Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1. IntroductiontoSyllogism
2. Basics
3. SubjectvsPredicate
4. Classificationofstatement
5. Standardformat:conversion
6. NoconclusionCombos
7. ConclusiveCombos
8. DemoQ:CrazymenandWomen
9. DemoQ:IntelligentPoetsandsingers
10. CATlevel
DemoQ:SweetTestingApples(CAT)
DemoQ:Workingmothernurses(CAT)
DemoQ:4questionsin1!
11. SpecialConversions
12. Complimentarypairs
13. TrickySituations:Priorityorder
14. TrickySituations:1StatementConclusion
15. Summary
IntroductiontoSyllogism
TherearetwomaintypesofSyllogismquestion
2Statements 3Statements
QuestionStatement
A.Allcatsaredogs
QuestionStatement:
B.somepigsarecats
I.Allcatsaredogs
C.nodogsarebirdsConclusion
II.AlldogsarebirdsConclusion:
I.somecatsaredogs
I.Somecatsarebirds
II.nobirdsarecats
II.Somebirdsarecats.
III.somepigsarebirds
IV.somepigsarenotbirds
2StatementSyllogismquestionsareusuallyfoundinIBPS(Bank)andSSCexams.
UPSCCSAT2012examhadquiteafewquestionson3StatementSyllogism.
InCATexams,theyask2StatementSyllogismbuttheypack34such2statementsyllogism
questionsinsideonequestiontomakeitverytimeconsumingprocess.
Inthisarticle,youwilllearnhowtosolvethe2Statementsyllogismquestions.
3Statementsyllogismsyllogismisexplainedinseparatearticle(CLICKME).(Theyremere
anextensionoftheconceptsexplainedinthisarticle,sofirstmasterthe2statementtechnique
here.)
Therearethreemethodstosolve2statementSyllogismquestions.
Intheexam,HavetothinkofallpossibleVenn
1.Venn
Diagramsituationanddrawthemtocheckevery
Diagram
statement.=timeconsumingintheexamhall.
Havetomugupsomerules,andspendsomehours
2.AEIO
@hometomastertheAEIOconversioninyour
(analytical
head.Butoncedone,itiseasyasawalkinthe
Method)
park.
UsuallytaughtinCATcoachingclassesandstudy
3.Distribution material.
ofterms TechniqueisveryfastbutItexcludestheconcept
(Tick ofConversionandComplementarycases,
method) hencesometimesmakesitdifficulttosolvenon
CATquestions.
Thetechniqueexplainedinthisarticle,isamodifiedversionofAEIOmethodcombinedwiththeTick
Method.LetscallitU.P.U.N.method.
Basics
SubjectvsPredicate
Considerthisquestionstatement
1.Allcatsaredogs
2.Somedogsarebirds
3.Nobirdisapig
4.Somepigsarenotbirds.
Inallsuchstatements,firsttermiscalledsubjectandsecondiscalledpredicate.
Itdoesntmatterwhatwordisgiven:Table,Chair,Raja,Kalmadi,KanimozhiorMadhuKodafirstterm
issubjectandsecondtermispredicate.
Letsrelookatthosequestionstatements
Subject Predicate
IhopetheSubjectvs.Predicateisclearnow.Letsmovetosecondthing
Classificationofstatement
Insyllogism,eachstatementusuallyhasfollowingformat
xyzsubjectis/are(not)predicate.
Forexample,
Basedonxyzandnot,weclassifythestatementsasfollowing
1.Allcatsaredogs UniversalPositive UP
2.Somedogsarebirds ParticularPositive PP
3.Nobirdisapig UniversalNegative UN
4.Somepigsarenotbirds. ParticularNegative PN
Pleaserememberfollowingwords.Whenevertheycome,youclassifythestatementaccordingly.
Universal
All,every,any,none,notasingle,onlyetc. (positiveor
negative)
Particular
Some,many,afew,quiteafew,notmany,verylittle,
(positiveor
mostof,almost,generally,often,freqently,etc.
negative)
Standardformat:conversion
Thestandard2statementsyllogismquestionformatisfollowing:
1.(xyz)Ais/are(+/not)B
2.(xyz)Bis/are(+/not)C
Sobasicallyitis
1.A>B
2.B>C
(readasAtoBthenBtoC)
QuestionstatementsmusthaveONLYthreeterms.(A,BandC).
Intheexam,iftheygiveyoutwoquestionstatementswithfourtermsthenyourtimeissaved!Justtick
theanswernoconclusioncanbedrawn.
