- Difference: Syllogism vs Logical connectives
- Standard format: logical connectives
- Logical connective: if then
- Logical connective: Only IF
- Logical Connective: UNLESS
- Logical connective: otherwise
- Logical connective: When, Whenever, every time
- Logical Connective: Either OR
- Demo Q: Only if: bored TV brother (CSAT 2012)
- Demo Q (If, then) Professor Headaches (CATâ98)
- Demo Q: Either or: derailed/late train (CATâ97)
Difference: Syllogism vs Logical connectives
Syllogism (all cats are dog) is a common and routinely appearing topic in most of the aptitude exams (Bank PO, LIC, SSC etc). But Logical connectives is rare. However, in UPSC CSAT 2012 the topic was asked, therefore, you’ve to prepare it.
Syllogism |
Logical connectives |
Contains words like âall, none, someâ etc. Can be classified into UP, UN,PP and PN. Already explained in previous articles. | Contains words like âif, unless, only if, wheneverâ etc. can be classified into 1, ~1, 2, ~2 (weâll see in this article) |
Have to mugup more formulas, takes more time than logical connective questions. | Less formulas and quicker than syllogism. |
Question Statements:
Conclusion choices:
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Question statements:
Conclusion choices:
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Standard format: logical connectives
- If, unless, only if, whenever, every time etc. are examples of Logical connectives.
- Whenever youâre given a question statement, first rule is: question statement must be in the standard format.
- The standard format is
- ****some logical connective word *** simple statement#1, simple statement #2.
- It means, the question statement must start with a logical connective word, otherwise exchange position. For example
Given question statement | Exchange position? |
If youâre in the army, youâve to wear uniform |
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Youâve to wear uniform, if youâre in the army |
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Youâve to salute, whenever Commanding Officer comes in your cabin. |
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Now letâs derive valid inferences for various logical connectives.
Logical connective: if then
Consider these two simple statements
- Youâre in army
- Youâve to wear uniform.
These are two simple statements. Now Iâll combine these two simple statements (#1 and #2) to form a complex statement.
- If youâre in army(#1), you have to wear uniform.(#2)
What about its reverse?
- Youâve wearing uniform (#2)—> that means youâre in the army.(#1)
- But there is possibility, youâre in navy—-> youâll still have to wear a uniform. It means,
- if 1=>2, then 2=>1 is not always a valid inference.
- Letâs list all such scenarios in a table.
Given statement:If youâre in army(#1), you have to wear uniform.(#2) | ||
Inference? | Valid / invalid? | |
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If youâve to wear uniform, youâre in army. | youâve to wear uniform in navy, air force, BSF etc. so this inference is not always valid. |
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if youâre not in army, you donât have to wear uniform. | youâve to wear uniform in navy, air force, BSF etc. so this inference is not always valid. |
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If you donât have to wear uniform, youâre not in army. | Always valid. |
- In the exam, you donât have to think ^that much. Just mugup the following rule:
- Given statement =âIf #1 then #2â, in such situation the only valid inference is âif Not #2, then not #1â.
- In other words, âif 1st happens then 2nd happensâ, in such situation, the only valid inference is âif 2nd did not happen then 1st did not happenâ.
- Now I want to construct a short and sweet reference table for the logical connective problems. So Iâll use the symbol ~= negative.
~1=meaning NOT 1 ( or in other words, negative of #1)
Given | Valid inference |
If 1, then 2 | If not 2, then not 1 |
If 1=>2 | ~2=>~1 |
- In some books, material, sites, youâll find these rules explained as using âPâ and âQâ instead of 1 and 2.
- But in our method, you first make sure the given (complex) statement starts with a logical connective (or you exchange position as explained earlier)
- We denote the first simple sentence as #1 and second simple sentence as #2.
- The reason for using 1 and 2= makes things less complicated and easier to mugup.
Logical connective: Only IF
- In such scenario, youâve to rephrase given statement into âif thenâ and then apply the logical connective rule for âif thenâ.
