Directorate of Learning and Development

SELF LEARNING MATERIAL

UNIT-11
Syllogisms

11.0 OBJECTIVES:

After reading this unit, you will be able to:

• Two Statements and Two Conclusions

• Three Statements and Two or More Conclusions

11.1 INTRODUCTION:

Syllogism is a ‘Greek’ word that means inference or deduction. As such

inferences are based on logic, then these inferences are called logical deduction.
These deductions are based on propositions (premise).

‘Syllogism’ checks basic aptitude and ability of a candidate to derive inferences

from given statements using step by step methods of solving problems.

Venn Diagram Representation

Types of Venn diagram can be understood by the following diagram:

1) All S are P

2) No S is P

3) Some S are P

4) Some S are not P

S.No Statement Single Statement Conclusions

1 All S are P Some S are P
Some P are S
2 No S is P Some S are not P
No P is S
Some P are not S
3 Some S are P Some S are P
4 Some S are not P No Conclusions
11.2 Two Statements and Two Conclusions

In this type of questions, two statements and two conclusions are given.
The candidate is required to check the validity of the given conclusions on
the basis of the given statements.

Directions (Example Nos. 11.1 -11.3) In the question below are given two
statements followed by two conclusions. You have to take the two given
statements to be true even if they seem to be at variance from commonly
known facts and decide which of the conclusion(s) logically follow(s) from
the two given statements.

Give answer
(a) if only Conclusion I follows
(b) if only Conclusion II follows
(c) if either Conclusion I or II follows
(d) if both Conclusions I and II follow

Example 11.1
Statements:
Some dogs are cats.
All cats are pigs.

Conclusions
I. Some cats are dogs.
II. Some dogs are pigs.

Solution:

Clearly, Conclusions I and II both follow.

Example 11.2
Statements :
Some players are singers.
All singers are tall.
Conclusions :
I. Some players are tall.
II. All players are tall.

Solution:

Only Conclusion I follows

Example 11.3
Statements :
All stones are water.
Some water are clean

Conclusions :
I. Some water are stones.
II. All clean are water.

Solution:

Only Conclusion I follows

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS 11.1:

Directions (Q. Nos. 1-5) In each of the questions below are given two
statements followed by two conclusions numbered I and II. You have to
take the two given statements to be true even if they seem to be at
variance from commonly known facts and decide which of the given
conclusion(s) logically follow(s) from the two given statements,
disregarding commonly known facts.
 Give answer

(a) if only Conclusion I follows

(b) if only Conclusion II follows
(c) if either I or II follows
(d) if neither I nor II follows
(e) if both I and II follow

1. Statements
All cars are balls.
All balls are tables.
Conclusions
I. Some tables are balls.
II. Some tables are cars.

2. Statements
Some rats are cats.
All cats are bats.
Conclusions
I. No rats are cats.
II. Some rats are bats.

3. Statements
Some schools are factories.
All factories are shops.
Conclusions
I. All shops are factories.
II. Some shops are schools.

4. Statements
Latha is a beautiful and intelligent girl.
She is very good.
Conclusions
I. All beautiful girls are intelligent.
II. Beauty and intelligence are the factors of goodness.

5. Statements
All writers are lawyers.
All readers are lawyers.
Conclusions
 I. Some lawyers are readers.
II. Some readers are writers.

# # Answers are given at the end of the document.

11.3 Three Statements and Two or More Conclusions

In this type of syllogism, three statements and some conclusions are given.
The candidate is required to check the validity of the conclusions on the basis
of given statements.

Solving Methods
(i) Venn Diagram Method This method is as same as the method we use
to solve two statement syllogism. The only difference here is that you
have to make diagrams for three statements instead of two. Let us
refresh the process again in short

Step I Separate representation for each statement.

Step II Combining the representations obtained from step I in all possible
ways.
Step III Making interpretations from the combined figures obtained from step
II. Any given conclusion will be true if and only if it is supported by all the
combined figures and no combined figure contradicts it.
Step IV Checking the complementary pair.

Example 11.4:
Statements
All bags are caps.
Some pens are bags.
No caps are desks.

Conclusions
I. Some pens are caps.
II. No desks are bags.
III. Some pens are desks
IV. Some caps are bags.
Solution:

Step II Combining the representations obtained from step I.

Step III Making interpretations from the figures in step II.

Conclusions
I. Some pens are caps (/) - Supported by all figures
II. No desks are bags (/) - Supported by all figures
III. Some pens are desks (X) - Denied by figure (i)
IV. Some caps are bags (✓) - Supported by all figures

Step IV Checking the complementary pair. No complementary pair.

Decision Valid conclusions = I, II and IV

Invalid conclusion = III

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS 11.2:

Directions (Q. Nos. 1-4) In each of the questions below are given three
statements followed by two conclusions numbered I and II. You have to take the
given statements to be true even if they seem to be at variance from commonly
known facts and decide which of the given conclusion(s) logically follow(s) from
the three given statements.

Give answer
(a) if only Conclusion I follows
(b) if only Conclusion II follows
(c) if either Conclusion I or II follows
(d) if neither Conclusion I nor II follows
(e) if both Conclusions I and II follow

1. Statements
All pens are papers.
Some papers are blades.
All blades are knives.
Conclusions
I. Some knives are papers.
II. Some blades are pens.

2. Statements
All fans are televisions.
Some televisions are channels.
Some channels are radios
Conclusions
I. Some fans are channels.
II. Some radios are televisions.