Forexample
Question
Answer
statements
1.Allcatsare Noconclusioncanbedrawn.Becauseithasfour
Dogs terms(cats,dogs,birds,pigs)
2.Somebirds A>B
arepigs C>D
Anywaysbacktothetopic,
Thestandardformatforquestionstatementsis:
1.A>B 1.Firstterm>MiddleTerm
2.B>C 2.MiddleTerm>Thirdterm
Butifthegivenquestionstatementsarenotgiveninthisformat,thenwemustconvertthemintoabove
format.Otherwisewecannotproceedwithanswer.Forexample
Givenquestionstatementsare Thismustbeconvertedinto
1.A>B 1.A>B
2.C>B 2.B>C
Givenquestionstatementsare Thismustbeconvertedinto
1.B>A 1.A>B
2.B>C 2.B>C
Ok,sohowtoconvertthestatements?
UniversalPositive(UP)
Valid
GivenStatement Type
conversions
SomeCatsare ParticularPositive
dogs (PP)
GivenStatement:AllCatsare
Dogs
Somedogsare ParticularPositive
cats (PP)
ItmeansUPcanbeconvertedintoPP.
Pleasenote:ifthestatementisOnlyDogsarecats,thenbetterconvertitintoAllcatsaredogs.(Only
AisB>AllBareA)
GivenStatement Validconversions Type
Somedogsare ParticularNegative
notcats (PN)
GivenStatement:NoCats
areDogs
UniversalNegative
Nodogsarecats
(UN)
ItmeansUNcanbeconvertedintoPNorUN.
ParticularPositive(PP)
ItmeansPPcanbeconvertedintoPPonly.
ParticularNegative
Example:SomeCatsarenotDogs.InParticularnegativestatements(PN),noconversioncanbemade.
SoPN=cantconvert.
Tosumuptheconversionrules
Type ValidConversion
UniversalPositive(UP) OnlyPP
UniversalNegative(UN) PNorUN
ParticularPositive(PP) OnlyPP
ParticularNegative(PN) Notpossible.
Pleasenote:
Insomelowerlevelexams,sometimestheydirectlyaskaboutconversion.Forexample
Q.Whatcanbeconcludedfromthegivenstatement:SomePoliticiansarehonestmen.
Answerchoices
1.SomeHonestmenarenotPoliticians.
2.AllHonestmenarenotpolitician
3.SomeHonestmenarepoliticians.
4.NoneofAbove.
(Pleasedonotreadfurther,withoutsolvingabovequestion.)
Solution
well,thegivenstatementSomePoliticiansarehonestmen.isaparticularpositivestatement(PP).
Henceaccordingtoourtable,itcanbeconvertedintoPPonly.Therefore
Givenanswerchoice Thoughtprocess
1.SomeHonestmenarenot Particularnegative(PN),hence
Politicians. eliminate.
2.NoHonestmenare
UniversalNegative,henceeliminate
politicians.
3.SomeHonestmenare
PPhencethisiscorrectanswer.
politicians.
notapplicablebecauseCisthe
4.NoneofAbove.
correctanswer.
Incaseyouarewondering,
Q.Somepoliticiansarehonestmen.
Inabovecase,canttheanswerbeA:Somehonestmenarenotpoliticians?
Well,ifyougobyVennDiagrammethod,itllleadtotwocaseshenceitisdoubtful.
Case#1
Data
1.SardarPatel
2.LalBahadurShastri
Subject(Politicians)
3.Raja
4.Kalmadi
1.SardarPatel
Predicate(HonestMen)
2.LalBahadurShastri
Inabovesituation,canyousaySomehonestmenarenotpoliticians?
Wellyoucantsaythat.BecausebothHonestmen(SardarandShastri)areinpoliticianset.
Case#2
Data
1.SardarPatel
2.LalBahadurShastri
Subject(Politicians)
3.Raja
Kalmadi
Predicate(HonestMen) 1.SardarPatel
2.LalBahadurShastri
3.BhagatSingh
4.ChandraSekharAzad
Inabovesituation,canyousaySomehonestmenarenotpoliticians?
Yesyoucan.BecausetwoHonestmen(BhagatSinghandAzad)arenotinpoliticianset.
Thepointis,whenevertwocasesarepossible,youcannotsafelyconcludeonestatement.
Hence,ifthestatementis
SomeAareB>itdoesntmeanSomeBarenotA.
Theonlyvalidconclusioninabovecaseis:SomeBareA.
ThereforeParticularPositive(PP)statementcanbeconvertedintoParticularPositive(PP)statement
only.
