Days x people/events
Scheduling (days/months/time slots) · for IPMAT Indore, IPMAT Rohtak and JIPMAT
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The idea
Events (plays, meetings, lectures, matches) are placed in day or time slots, one per slot. The slots form a row, so the method is the row method: blocks, gaps and ends. Rohtak asked five plays over Monday to Friday in 2019 (Q9-11, banked here as a PYQ set).
Textbook vs exam method
Textbook method
- Write the slots in order (Monday to Friday, or period 1 to 7).
- Make blocks from "immediately before/after" clues.
- Place the blocks with the end and gap clues.
- Fill the remaining slots and check every clue.
Exam method
- Blocks first. "E is followed by C" and "B is after D" make EC and DB.
- End clues. "D or E not first or last" stops both blocks from starting on Monday.
- Gap clue last. "one play between A and B" chooses between the two block orders.