- For example: given statement: he scores a century, only if the match is fixed.
- The âstandard formatâ= only if the match is fixed(1), he scores a century(2).
- In case of âonly ifâ, we further convert it into an âifâ statement, by exchanging positions. That is
- if he scores a century(#2), the match is fixed(#1).
- Then apply the formula for âif thenâ and get valid inference.
- Here weâve âif 2=>1â as per our formula for âif thenâ, the valid inference will be ~1=>~2. Donât confuse between 1 and 2. Because essentially the valid inference is ânegative of end part => negative of starting partâ.
- Therefore âif 2=>1 then ~1=~2â
- similarly âif 98=>97, then valid inference will be ~97=>~98â
- Similarly âif p=>q, then valid inference will be ~q=>~pâ,
- similarly âif b=>a, then valid inference will be ~a=~bâ) .
- Update our table
Logical connective | Given statement | Valid inference using symbol | Valid inf. In words |
If | If 1=>2 | ~2=>~1 | Negative of end part=> negative of start part |
Only if | Only if 1=>2 | ~1=>~2 | Negative of start part=>negative of end part. |
Logical Connective: UNLESS
- Given statement: Unless you bribe the minister(#1), you will not get the 2G license.(#2)
- Unless = ifâŠ..not.
- So, I can re-write the given statement as
- (new) Given statement: If you donât bribe the minister(#1), youâll not get the 2G license.(#2)
How to come up with a valid inference here?
#1 | You donât bribe the minister |
#2 | Youâll not get the 2G license. |
- For âif..thenâ, Weâve mugged up the rule:Â 1=>2 then only valid inference is ~2=>~1. (in other words, negative of end part => negative of starting part).
- letâs construct the valid inference for this 2G minister.
- we want ~2 => ~1
- Negative of (2) => negative of (1)
- Negative of (youâll not get the 2G license)=>negative of (you donât bribe the minister)
- Youâll get the 2G license => you bribe the minister.
- In other words, If I see a 2G license in your hand, then I can infer that you had definitely bribed the minister.
- This is one way of doing âunlessâ questions = via converting it into âifâŠnotâ type of statement.
- The short cut is to mugup another formula: unless1=>2 then ~2=>1.
- How did we come up with above formula?
Deriving the formula for unless
- Unless 1=>2 (given statement)
- if not 1=>2Â (because unless=if not)
- if ~1=>2 (Iâm using symbol ~ instead of ânotâ)
- ~2=> ~(~1) (because we already mugged up the rule âif 1=>2, then valid inference is ~2=>~1)
- ~2=>1 (because ~(~1) means double negative and double negative is positive hence ~(~1)=1)
This is our second rule: Unless1=>2 then ~2=>1
Table
Logical connective | Given statement | Valid inference using symbol | Valid inf. In words |
If | If 1=>2 | ~2=>~1 | Negative of end part=> negative of start part |
Only if | Only if 1=>2 | ~1=>~2 | Negative of start part=>negative of end part. |
Unless | Unless 1=>2 | ~2=>1 | Negative of end part=>start part unchanged. |
Logical connective: otherwise
- Suppose given statement is: 1, otherwise 2.
- you can write it as unless 1 then 2. Â (unless1=>2)
- Then use the formula for âunless.â
Logical connective: When, Whenever, every time
- Given statement: he scores century, when match is fixed.
- This is not in standard format of â**logical connective word**, simple statement #1, simple statement #2.â
- So first I need to exchange the positions: âwhen match is fixed (#1), he scores century (#2)â.
- In case of when and whenever, the valid inference is= same like âIf, thenâ. That means negative of end part=>negative of starting part.
- Same formula works for âwheneverâ and âEverytimeâ.