Similarly
Ato
UniversalPositive(UP)All OnlyPPSomeCats(A)aredogs.
BBto
cats(A)aredogs(B) (B)Somedogs(B)arecats.(A)
A
PN:SomeDogs(B)arenotCats
UniversalNegative
(A). Bto
(UN)NoCats(A)aredogs
A
(B)
UN:NoDogs(B)arecats.(A)
ParticularPositive
OnlyPP:Somedogs(B)are Bto
(PP)Somecats(A)are
cats(A) A
dogs(B)
ParticularNegative(PN) Notpossible.
Anywaysbacktothetopic,whatarewediscussing?
1.Topicofdiscussionis:Howtosolve2statementsyllogismquestion
2.Subjectvspredicate
3.Typeofstatements(UP,UN,PP,PN)
4.Standardformatandconversion.
Thestandardquestionformatis
A>B
B>C
intostandardformat.Onlythenwecanproceedfurther.
Sofar,Weconstructedourshortcuttableonhowtoconvertthestatements.Now
letstrysomeexamples
Question
Conversion?
statements
1.AllCatsare
Alreadyinstandardformat(AtoBandthenBto
dogs(B)
C)
2.Somedogs(B)
hencenoneedtoconvert.
arenotpigs.
Noneedtoconvertanystatement.
1.Somedogs(B)
Justexchangethepositionoffirstandsecond
arenotpigs.
statement.
2.AllCatsare
1.AllCatsaredogs(B)
dogs(B)
2.Somedogs(B)arenotpigs.
1.AllCatsaredogs
Havetoconvert,becausenotinstandard
(B)
format.1.Allcats(A)aredogs(B)
2.Allpigsare
2.Somedogs(B)arepigs(C).(RuleUP>onlyPP)
dogs(B)
Nowcomingtotheheartofthematter:howtosolvethe(stupid)2statementsyllogismquestion?
NoconclusionCombos
Herearethenonconclusioncomboswhentwoquestionstatementsareinfollowingformat.
ParticularPositive(PP) Noconclusion
UniversalPositive(UP)
ParticularNegative(PN) Noconclusion
UniversalNegative(UN) Noconclusion
UniversalNegative(UN)
ParticularNegative(PN) Noconclusion
ParticularPositive(PP) Noconclusion
ParticularPositive(PP)
ParticularNegative(PN) Noconclusion
^doesitlookdifficult?
Notreally.Letscondensethistableintomuguprules.
1.UPspoliticianshategivingparticularstatements(bothpositiveandnegative).E.g.theydonotreveal
theirclearpositiononFDIinretailuntilthe11thhour.
2.UnitedNationshatesnegativity.(bothUniversalandparticular)
3.PritishNandyhateseverybody.
4.Twonegatives=noconclusion.(althoughimplicitin2+3)
5.Twoparticulars=noconclusion.(althoughimplicitin1+3)
Pleasenote:in^abovesituationsdefiniteconclusionisimpossible.However,sometimestwoanswer
choicesarestillpossibleeitheraorb.
ThatconceptiscalledComplimentarypairs.Welllearnaboutitatthebottomofthisarticle.
Forthemoment,letsnotcomplicatethematterswithcomplimentarypairs.
Okbacktotopic,whenyoufaceaTwostatementsyllogismquestion?youllfollowthesesteps:
1.first,makesureitcontainsonlythreeterms(ABC)(elsenoconclusion.)
2.Makesurequestionstatementsareinstandardformat(AtoBthenBtoC).Ifnotinstandardformat,
thenrearrange.
3.Classifythequestionstatements.(UP,UN,PP,PN)
4.Checkifthequestionstatementshavenoconclusioncombos(^Aboverules)
ifabovethingsdonotyieldananswer,thenwevetothinkaboutwhatwillbetheconclusion(s)?
ConclusiveCombos
Ifyouvefollowedabovesteps,thenquestionstatementsintheformatAtoBandthenBtoC.
Firststatement(A Secondstatement(B
Conclusion
toB) toC)
UniversalPositive UniversalPositive(UP)(A
(UP) toC)
UniversalPositive
(UP)
UniversalNegative UniversalNegative(UN)(A
(UN) toC)
Universalpositive
(UP)
UniversalNegative ParticularNegative(PN).
(UN) (CtoA)
ParticularPositive
(PP)
UniversalPositive ParticularPositive(PP)(A
(UP) toC)
ParticularPositive
(PP)
UniversalNegative ParticularNegative(PN)(A
(UN) toC)
Asyoucanseefromabovetable,
UniversalNegative(UN).
