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[Reasoning] Logical Connectives (if, unless, either or) for CSAT, CAT shortcuts formulas approach explained Mrunal

[Reasoning] Logical Connectives (if, unless, either or) for CSAT, CAT shortcuts formulas approach explained
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 (CAT98) Demo Q: Either or: derailed/late train (CAT97)

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, youve to prepare it. Syllogism Contains words like all, none, some etc. Can be classified into UP, UN,PP and PN. Already explained in previous articles. Have to mugup more formulas, takes more time than logical connective questions. Logical connectives Contains words like if, unless, only if, whenever etc. can be classified into 1, ~1, 2, ~2 (well see in this article) Less formulas and quicker than syllogism. Question statements: 1. I watch TV only if I am bored
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[Reasoning] Logical Connectives (if, unless, either or) for CSAT, CAT shortcuts formulas approach explained Mrunal

Question Statements: I. All cats are dogs II. some pigs are cats III. no dogs are bird Conclusion choices: A. B. C. D. Some cats are dogs No birds are cats some pigs are birds Some pigs are not birds

2. I am never bored when I have my brothers company. 3. Whenever I go to the theatre I take my brother along. Conclusion choices: A. If I am bored I watch TV B. If I am bored, I seek my brothers company. C. If I am not with my brother, than ill watch TV. D. If I am not bored I do not watch TV.

Standard format: logical connectives

If, unless, only if, whenever, every time etc. are examples of Logical connectives. Whenever youre 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 If youre in the army, youve to wear uniform Exchange position? no need because the simple statement containing IF is given in the beginning. This is already in the standard format. We need to exchange position because the part containing IF is not given in the beginning of this statement, given statement is not in standard format. Therefore, Rewrite given statement as
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Youve to wear uniform,if youre in the army

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[Reasoning] Logical Connectives (if, unless, either or) for CSAT, CAT shortcuts formulas approach explained Mrunal

If youre in the army, youve to wear uniform. Need to exchange position. Because statement doesnt start with the logical connective whenever. Therefore rewrite the given statement as Whenever CO comes in your cabin, you have to salute.

Youve to salute,whenever Commanding Officer comes in your cabin.

Now lets derive valid inferences for various logical connectives.

Logical connective: if then

Consider these two simple statements 1. Youre in army 2. Youve to wear uniform. These are two simple statements. Now Ill combine these two simple statements (#1 and #2) to form a complex statement. If youre in army(#1), you have to wear uniform.(#2) What about its reverse? Youve wearing uniform (#2)> that means youre in the army.(#1) But there is possibility, youre in navy-> youll still have to wear a uniform. It means, if 1=>2, then 2=>1 is not always a valid inference. Lets list all such scenarios in a table. Given statement: If youre in army(#1), you have to wear uniform.(#2) Inference? 1. If #2, If youve to wear Valid / invalid? youve to wear uniform in navy, air
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[Reasoning] Logical Connectives (if, unless, either or) for CSAT, CAT shortcuts formulas approach explained Mrunal

then #1 2. If not #1, then not #2 3. if not #2, then not #1

uniform, youre in army.

force, BSF etc. so this inference is not always valid.

if youre not in army, youve to wear uniform in navy, air you dont have to wear force, BSF etc. so this inference uniform. is not always valid.

If you dont have to wear uniform, youre not in army.

Always valid.

In the exam, you dont have to think ^that much. Just mugup the following rule: Given statement =If #1 then #2, in such situation the only valid inference is if Not #2, then not #1. In other words, if 1st happens then 2nd happens, in such situation, the only valid inference is if 2nd did not happen then 1st did not happen. Now I want to construct a short and sweet reference table for the logical connective problems. So Ill use the symbol ~= negative. ~1=meaning NOT 1 ( or in other words, negative of #1) Given If 1=>2 Valid inference ~2=>~1

If 1, then 2 If not 2, then not 1

In some books, material, sites, youll find these rules explained as using P and Q 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.
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[Reasoning] Logical Connectives (if, unless, either or) for CSAT, CAT shortcuts formulas approach explained Mrunal

Logical connective: Only IF

In such scenario, youve to rephrase given statement into if then and then apply the logical connective rule for if then. For example: given statement: he scores a century, only if the match is fixed. The standard format= only if the match is fixed(1), he scores a century(2). In case of only if, we further convert it into an if statement, by exchanging positions. That is if he scores a century(#2), the match is fixed(#1). Then apply the formula for if then and get valid inference. Here weve if 2=>1 as per our formula for if then, the valid inference will be ~1=>~2. Dont confuse between 1 and 2. Because essentially the valid inference is negative of end part => negative of starting part. Therefore if 2=>1 then ~1=~2 similarly if 98=>97, then valid inference will be ~97=>~98 Similarly if p=>q, then valid inference will be ~q=>~p, similarly if b=>a, then valid inference will be ~a=~b) . Update our table Logical connective If Only if Given statement If 1=>2 Only if 1=>2 Valid inference using symbol ~2=>~1 ~1=>~2 Valid inf. In words Negative of end part=> negative of start part 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 = if..not. So, I can re-write the given statement as (new) Given statement: If you dont bribe the minister(#1), youll not get the 2G license.(#2) How to come up with a valid inference here? #1 You dont bribe the minister
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[Reasoning] Logical Connectives (if, unless, either or) for CSAT, CAT shortcuts formulas approach explained Mrunal

