Logical elimination involves identifying a limited set of possible numbers, shapes, arrangements, or solutions and ruling out each possibility that conflicts with a given condition, using the remaining information to determine what must be true. The reasoning connects numerical relationships, place value, operations, and attributes such as size or position; it does not include formal symbolic logic or generalized systems with large or unrestricted sets.
When there are only a few possible answers, make a list. Then use each clue to cross out answers that cannot work. The answer left must be correct.
Example:
A secret number is one of these cards:
The number is:
Step 1: Use “greater than .”
Cross out , because is not greater than .
Possible numbers:
Step 2: Use “even.”
An even number can be split into two equal groups. Cross out , because is odd.
Possible numbers:
Step 3: Use “less than .”
Cross out , because is not less than .
Only remains.
The secret number must be because every other choice was ruled out by a clue.
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