Letscondensethistableintomuguprulesaswell.
ConclusiveCombos Inyourhead,visualize
IfUttarPradeshmeetsUttarPradesh,thenits
1.UP+UP=UP
sizedoesntincrease.
IfUttarPradeshmeetsUnitedNationsthenits
2.UP+UN=UN
sizeincreasesanditbecomesUnitedNations.
UnitedNationsSecretaryBanKiMoonisinvery
3.UN+ positivemood.Buthemeetsanotherpositive
person,andhisattitudeistotallyreversedhe
(UP/PP)=PN becomesparticularlynegative!(reversed=Cto
A)
WhenMr.PPobservestheuniverseviaNASA
4.PP+
telescope,hismoodbecomespositiveor
(UP/UN)=PP/PN
negativedependingonthemoodofuniverse.
TryaquestionfromSSCCGL(TierI,2010)exam,
DemoQ:CrazymenandWomen
QuestionStatements
1.Allmenarewomen.
2.Allwomenarecrazy.
Conclusion
1.AllMenarecrazy
2.Allthecrazyaremen
3.Someofthecrazyaremen
4.Someofthecrazyarewomen
Answer
a.Noneoftheconclusionfollows
b.Allconclusionsfollow
c.Only1,3and4follow
d.Only2and3follow
(Isuggestyoupausehere.Firsttrytosolveitonyourown,withoutdirectlyreadingthesolution.Ifyouve
difficulty,rereadrulesgivenabove)
Solution
Ourstandardoperatingprocedure(SOP)
QuestionStatements
1.Allmenarewomen.
2.Allwomenarecrazy.
Firststep:makesurefourtermsarenotgiven=check.Onlythreeterms(men,women,crazy)
Secondstep,makesuretheyreinstandardformat(AtoBandthenBtoC):Checkyestheyre.
Henceconversionisnotrequired.
1.Allmen(A)arewomen.(B)(UP)
2.Allwomen(B)arecrazy.(C)(UP)
Thirdstep,classifythestatements.
1.Allmenarewomen. UniversalPositive(UP)
2.Allwomenarecrazy. UniversalPositive(UP)
Fourthstep:checkthecomboforquestionstatements.
Well,sinceitisUP+UP=itssizedoesntincrease.HenceconclusionshouldbeUP.(AtoC)meaning
Allmen(A)arecrazy.(C)
Checktheanswerstatements.
1.All
Men
Correct.
are
crazy
Recallthatconversiontable.UniversalPositive(UP)can
beconvertedonlyintoParticularPositive(PP).
2.Allthe
SinceAllmenarecrazy=>SomeCrazyaremen.
crazy ButwecannotsayAllcrazyaremen.Sothisoptionis
are false.
Ifyouapplycommonsenseatthisstage:well,1ststatement
men
correct,and2ndstatementisfalse,henceansweris(C):
only1,3and4follow!
3.Some Correctbecauseofconversiontable
crazy
are
men
4.Some
ofthe Givenquestionstatement:Allwomenarecrazy.(Universal
positive).Ifweapplyconversiontable(UP=>PP)then
crazy
SomeCrazyarewomen.Hencethisstatementisalso
are correct.
women
Finalanswer(C):only1,3and4follow
Ifyourestillstaggering,Isuggestyougothroughthoserulesagain,notethemdowninadiaryinyour
ownwordsandlanguage,reviseafewtimes.Thentrynextquestion
DemoQ:IntelligentPoetsandsingers
QuestionStatements(SSCCPOexam)
1.Allpoetsareintelligent
2.Allsingersareintelligent.
Conclusion
1.allsingersarepoets
2.someintelligentpersonsarenotsingers
Answerchoices
a.onlyconclusiononefollows
b.onlyconclusiontwofollows
c.eitherconclusiononeorconclusiontwofollows
d.neitherfollows
solution
firststep:doesthequestionstatementshaveonlythreeterms?Check:Yes.Singers,poets,intelligent.
Good,proceedwithnextstep.
Secondstep:Arethequestionstatementsgiveninstandardformat(AtoBthenBtoC)?
Check.Nope
1.Allpoets(A)areintelligent(B)
2.Allsingers(C)areintelligent.(B)
Thenwehavetoconvertitintostandardformat.Andsincebothstatementsareuniversalpositive,we
dontneedtoworryaboutwhichstatementtoconvertfirst?(thatpriorityorder,moreaboutit,explained
Secondstatementisuniversalpositive(UP),accordingtoourtable,wecanonlyconvertitintoparticular
positive(PP)therefore
Allsingers(C)areintelligent.(B)==>Someintelligentpersons(B)aresingers.(C)
Nowthenewquestionstatements,inthestandardformat(AtoBthenBtoC)are
1.Allpoetsareintelligent(B)
2.Someintelligentpersons(B)aresingers.