#2 Youll not get the 2G license. For if..then, Weve mugged up the rule: 1=>2 then only valid inference is ~2=>~1. (in other words, negative of end part => negative of starting part). lets construct the valid inference for this 2G minister. we want ~2 => ~1 Negative of (2) => negative of (1) Negative of (youll not get the 2G license)=>negative of (you dont bribe the minister) Youll 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 unless questions = via converting it into if not 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=>2 (because unless=if not) if ~1=>2 (Im using symbol ~ instead of not) ~2=> ~(~1) (because we already mugged up the rule if 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 If Only if Unless Given statement If 1=>2 Only if 1=>2 Unless 1=>2 Valid inference using symbol ~2=>~1 ~1=>~2 ~2=>1 Valid inf. In words Negative of end part=> negative of start part Negative of start part=>negative of end part. Negative of end part=>start part unchanged.

Logical connective: otherwise

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[Reasoning] Logical Connectives (if, unless, either or) for CSAT, CAT shortcuts formulas approach explained Mrunal

Suppose given statement is: 1, otherwise 2. you can write it as unless 1 then 2. (unless1=>2) Then use the formula for unless.

Logical connective: When, Whenever, every time

Given statement: he scores century, when match is fixed. This is not in standard format of **logical connective word**, simple statement #1, simple statement #2. So first I need to exchange the positions: when match is fixed (#1), he scores century (#2). In case of when and whenever, the valid inference is= same like If, then. That means negative of end part=>negative of starting part. Same formula works for whenever and Everytime. Update the table Logical connective If When Whenever Everytime Only if Unless Given statement If 1=>2 When 1=>2 Whenever ~2=~1 1=>2 Everytime 1=>2 Only if 1=>2 Unless 1=>2 ~1=>~2 ~2=>1 Negative of start part=>negative of end part. Negative of end part=>starting part unchanged. Valid inference using symbol Valid inf. In words

Negative of end part=> negative of starting part

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, 1. if he is not drunk then he is definitely ill
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[Reasoning] Logical Connectives (if, unless, either or) for CSAT, CAT shortcuts formulas approach explained Mrunal

2. if he is not ill, then he is definitely drunk both are valid. Update the table Valid inference using symbol

Logical Given statement connective If When Whenever Everytime Only if Unless Otherwise If 1=>2 When 1=>2 Whenever 1=>2 Everytime 1=>2 Only if 1=>2 Unless 1=>2 1 otherwise 2=> rewrite as Unless1=>2. Either 1 or 2

Valid inf. In words

~2=~1

Negative of end part=> negative of starting part

~1=>~2

Negative of start part=>negative of end part. Negative of end part=>starting part unchanged. Negative of any one part=> remaining part remains unchanged.

~2=>1

Either or

~2=>1 ~1=>2

Now lets solve some questions from old CSAT and CAT papers Please note: in the exam, actual wording / meaning of the simple statement doesnt matter. Just apply the formulas as given in above table. For example, if youre in army, you have to wear uniform. Then valid inference is ~2=>~1 (you dont have to wear uniform, then youre not in army). Now ofcourse there would be exceptional situation when army officer/jawan doesnt need to wear uniform, for example during espionage mission behind the enemy lines. In that case you dont have to wear uniform, but youre still in the army. But keep in mind, while solving logical connective question under the aptitude/reasoning portion you dont have to surgically dissect or nitpick the meaning every statement. Just if 1=>2 then ~2=>~1.

Demo Q: Only if: bored TV brother (CSAT 2012)

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[Reasoning] Logical Connectives (if, unless, either or) for CSAT, CAT shortcuts formulas approach explained Mrunal

Examine the following statements: 1. I watch TV only if I am bored 2. I am never bored when I have my brothers company. 3. 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? A. B. C. D. If If If If I I I I am bored I watch TV am bored, I seek my brothers company. am not with my brother, then Ill watch TV. am not bored I do not watch TV. Approach First well 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 Im 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 Im 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 (CAT98)

Youre 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 didnt need to take a pill for headache.(2) Four Statements A. I talked to my professors B. I did not need to take a pill for headache
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[Reasoning] Logical Connectives (if, unless, either or) for CSAT, CAT shortcuts formulas approach explained Mrunal

C. I needed to take a pill for headache D. I did not talk to my professor. Answer choices I. II. III. IV. AB DC CD AB and CD Approach Given statement is in standard format already #1 I talk to my professors #2 I didnt need to take a pill for headache. Lets classify the four statements Classification Four statements 1 2 ~2 ~1 A. I talked to my professors B. I did not need to take a pill for headache C. I needed to take a pill for headache D. I did not talk to my professor. 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
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[Reasoning] Logical Connectives (if, unless, either or) for CSAT, CAT shortcuts formulas approach explained Mrunal

~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 (CAT97)

Given statement: either the train is late (1) or it has derailed (2) Four statements A. B. C. D. Train is late = 1 Train is not late = ~1 Train is derailed =2 Train is not derailed =~2

(^note: Ive classified the statements in advance) Answer choice I. II. III. IV. 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 Correct answer is (III): BC BC

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