Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1. Introduction
2. Basics
3. Subject vs Predicate
4. Classification of statement
5. Standard format: conversion
6. No conclusion Combos
7. Conclusive-Combos
8. DemoQ: Crazy men and Women
9. DemoQ: Intelligent Poets and singers
10. CAT-level
DemoQ: Sweet Testing Apples (CAT)
DemoQ: Working mother nurses (CAT)
DemoQ: 4 questions in 1!
11. Special Conversions
12. Complimentary pairs
13. Tricky Situations: Priority order
14. Tricky Situations: 1-Statement Conclusion
15. Summary
Introduction
There are two main types of Syllogism question
2-Statements 3-Statements
Question Statement
A. All cats are dogs
Question Statement:
B. some pigs are cats
I. All cats are dogs
C. no dogs are birdsConclusion
II. All dogs are birdsConclusion:
I. some cats are dogs
I. Some cats are birds
II. no birds are cats
II. Some birds are cats.
III. some pigs are birds
IV. some pigs are not birds
2 Statement Syllogism questions are usually found in IBPS (Bank) and SSC
exams.
UPSC CSAT 2012 exam had quite a few questions on 3 Statement Syllogism.
In CAT exams, they ask 2 Statement Syllogism but they pack 3-4 such
“2-statement” syllogism questions inside one question to make it very
time-consuming process.
In this article, you will learn how to solve the 2 Statement syllogism questions.
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Basics
Subject vs Predicate
Consider this question statement
1. All cats are dogs
2. Some dogs are birds
3. No bird is a pig
4. Some pigs are not birds.
In all such statements, first-term is called subject and second is called predicate.
It doesn’t matter what word is given: Table, Chair, Raja, Kalmadi, Kanimozhi or
Madhu Koda – first term is subject and second term is predicate.
Let’s relook at those question statements
Subject Predicate
1. All cats are dogs Cats Dogs
2. Some dogs are birds Dogs Birds
3. No bird is a pig Bird Pig
4. Some pigs are not birds. Pigs Birds
I hope the Subject vs. Predicate is clear now. Let’s move to second thing
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Classification of statement
In syllogism, each statement usually has following format
“xyz subject is/are (not) predicate.”
For example,
Please remember following words. Whenever they come, you classify the statement
accordingly.
Universal (positive or
All, every, any, none, not a single, only etc.
negative)
Some, many, a few, quite a few, not many, very little, most Particular (positive or
of, almost, generally, often, freqently, etc. negative)
Question
Answer
statements
1. All cats are No conclusion can be drawn. Because it has four terms (cats,
Dogs dogs, birds, pigs)
2. Some birds are A–>B
pigs C–>D
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But if the given question statements are not given in this format, then we must convert
them into above format. Otherwise we cannot proceed with answer. For example
Particular Negative
Example: Some Cats are not Dogs. In Particular negative statements (PN), no
conversion can be made.
So PN=can’t convert.
To sum up the conversion rules
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Please note:
In some lower level exams, sometimes they directly ask about conversion. For
example
Q. What can be concluded from the given statement: “Some Politicians are honest
men.”
Answer choices
Solution
well, the given statement “Some Politicians are honest men.” is a particular positive
statement (PP).
Hence according to our table, it can be converted into PP only. Therefore
Case #1
Data
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3. Raja
4. Kalmadi
1. Sardar Patel
Predicate (Honest Men)
2. Lal Bahadur Shastri
In above situation, can you say “Some honest men are not politicians”?
Well you can’t say that. Because both Honest men (Sardar and Shastri) are in politician
set.
Case #2
Data
1. Sardar Patel
2. Lal Bahadur Shastri
Subject (Politicians)
3. Raja
4. Kalmadi
1. Sardar Patel
2. Lal Bahadur Shastri
Predicate (Honest Men)
3. Bhagat Singh
4. ChandraSekhar Azad
In above situation, can you say “Some honest men are not politicians”?
Yes you can. Because two Honest men (Bhagat Singh and Azad) are not in
politician set.
The point is, whenever “two cases” are possible, you cannot ‘safely’ conclude
one statement.
Some “A” are “B”–> it doesn’t mean Some “B” are not “A”.
The only valid conclusion in above case is :Some “B” are “A”.
Therefore Particular Positive (PP) statement can be converted into Particular Positive
(PP) statement only.
Similarly
Universal Negative (UN) PN :Some Dogs (B) are not Cats (A). B to A
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No Cats(A) are dogs (B) UN: No Dogs (B) are cats. (A)
Now coming to the heart of the matter: how to solve the (stupid) 2 statement syllogism
question?
No conclusion Combos
Here are the non-conclusion combos when two question statements are in following
format.
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1. UP’s politicians hate giving particular statements (both positive and negative).