Thirdstep,classifythequestionstatements
questionstatement type
1.Allpoets(A)areintelligent(B) Universalpositive(UP)
2.Someintelligentpersons(B)aresingers.(C) Particularpositive(PP)
Fourthstep,applythecomborules.
SinceUPspoliticianshateparticularstatements(bothpositiveandnegative),hencenoconclusioncan
bedrawn.ThatmeanswecannotconnectAtoCorCtoA.
NowchecktheAnswerstatements
i.all
singers(C)
False.UP+PP=noconclusion,asexplainedabove.
arepoets
(A)
Checkthesecondoriginalquestionstatement:All
singersareintelligent.(UniversalpositiveUP).
ii.some
intelligent Accordingtoourconversiontable,UPcanbe
personsare convertedintoparticularpositive(PP)only.Butthis
notsingers
answerstatement(II)isaparticularnegative
statement.Hencethisisalsofalse.
Finalanswer:(D)neitherfollows.
CATlevel
SameUPUNConceptbuttheypack34ormoresyllogismquestionsintoonequestiontotestyour
speed,notjustyourunderstanding.forexample:
DemoQ:SweetTestingApples(CAT)
givenquestionhasfivestatementsfollowedbyoptionscontainingthreestatementsputtogetherina
specificorder.Choosetheoptionwhichindicatesavalidargument,wherethethirdstatementisa
conclusiondrawnfromtheprecedingtwostatements.
Questionstatements(CAT1999)
a.Applesarenotsweet
b.Someapplesaresweet
c.Allsweetsaretasty
d.Someapplesarenottasty
e.Noappleistasty
answerchoices
1.cea
2.bdc
3.cbd
4.eac
solutionandapproach
wevetocheckthegivenoptionsonebyone.
Option(i).CEA.MeaningwevetotakeCasourstatement(I),EasourStatement(II)andthenobserve,
ifstatement(A)canbeconcludedfromCandE.
C Allsweetsaretasty Universalpositive
E Noappleistasty. Universalnegative
A Applesarenotsweet Universalnegative
IntheactualCATexam,wecannotaffordtowastetimeinactuallyconvertingallstatementsand
checkingthem.
Hereisthefastapproach
1.threeterms?=yes
2.instandardformat?No.butwecanconvertsecond(UN)intoanotherUNandthencomboruleis
UP+UN=UN.
Hencethisanswerchoice(CEA)iscorrect.
Finalanswer(i)CEA
DemoQ:Workingmothernurses(CAT)
questionstatement answerchoices
a.Nomotherisanurse.
b.SomeNursesliketowork 1.ABE
c.Nowomanisprude 2.CED
d.Someprudearealsonurses 3.FEB
e.Somenursesarewomen 4.BEF
f.Allwomenliketowork
Checktheanswerchoicesonebyone.
i.ABE
A(StatementI) Nomotherisanurse.(UN)
B(StatementII) SomeNursesliketowork
E(Conclusion) SomeNursesarewomen.
Thisisinvalid.BecauseStatementIandIIhavethreeterms(Mother,Nurseandwork)whilegiven
conclusionstatementaddsfourthnewtermwomen
Movetonextchoice.
ii.CED
Statement Type
Somenursesare
E(StatementII) Particularpositive
women
Someprudearealso
D(conclusion) Particularpositive
nurses
Questionstatementshavethreeterms?Yes(women,prude,nurses)
Aretheyinstandardformat(AtoBthenBtoC?)nope.
Nowoman(B)isprude Universalnegative
Somenursesarewomen(B) Particularpositive
changepositionoffirstandsecondstatement.
1.Somenurses(A)arewomen(B)
2.Nowoman(B)isprude(C)
questionstatement type
1.Somenurses(A)arewomen(B) Particularpositive(PP)
2.Nowoman(B)isprude(C) Universalnegative(UN)
Applythecomborules
PP+UN=??
WhenMr.PPobservestheuniverseviaNASAtelescope,hismoodbecomesparticularlynegativeor
positivedependingonthemoodofuniverse.HencePP+UN=PN.(AtoC)
SolegitimateconclusionisSomePrunearenotnurses.
ButCheckthegivenconclusionstatement:Someprudearealsonurses.ItisParticularpositive
(PP).
