(a) Yes, you chose the better answer. It is hard to draw an exact line as to where the similarity between two cases should begin and end, but basically it is the general facts that are significant, rather than points of detail.

If two cases are essentially the same on their material facts, the judge that is deciding the new case must follow the earlier decision. Otherwise, they risk being overruled on appeal.

f However, cases can often be distinguished on their material facts. When cases are significantly different from each other, the earlier case need not be followed as a precedent. It follows that you should always be on the lookout for important points of difference between two individual cases.