E.g. they donot reveal their clear position on FDI in retail until the 11th hour.
2. United Nations hates negativity. (both Universal and particular)
3. Pritish Nandy hates everybody.
4. Two-negatives=no conclusion. (although implicit in 2+3)
5. Two particulars=no conclusion. (although implicit in 1+3)
1. first, make sure it contains only three terms (ABC) (else no conclusion.)
2. Make sure question statements are in standard format (A to B then B to C). If not
in standard format, then re-arrange.
3. Classify the question statements. (UP, UN, PP, PN)
4. Check if the question statements have no conclusion combos (^Above rules)
if above things donot yield an answer, then we’ve to think about what will be the
“conclusion(s)”?
Conclusive-Combos
If you’ve followed above steps, then question statements in the format “A to B and
then B to C.”
Second statement (B to
First statement (A to B) Conclusion
C)
Universal Positive (UP) Universal Positive (UP) (A to C)
Universal Positive (UP) Universal Negative Universal Negative (UN) (A to
(UN) C)
Universal Negative Universal positive (UP) Particular Negative (PN). (C to
(UN) Particular Positive (PP) A)
Universal Positive (UP) Particular Positive (PP) (A to C)
Particular Positive (PP) Universal Negative Particular Negative (PN) (A to
(UN) C)
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Conclusion
Answer
(I suggest you pause here. First try to solve it on your own, without directly reading
the solution. If you’ve difficulty, re-read rules given above)
Solution
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First step: make sure four terms are not given = check. Only three terms (men, women,
crazy)
Second step, make sure they’re in standard format (A to B and then B to C): Check yes
they’re.
Hence conversion is not required.
Well, since it is UP+UP= its size doesn’t increase. Hence conclusion should be
UP. (A to C) meaning All men(A) are crazy.(C)
3. Some of the
crazy are Correct because of “conversion table”
men
4. Some of the Given question statement : All women are crazy. (Universal
crazy are positive). If we apply conversion table (UP=> PP) then Some
women Crazy are women. Hence this statement is also correct.
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Conclusion
Answer choices
solution
first step: does the question statements have only three terms? Check: Yes. Singers,
poets, intelligent. Good, proceed with next step.
Second step: Are the question statements given in standard format (A to B then B to
C)?
Check. Nope
Then we have to convert it into standard format. And since both statements are
universal positive, we don’t need to worry about which statement to convert first? (that
“priority order”, more about it, explained at the bottom of this article.)
Second statement is universal positive (UP), according to our table, we can only
convert it into particular positive (PP) therefore
All singers (C) are intelligent. (B)==> Some intelligent persons(B) are singers.(C)
Now the new question statements, in the standard format (A to B then B to C) are
1. All poets are intelligent (B)
2. Some intelligent persons(B) are singers.
Third step, classify the question statements
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Since UP’s politicians hate particular statements (both positive and negative), hence no
conclusion can be drawn. That means we cannot connect A to C or C to A.
Now check the Answer statements
CAT-level
Same UP-UN Concept but they pack 3-4 or more syllogism questions into one
question to test your speed, not just your understanding. for example:
answer choices
1. cea
2. bdc
3. cbd
4. eac
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In the actual CAT exam, we cannot afford to waste time in actually converting all
statements and checking them.
Here is the fast approach
1. three terms?= yes
2. in standard format? No. but we can convert second (UN) into another UN and then
combo rule is UP+UN=UN.
Hence this answer choice (CEA) is correct.
Final answer (i) CEA
a. No mother is a nurse.
b. Some Nurses like to work 1. ABE
c. No woman is prude 2. CED
d. Some prude are also nurses 3. FEB
e. Some nurses are women 4. BEF
f. All women like to work
i. ABE
A (Statement I) No mother is a nurse. (UN)
B (Statement II) Some Nurses like to work
E (Conclusion) Some Nurses are women.
This is invalid. Because Statement I and II have three terms (Mother, Nurse and work)
while given conclusion statement adds fourth new term “women”
ii. CED
Statement Type
C (Statement I) No woman is prude Universal negative
E (Statement II) Some nurses are women Particular positive
D (conclusion) Some prude are also nurses Particular positive
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When Mr.PP observes the universe via NASA telescope, his mood becomes
particularly negative or positive depending on the mood of universe. Hence
PP+UN=PN.(A to C)
So legitimate conclusion is “Some Prune arenot nurses”.
But Check the given conclusion statement: “Some prude are also nurses.” It is
Particular positive (PP).
But According to conversion table, PN cannot be converted. So we cannot say
that since “Some prune are not nurses, that means some prunes are nurses!”
Therefore given answer choice(ii) CED is false because D cannot be concluded
from C+E.
Move to the next answer choice.