ButAccordingtoconversiontable,PNcannotbeconverted.SowecannotsaythatsinceSome
prunearenotnurses,thatmeanssomeprunesarenurses!
Thereforegivenanswerchoice(ii)CEDisfalsebecauseDcannotbeconcludedfromC+E.
Movetothenextanswerchoice.
Actualthoughtprocess:threeterms=yes.Standardform=no.rearrange.ButPP+UN=PN,cantbe
convertedtoPP.Hencefalse.
iii.FEB
Statement Type
Universalpositive
F(StatementI) Allwomenliketowork
UP
Somenursesare Particularpositive
E(StatementII)
women PP
Somenursesliketo Particularpositive
B(conclusion)
work PP
threeterms=yes.Standardform=no.butnoneedtoconvert,justexchangepositionofstatementIand
II.
Somenurses(A)arewomen(B) ParticularpositivePP
Allwomen(B)liketowork(C) UniversalpositiveUP
Applycomborule,againsamesituation
WhenMr.PPobservestheuniverseviaNASAtelescope,hismoodbecomesparticularlypositiveor
negativedependingonthemoodofuniverse.HencePP+UP=PP.(AtoC).
Somenurses(A)liketowork(C).Done!Thisissameasthegivenconclusion(B)
Therefore,finalansweris(iii)FEB.
DemoQ:4questionsin1!
ThisoneisfromCAT1999.
Eachofthegivenquestionstatementasthreesegments.Choosethealternativewherethirdsegmentof
thestatementcanbelogicallybeusedusingthebothprecedingtwobutnotjustfromoneofthem
Questionstatements
a.alldinosaursareprehistoriccreatures.Waterbuffaloesarenotdinosaurs.Waterbuffaloesarenot
prehistoriccreatures
b.allpoliticiansarefrank.Nofrankpeoplearecrocodiles.Nocrocodilesarepoliticians
c.nodiamondisquartz.Noopalisquartz.Diamondsareopals.
d.Allmonkeyslikebananas.SomeJoeslikebananas.SomeJoesaremonkeys.
Answerchoice
i.OnlyC
ii.OnlyB
iii.OnlyAandD
iv.OnlyBandC
Approach
Threetermsyes.Standardformat=No.Bothquestion
statementsareUniversalnegative.Wecanconvert
C.Diamonds,
eitherofthem,intoUNorPN.Butinanycase,both
Quartz,
questionstatementswillremainnegative.AndTwo
Opals.
negatives=noconclusion.SoCisnotpossible.Hence
answerchoice(i)and(iv)eliminated.
B.Frank Alreadyinthreetermsstandardformat.UP+UN=size
politicians enlargedandbecomesUN.
and SoconclusionshouldbeNocrocodileispoliticianso
crocodiles thisstatementiscorrect.Henceanswerchoice(ii).
Finalanswer:(ii)onlyB.
TheEnd?
No.Pictureabhibaakihaimeredost:justthreemoreconceptsbeforeconcludingtheTwoStatement
Syllogism
SpecialConversions
Recallthatwhenquestionstatementsarenotinstandardformat(AtoBthenBtoC),inthatcaseweve
toconvertthemaccordingtoconversiontable.Herearesomespecialcases.
Conversion(allapplicabletoall
GivenQuestionstatement Type
givenquestionstatements)
NonebutPoliticians 1.Allhonest(people)arepoliticians UP
arehonest.
Nooneelsebut
2.Nononpoliticianishonest.
Politiciansarehonest.
3.Nohonest(people)arenon UN
Onlypoliticiansare
politicians.
honest.
Politiciansaloneare
honest 4.Somepoliticiansarehonest PP
Secondconcept:
Complimentarypairs
Earlierwesawtherearefivenoconclusioncombos
1.UPspoliticianshategivingparticularstatements(bothpositiveandnegative).E.g.theydonotreveal
theirclearpositiononFDIinretailuntilthe11thhour.
2.UnitedNationshatesnegativityofanytype.(bothUniversalandparticular)
3.PritishNandyhateseverybody.
4.Twonegatives=noconclusion.
5.Twoparticulars=noconclusion.
Forexample
Question 1.SomePoliticiansaremale.2.Somemalesare
statement honest.
1.SomePoliticiansarehonest.2.NoPoliticiansare
Conclusion
honest.
Answerchoice
a.Only1follows
b.Only2follows
c.Either1or2follows
d.Neitherfollows
Applythestandardoperatingprocedure:
Threeterms?Check:yes
Aretheyinstandardformat?AtoBthenBtoC?check.Yes
Thenclassifythestatements
1.SomePoliticians(A)aremales(B) Particularpositive.