- Update the table
Logical connective | Given statement | Valid inference using symbol | Valid inf. In words |
If | If 1=>2 | ~2=~1 | Negative of end part=> negative of starting part |
When | When 1=>2 | ||
Whenever | Whenever 1=>2 | ||
Everytime | Everytime 1=>2 | ||
Only if | Only if 1=>2 | ~1=>~2 | Negative of start part=>negative of end part. |
Unless | Unless 1=>2 | ~2=>1 | Negative of end part=>starting part unchanged. |
Logical Connective: Either OR
Given statement: Either he is drunk(1) or he is ill(2).
In such cases, if not 1 then 2. And if not 2 then 1.
Meaning,
- if he is not drunk then he is definitely ill
- if he is not ill, then he is definitely drunk
both are valid. Update the table
Logical connective | Given statement | Valid inference using symbol | Valid inf. In words |
If | If 1=>2 | ~2=~1 | Negative of end part=> negative of starting part |
When | When 1=>2 | ||
Whenever | Whenever 1=>2 | ||
Everytime | Everytime 1=>2 | ||
Only if | Only if 1=>2 | ~1=>~2 | Negative of start part=>negative of end part. |
Unless | Unless 1=>2 | ~2=>1 | Negative of end part=>starting part unchanged. |
Otherwise | 1 otherwise 2=> rewrite as Unless1=>2. | ||
Either or | Either 1 or 2 |
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Negative of any one part=> remaining part remains unchanged. |
- Now letâs solve some questions from old CSAT and CAT papers
- Please note: in the exam, actual wording / meaning of the simple statement doesnât matter. Just apply the formulas as given in above table.
- For example, âif youâre in army, you have to wear uniform.â Then valid inference is ~2=>~1 (you donât have to wear uniform, then youâre not in army).
- Now ofcourse there would be exceptional situation when army officer/jawan doesnât need to wear uniform, for example during espionage mission behind the enemy lines. In that case you donât have to wear uniform, but youâre still in the army.
- But keep in mind, while solving logical connective question under the âaptitude/reasoningâ portion you donât have to surgically dissect or nitpick the meaning every statement. Just âif 1=>2â then â~2=>~1â.
Demo Q: Only if: bored TV brother (CSAT 2012)
Examine the following statements:
- I watch TV only if I am bored
- I am never bored when I have my brotherâs company.
- Whenever I go to the theatre I take my brother along.
Which one of the following conclusions is valid in the context of the above statements?
- If I am bored I watch TV
- If I am bored, I seek my brotherâs company.
- If I am not with my brother, then Iâll watch TV.
- If I am not bored I do not watch TV.
Approach
First weâll construct valid inferences from the question statements
Given Question Statement #1:
- Given =I watch TV only if I am bored
- This is not in standard format. So first exchange position
- Only if Iâm bored (1), I watch TV(2)
- What is the valid inference? Just look at the formula table
- Only if 1=>2 then ~1=~2
- Valid inference= if Iâm not bored, I do not watch TV.
- Look at the statements given in the answer choices, (D) matches. Therefore, final answer is (D).
Demo Q (If, then) Professor Headaches (CATâ98)
Youâre given a statement, followed by four statements labeled A to D. Choose the ordered pair of statements where the first statement implies the second and two statements are logically consistent with the main statement.
Given statement: If I talk to my professors(1), then I didnât need to take a pill for headache.(2)
Four Statements
- I talked to my professors
- I did not need to take a pill for headache
- I needed to take a pill for headache
- I did not talk to my professor.
Answer choices
- AB
- DC
- CD
- AB and CD
Approach
Given statement is in standard format already
#1 | I talk to my professors |
#2 | I didnât need to take a pill for headache. |
Letâs classify the four statements
Classification | Four statements |
1 |
|
2 |
|
~2 |
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~1 |
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Answer choice (i) AB
If you observe the answer choice (I): AB= I talked to my professors, I did not need to take a pill for headache. This is valid because if 1=>2 is already given in the question statement itself.
Answer choice (ii) DC
- I did not talk to my professor (~1), I needed to take a pill for headache (~2). Meaning ~1=>~2.
