Syllogism
Syllogism
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.
3 Statement syllogism syllogism is explained in separate article (CLICK ME). (They’re mere
an extension of the concepts explained in this article, so first master the 2-statement technique here.)
Have to mugup some rules, and spend some hours @home to master
2. AEIO (analytical
the “AEIO” conversion in your head. But once done, it is easy as a walk in
Method)
the park.
The technique explained in this article, is a modified version of AEIO method combined with the Tick
Method. Let’s call it U.P.-U.N. method.
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
I hope the Subject vs. Predicate is clear now. Let’s move to second thing
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 of, almost, Particular (positive or
generally, often, freqently, etc. negative)
No conclusion can be drawn. Because it has four terms (cats, dogs, birds, pigs)
1. All cats are Dogs
A–>B
2. Some birds are pigs
C–>D
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
Some Cats are Dogs Some dogs are cats Particular Positive (PP)
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
Type Valid Conversion
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
4. None of Above.
–not applicable because C is the correct answer.
Data
1. Sardar Patel
2. Lal Bahadur Shastri
Subject (Politicians)
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
1. All Cats are dogs (B) Have to convert, because not in standard format.1.All cats(A) are dogs(B)
2. All pigs are dogs(B) 2.Some dogs(B) are pigs(C). (Rule UP-> only PP)
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.
Particular Negative (PN) Any other (UP, UN, PP, PN) No conclusion
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)
Please note: in ^above situations definite conclusion is impossible. However, sometimes two answer
choices are still possible “either a or b”.
That concept is called “Complimentary pairs”. We’ll learn about it at the bottom of this article.
For the moment, let’s not complicate the matters with complimentary pairs.
Ok back to topic, when you face a “Two-statement syllogism question”? you’ll follow these steps:
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.”
1. UP+UP=UP
If Uttar Pradesh meets Uttar Pradesh, then its size doesn’t increase.
2. UP+UN=UN If Uttar Pradesh meets United Nations then its size increases and it becomes
United Nations.
United Nations Secretary Ban Ki Moon is in very positive mood. But he meets
3. UN+ (UP/PP)=PN
another positive person, and his attitude is totally reversed- he becomes
particularly negative! (reversed =C to A)
4. PP+
When Mr.PP observes the universe via NASA telescope, his mood becomes
(UP/UN)=PP/PN
positive or negative depending on the mood of universe.
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
Our standard operating procedure (SOP)
Question Statements
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)
Recall that “conversion table”.Universal Positive (UP) can be converted only into
Particular Positive (PP).
2. All the crazy
Since All men are crazy => Some Crazy are men.
are men
But we cannot say All crazy are men. So this option is false.
If you apply common sense at this stage: well, 1st statement correct, and 2nd
statement is false, hence answer is (C): only 1, 3 and 4 follow!
3. Some of the
crazy are men Correct because of “conversion table”
4. Some of the
Given question statement : All women are crazy. (Universal positive). If we apply
crazy are
conversion table (UP=> PP) then Some Crazy are women. Hence this statement is
women
also correct.
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
Check the second original question statement : All singers are intelligent.
(Universal positive –UP).
ii. some intelligent
According to our conversion table, UP can be converted into particular
persons are not
positive (PP) only. But this answer statement (II) is a particular negative
singers
statement. Hence this is also false.
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
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
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
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
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
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
C. Diamonds, negative. We can convert either of them, into UN or PN. But in any case, both
Quartz, Opals. question statements will remain negative. And Two negatives=no conclusion. So “C”
is not possible. Hence answer choice (i) and (iv) eliminated.
B. Frank Already in three terms standard format.UP+UN=size enlarged and becomes UN.
politicians and So conclusion should be “No crocodile is politician” so this statement is correct.
crocodiles 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.
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.
Answer choice
a. Only 1 follows
b. Only 2 follows
c. Either 1 or 2 follows
d. Neither follows
Case#2
5. Sardar Patel
9. Sheila
1. Some Politicians are honest.2. No 1. Some Politicians are honest.2. No Honest are
Politicians are honestBecause both have Politicians.In first statement, subject=Politician but in
common subject (politician) and common second statement, subject= Honest. Hence
predicate (honest) complemantary case not possible.
When these two conditions are met, then answer would be “Either (I) or (II) follows.”
Priority order
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
As you can see, the question statements are not in standard format (A to B then B to C).
Since question statements are not in standard format (A to B then B to C), hence we’ll convert
first statement. (UP to PP)After conversion
WRO
N 1. Some birds(A) are women (B)
2. Some women(B) are tree
G
Both question statements are particular, hence final answer=No conclusion. (please note: this
approach is wrong, because we’ve not followed the priority order).
The priority order for Statement conversion is PP>UN>UP.Meaning, if there are two question
statements, and we’ve to convert one of them to make it a standard format=> then we’ll convert
Particular positive statement first.So in the given case
CORR
1. All women(B) are birds.
2. Some trees are women(B).
E
Now exchange positions of question statements
C
1. Some trees are women(B). (PP)
T 2. All women(B) are birds. (UP)
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
Apply combo rules: UP+PP=No conclusion because Uttar Pradesh’s politicians hate particular statements.
Conclusion
Thought process
statement
1. Some birds
are flowers Not possible because combo rule.
2. Some
first question statement says All flowers are leaves. If you apply the conversion rule
leaves are
UP->PP, thenAll flowers are leaves=> Some leaves are flowers. Hence this conclusion
flowers
is correct, although it did not employ both question statements.
Summary
What to do when 2-statement syllogism question is given?
5. (rarely required): if no-conclusion and “either or” given in answer, then check for Complimentary case.