2.Somemales(B)arehonest(C) Particularpositive.
Fromthegivenrules,Twoparticulars=Noconclusion!
Butpleaseobserveoneoftheanswerchoice(C)=Either1or2follows.
Considerthesecases
Case#2
Inthiscase#1:somepoliticians(SardarandShastri)arehonest.
Soconclusion(1)maybepossible.
Case#2
1.Raja 1.BhagatSingh
1.Raja
2.Kalmadi 2.ChandraSekharAzad
2.Kalmadi
3.BhagatSingh 3.SarojiniNaidu
3.Sheila
4.ChandraSekharAzad 4.MotherTeresa
Inthiscase,Nopoliticianishonest.
Soconclusion(2)maybepossible.
ThereforeanswerbecomesEither1or2follows
Suchsyllogismsituationsarecalledcomplementary.
Youvetocheckfollowingthings,beforethinkingaboutcomplementarycases.
1.Twostatementswiththreeterms?Yes
2.Questionstatementsaregiveninstandardformat(AtoBThenBtoC).ifnot,thenrearrangeor
convertthem.
3.Classifythestatements(UP,UN,PP,PN)
4.Applytherules.Gettheanswer.
5.IfStep#4givesNoconclusionANDoneoftheanswerchoiceisintheformatofEitherIorII
follows,onlythencheckforcomplemantarycase.
Checklist:complementarycase
1.Twoanswerchoiceshavesamesubjectandpredicate.
Applicable Notapplicable
1.SomePoliticiansare 1.SomePoliticiansarehonest.2.No
honest.2.NoPoliticiansare HonestarePoliticians.Infirststatement,
honestBecausebothhave subject=Politicianbutinsecond
andcommonpredicate statement,subject=Honest.Hence
(honest) complemantarycasenotpossible.
2).Theanswerchoicecombomustbeeitherofthesethree
Answerchoicecombo example
1.AllPoliticiansarehonest.
UttarPradesh(UP)+PritishNandy
2.SomePoliticiansarenot
(PN)
honest
1.SomePoliticiansarehonest.
PP+PritishNandy(PN) 2.SomePoliticiansarenot
honest
1.SomePoliticiansarehonest.
PP+UnitedNations(UN)
2.NoPoliticiansarehonest
Whenthesetwoconditionsaremet,thenanswerwouldbeEither(I)or(II)follows.
Priorityorder
YouknowthatwhenQuestionstatementsarenotinstandardformat(AtoBThenBtoC),wemust
convertthem.Buthereisathingtokeepinmind.Considerthesestatements
Questionstatements:
1.AllDogsareCats.
2.SomeDogsarePigs.
CommontermormiddletermisDogs.SothatsourB.
1.AllDogs(B)areCats.
2.SomeDogs(B)arePigs.
Wecanconvertitviatworoutes
Route#1 Route#2
Wellreorderthestatements.(thatis
Justconvertthefirst
interchangetheepositionofbothstatements)
statement.
1.Somedogs(B)arepigs
1.SomeCatsare
2.AllDogs(B)areCats
dogs.(Rule:UPtoPP)
Nowwellconvertthefirststatement.
2.SomeDogsare
1.SomepigsareDogs(B)(Rule:PPtoPP)
pigs.
2.Alldogs(B)arecats.
Bothroutesarevalid.
Nowthequestionis,whichrouteshouldbepreferred?
Thepriorityorderis:
1)Particularpositive(PP)>>2)UniversalNegative(UN)>>3)UniversalPositive(UP)
Note:wevenotincludedParticularNegative(PN)inthisorderbecausePNcannotbeconverted.So
accordingtothispriorityorderPP>UN>UP,route#2isthemoresuitableapproach.(althoughsuch
complicationsdontusuallyariseinmostofthequestions).
TrickySituations:Priorityorder
Considerthisscenario
Questionstatements Conclusion
1.Allwomen(B)arebirds 1.Somebirdsaretree
2.Somewomen(B)aretree 2.Alltreesarebird.
Asyoucansee,thequestionstatementsarenotinstandardformat(AtoBthenBtoC).
So,whichquestionstatementtoconvert?
Firstthewrongapproach.
Sincequestionstatementsarenotinstandardformat(AtoB
thenBtoC),hencewellconvertfirststatement.(UPto
PP)Afterconversion
WRON
1.Somebirds(A)arewomen(B)
2.Somewomen(B)aretree
G
Bothquestionstatementsareparticular,hencefinal
answer=Noconclusion.(pleasenote:thisapproachiswrong,
becausewevenotfollowedthepriorityorder).