- This is invalid because as per our table, if 1=>2, then valid inference is ~2=>~1.
Answer choice (iii) CD
I needed to take pill for headache (~2), I did not talk to my professor (~1). Meaning ~2=>~1. This is valid as per our table. Therefore final answer is (IV) AB and CD
Demo Q: Either or: derailed/late train (CATâ97)
Given statement: either the train is late (1) or it has derailed (2)
Four statements
- Train is late = 1
- Train is not late = ~1
- Train is derailed =2
- Train is not derailed =~2
(^note: Iâve classified the statements in advance)
Answer choice
- AB
- DB
- CA
- BC
Approach
As per our table, the valid inferences for either or are
~2=>1 | If the train is not derailed, it is late. | DA |
~1=>2 | If the train is not late, it is derailed | BC |
Correct answer is (III): BC
For more articles on reasoning and aptitude, visit Mrunal.org/aptitude
198 Comments on “[Reasoning] Logical Connectives (if, unless, either or) for CSAT, CAT shortcuts formulas approach explained”
Sir,
kindly elaborate the negation of a statement…
Directions:- Each question below consists of a main statement followed by four numbered statements. From the numbered statements, select the one that logically follows the main statement.
q1> Unless Sangeeta’s boss sanctions her leave and books the tickets, Sangeeta cannot go home for diwali.
a>Sangeeta is going home for diwali, hence, her boss booked her tickets but did not sanction leave.
b>Sangeeta is going home for dipawali,implies that her boss sanctioned leave but the tickets are not booked.
c>Sangeeta’s ticket was not booked implies, she is not going home for diwali.
d>More than one of the above.
Can you please explain me these type of questions with this example and if possible some other examples too??
Is it necessary to take coaching for REASONING IN CSAT?
Why are 1=> ~2 and 2=>~1 incorrect inferences in “Either/Or” questions? If one happens, the other doesn’t, since it is ‘either this, or that’ right? I am not able to understand the logic behind why it is incorrect. Someone please help if possible!
In either/or any one condition need to be fulfilled for the desired outcome. If cond. 1 is false, then cond-2 needs to be true and vice versa.
Either RaGa will be PM or Namo.
Not Raga->Namo
Not Namo -> Raga
nice article on logical deduction very easy to understand via this article.. thanku sir.:)
Mrunal u rock bro . Lovely article
Thanks a lot, Mrunal. This is what I needed! So clearly explained.
Hi there
Can you help me on this…
Q-whenever pollution is on the rise,vehicles will be stopped and their emission level eill be checked.
A)vehicles are not stopped or their emission level are not checked, means that the pollution is not on the rise.
B)if vehicles are not stopped but i pollution is on the rise,then emission levelslevel of vehiclesfear will definitelybe be checked.
C)if vehicles are stopped and their emission levels are not checked, it means that the pollution is not on rise.
D)both a and c
E)both b and a
Answer-D bith a and c
explain why
In a, effect 1is vehicle not stopping and effect 2 is emission level not being checked thus when both effects arent happening then cause isnt happening.
in c, vehicles are stopped i.e effect 1 has happened but emission level isnt checked thus the entire effect doesnt sum up the cause therefore pollution will not be on the rise.
what if the logical connective word is “provided”. for example, Martina wins the tournament provided she plays the final.
(a) Martina played the final
(b) Martina won the tournament
(c) Martina did not win the tournament
(d) Martina did not play the final.
Here the answer given is “ba”. but any of your explanation does not apply here. How to solve this kind of questions?
The same doubt !!!
Please help with the below question
Martina wins the tournament provided she plays the final.
A) Martina played the final.
B) Martina won the tournament.
C) Martina did not win the tournament.
D) Martina did not play the final.
Options:
a) AB b) BA c) CD d) AC
Ans given, option b
Also please tell what “provided” means in this statement.
Thanks,
Sheetal