Actual thought process: three terms =yes. Standard form=no. rearrange. But
PP+UN=PN, can’t be converted to PP. Hence false.
iii.FEB
Statement Type
F (Statement I) All women like to work Universal positive UP
E (Statement II) Some nurses are women Particular positive PP
B (conclusion) Some nurses like to work Particular positive PP
three terms =yes. Standard form=no. but no need to convert, just exchange position of
statement I and II.
DemoQ: 4 questions in 1!
This one is from CAT-1999.
Each of the given question statement as three segments. Choose the alternative where
third segment of the statement can be logically be used using the both preceding two
but not just from one of them
Question statements
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a. all dinosaurs are prehistoric creatures. Water buffaloes are not dinosaurs. Water
buffaloes are not prehistoric creatures
b. all politicians are frank. No frank people are crocodiles. No crocodiles are
politicians
c. no diamond is quartz. No opal is quartz. Diamonds are opals.
d. All monkeys like bananas. Some Joes like bananas. Some Joes are monkeys.
Answer choice
i. Only C
ii. Only B
iii. Only A and D
iv. Only B and C
Approach
Three terms yes. Standard format =No.Both question statements
are Universal negative. We can convert either of them, into UN or
C. Diamonds,
PN. But in any case, both question statements will remain
Quartz, Opals.
negative. And Two negatives=no conclusion. So “C” is not
possible. Hence answer choice (i) and (iv) eliminated.
Already in three terms standard format.UP+UN=size enlarged and
B. Frank
becomes UN.
politicians and
So conclusion should be “No crocodile is politician” so this
crocodiles
statement is correct. Hence answer choice (ii).
Special Conversions
Recall that when question statements are not in standard format (A to B then B to C),
in that case we’ve to convert them according to conversion table. Here are some
special cases.
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Second concept:
Complimentary pairs
Earlier we saw there are five no-conclusion combos
1. UP’s politicians hate giving particular statements (both positive and negative).
E.g. they donot reveal their clear position on FDI in retail until the 11th hour.
2. United Nations hates negativity of any type. (both Universal and particular)
3. Pritish Nandy hates everybody.
4. Two-negatives=no conclusion.
5. Two particulars=no conclusion.
For example
Question statement 1. Some Politicians are male.2. Some males are honest.
Conclusion 1. Some Politicians are honest.2. No Politicians are honest.
Answer choice
a. Only 1 follows
b. Only 2 follows
c. Either 1 or 2 follows
d. Neither follows
Case#2
Politicians Males honest
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Case#2
Politicians Males honest
When these two conditions are met, then answer would be “Either (I) or (II) follows.”
Priority order
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You know that when Question statements are not in standard format (A to B Then B to
C), we must convert them. But here is a thing to keep in mind. Consider these
statements
Question statements:
1. All Dogs are Cats.
2. Some Dogs are Pigs.
Common term or middle term is Dogs. So that’s our “B”.
1. All Dogs(B) are Cats.
2. Some Dogs(B) are Pigs.
We can convert it via two routes
Route #1 Route #2
We’ll re-order the statements. (that is interchange thee
Just convert the first position of both statements)
statement. 1. Some dogs(B) are pigs
1. Some Cats are dogs. 2. All Dogs(B) are Cats
(Rule: UP to PP) Now we’ll convert the first statement.
2. Some Dogs are pigs. 1. Some pigs are Dogs (B) (Rule: PP to PP)
2. All dogs (B) are cats.
As you can see, the question statements are not in standard format (A to B then B to
C).
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R
1. All women(B) are birds.
2. Some trees are women(B).
R
Now exchange positions of question statements
E
1. Some trees are women(B). (PP)
C
2. All women(B) are birds. (UP)
T
Now they’re in standard format, apply combo rule: PP+UP=PP (Nasa telescope
rule!)
Hence conclusion is
We can also say that Some birds are trees. (PP to PP conversion). Therefore
answer is (1)
Moral of the story: Conversion priority: PP>UN>UP. Especially when you’re getting
PP+PP= no conclusion after conversion.
1. All the flowers are leaves.(B) (UP) 1. Some birds are flowers
2. Some leaves(B) are birds (PP) 2. Some leaves are flowers
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Apply combo rules: UP+PP=No conclusion because Uttar Pradesh’s politicians hate
particular statements.
Conclusion
Thought process
statement
1. Some birds
Not possible because combo rule.
are flowers
first question statement says All flowers are leaves. If you apply
2. Some
the conversion rule UP->PP, thenAll flowers are leaves=> Some
leaves are
leaves are flowers. Hence this conclusion is correct, although it
flowers
did not employ both question statements.
Summary
What to do when 2-statement syllogism question is given?
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5. (rarely required): if no-conclusion and “either or” given in answer, then check for
Complimentary case.
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