Nowthecorrectapproach
CORR ThepriorityorderforStatementconversionis
PP>UN>UP.Meaning,iftherearetwoquestionstatements,and
E wevetoconvertoneofthemtomakeitastandardformat=>
thenwellconvertParticularpositivestatementfirst.Sointhe
C givencase
T 1.Allwomen(B)arebirds
2.Somewomen(B)aretree
Convertsecondstatement.(PPtoPP)
1.Allwomen(B)arebirds.
2.Sometreesarewomen(B).
Nowexchangepositionsofquestionstatements
1.Sometreesarewomen(B).(PP)
2.Allwomen(B)arebirds.(UP)
Nowtheyreinstandardformat,applycomborule:PP+UP=PP
(Nasatelescoperule!)
Henceconclusionis
Sometreesarebirds.(PP)
WecanalsosaythatSomebirdsaretrees.(PPtoPP
conversion).Thereforeansweris(1)
Moralofthestory:Conversionpriority:PP>UN>UP.EspeciallywhenyouregettingPP+PP=no
conclusionafterconversion.
TrickySituations:1StatementConclusion
Questionstatements Conclusion
1.Alltheflowersareleaves.(B)(UP) 1.Somebirdsareflowers
2.Someleaves(B)arebirds(PP) 2.Someleavesareflowers
Questionstatementcontainsonlythreeterms=yes.
Aretheyinstandardformat?(AToBthenBtoC?)=Yes.
Applycomborules:UP+PP=NoconclusionbecauseUttarPradeshspoliticianshateparticular
statements.
Butheresthecatch.Observetheconclusionstatementscarefully
Conclusion
Thoughtprocess
statement
1.Some
birds
Notpossiblebecausecomborule.
are
flowers
2.Some firstquestionstatementsaysAllflowersareleaves.Ifyou
applytheconversionruleUP>PP,thenAllflowersare
leaves
leaves=>Someleavesareflowers.Hencethisconclusion
are
iscorrect,althoughitdidnotemploybothquestion
flowers statements.
Moralofthestory:Readterms(subjectpredicate)ofconclusionstatements.
Summary
Whattodowhen2statementsyllogismquestionisgiven?
1.Theymusthaveonlythreeterms(A,BandC)
2.Arethequestionstatementsinstandardformat(AtoBthenBtoC)?ifno,thenrefertofollowing
conversiontable.(important:priorityorderforconversionisPP>UN>UP.)
Type ValidConversion
UniversalPositive(UP) OnlyPP
UniversalNegative(UN) PNorUN
ParticularPositive(PP) OnlyPP
ParticularNegative(PN) Cantdo.
3.ClassifytheQuestionstatement(UP,UN,PP,PN)
4.ApplythecomborulesonQuestionstatements.
Noconclusion Yesconclusion
1.UPspoliticianshategiving 1.IfUttarPradeshmeetsUttar
particularstatements(both Pradesh,thenitssizedoesnt
positiveandnegative).E.g. increase.(UP+UP=UP)
theydonotrevealtheir 2.IfUttarPradeshmeetsUnited
clearpositiononFDIin Nationsthensizeincreasesandit
retailuntilthe11thhour. becomesUnitedNations.
(UP+PP/PN=NO) (UP+UN=UN)
2.UnitedNationshates 3.UnitedNationsSecretaryBanKi
negativity.(bothUniversal Moonisinverypositivemood.But
andparticular) hemeetsanotherpositiveperson,
(UN+UN/PN=NO) andhisattitudeistotallyreversed
3.PritishNandyhates hebecomesparticularlynegative!
everybody.(firststatement (reversed=CtoA).
isPN=NO,Irrespectiveof (UN+UP/PP=PN)
secondstatement.) 4.WhenMr.PPobservesthe
4.Twonegatives=no universeviaNASAtelescope,his
5.Twoparticulars=no positiveornegativedependingon
conclusion. themoodofuniverse.
(PP+UP/UN=PP/PN)
5.(rarelyrequired):ifnoconclusionandeitherorgiveninanswer,thencheckforComplimentarycase.
Thisconcludesthediscussionon2statementSyllogismquestion.
Inlaterarticle,wellseethe3statementsyllogism.ItisbasicallyextentionofthesameUPUNmethod
thatwelearnedhere.However,toquicklysolve3statements,firstyoumustbecomeamasterof2
statement.So,practiceasmanysumsasyoucan,fromanyofthefollowingbooks.