3. Statements
Some roots are stems.
All stems are branches.
All branches are leaves
Conclusions
I. Some leaves are roots.
II. Some branches are stems.

4. Statements
Some computers are machines.
Some machines are boards.
All boards are chalks.
Conclusions
I. Some chalks are computers.
II. No chalk is computer

# # Answers are given at the end of the document.

SUMMARY:

• Two Statements and Two Conclusions were explained

• Three Statements and Two or More Conclusions were explained

11.4 Glossary:

Syllogisms : an instance of a form of reasoning in which a conclusion is

drawn from two given or assumed propositions (premises); a
common or middle term is present in the two premises but
not in the conclusion, which may be invalid

11.5 Suggested Readings:

 Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by R.S.Agarwal.

Published by S. CHAND
 Study material for CAT, SAT, GRE, GMAT by TIME, CareerLauncher and
IMS etc.
 Quantitative Aptitude by Pearson Publications

11.6 Practice exercise:

Directions (Q. Nos. 1-8) In each question/set of questions below are two/three
statements followed by two conclusions numbered I and II. You have to take the
two/three given statements to be true even if they seem to be at variance from
commonly known facts and then decide which of the given conclusions logically
follows from the given statements disregarding commonly known facts.

Give answer
(a) if only Conclusion I follows
(b) if only Conclusion II follows
(c) if either Conclusion I or II follows
(d) if neither Conclusion I nor II follows
(e) if both Conclusions I and II follow
1. Statement:
Some doctors are fools.
Joshi is a doctor.
Conclusion:
I. Joshi is a fool.
II. Some fools are doctors.

2. Statement:
Some balls are points.
All points are pens.
All pens are gels.
Conclusion:
I. All balls are pens.
II. All pens are balls.

3. Statement:
No space is air.
All distances are spaces.
Conclusion
I. No air is a distance.
II. All spaces are distances.

4. Statement:
All kings are queens.
Some queens are rulers
Conclusion
I. No ruler is a king.
II. All rulers being king is a possibility.
5. Statement:
Some lights are rays.
All rays are optics.
Conclusion
I. Some lights are definitely not optics.
II. Some rays are definitely not lights

6. Statement:
All vacancies are jobs.
Some jobs are occupations.
Conclusion
I. All vacancies are occupations.
II. All occupations being vacancies is a possibility.

Directions
(7-8) Statements:
All cars are trucks.
No trucks is a jeep.
All jeeps are engines.

7.Conclusion:
I. No car is a jeep.
II. All cars being engines is a possibility.

8. Conclusion:
I. No engine is a car.
II. No truck is an engine.
Directions (Q. Nos. 9-14) In each of the questions below are given some
statements followed by some conclusions. You have to take the given
statements to be true even if they seem to be at variance with commonly known
facts. Read all the conclusions and then decide which of the given conclusions
logically follows from the given statements disregarding commonly known facts.

9. Statement:
Some pencils are windows.
All windows are roads.
Some roads are cups.
All cups are chains
Conclusion
I. Some chains are pencils.
II. Some cups are pencils.
III. Some chains are windows.
IV. Some roads are pencils.

(a) None follows

(b) Only II follows
(c) Only IV follows
(d) III and IV follow
(e) Only III follows

10. Statement:
Some beds are mirrors.
Some mirrors are dolls.
Some dolls are cheques.
Some cheques are pins,
Conclusion
I. Some pins are dolls.
II. Some cheques are beds.
III. Some cheques are mirrors.
IV. Some dolls are beds.

(a) None follows

(b) Only I follows
(c) Only II follows
(d) Only III follows
(e) Only IV follows

11. Statement:
All chocolates are holders.
No holder is a lamp.
Some lamps are desks.
All desks are pens.
Conclusion
I. Some pens are holders.
II. Some desks are lamps.
III. No pen is a holder.
IV. Some pens are chocolates

(a) Only I follows

(b) Only II follows
(c) Only III follows
(d) Either I or III follows
(e) Either I or III and II follow
12. Statement:
All glasses are rooms.
Some rooms are planes.
All planes are ducks.
Some ducks are lanterns,
Conclusion
I. Some lanterns are planes.
II. Some ducks are rooms.
III. Some rooms are glasses.
IV. Some ducks are glasses

(a) I and II follow

(b) II and III follow
(c) I, II and III follow
(d) All I, II, III and IV follow
(e) None of these

13. Statement:
Some sweets are almonds.
Some almonds are cashews.
All cashews are pistachios,
Conclusion
I. All almonds are pistachios.
II. Some pistachios are sweets.
III. Some sweets are cashews.
IV. All almonds are either sweets or cashews.

(a) None follows

(b) II and III follow
(c) Only IV follows
(d) Either I or IV follows
(e) None of these

14. Statement:
Some fruits are seeds.
All seeds are trees.
All plants are trees.
Conclusion
I. Some plants are seeds.
II. Some plants are fruits.
III. Some trees are fruits.
IV. No plant is a seed.

(a) Only III follows

(b) III and either I or IV follow
(c) II and either I or IV follow
(d) I or IV follows
(e) None of the above

ANSWERS:

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS 11.1

1. e
2. b
3. b
4. d
5. d
CHECK YOUR PROGRESS 11.2

1. a
2. d
3. e
4. c

Practice exercise 11.6

1.b
2. d
3. e
4. b
5. d
6. b
7. e
8. d
9. c
10. a
11. e
12. b
13. a
14. b