syllogim_mrunal

8/20/2014 [Reasoning] Syllogism (All Cats are Dogs): Method, approach, techniques, shortcuts explained for IBPS, SSC, CSAT and CAT - Mrunal

http://mrunal.org/2013/01/reasoning-syllogism-all-cats-dogs-approach-shortcut-technique-explained-ibps-ssc-csat-cat.html 4/65

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

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

Classification of statement

In syllogism, each statement usually has following

remunerative-price } –

[Economic Survey] Ch8:

Agriculture Minimum

Support prices...

MALLIKARJUNA {

Thanks for ur reply. I

understood the concept-it

is within 5% & 10%, but

under the subheading

"Amber box: De Minimus

limits" of the article... } –

[Economy] WTO: Bali

Summit, Trade

Facilitation

Agreement...

SHIKHA { thanks alot

sir........................... } –

[Economic Survey] Ch8:

Agriculture Minimum

Support prices...

SHAILESH { dear due to

backlog year vacancy for

last three year } –

[RESULT] SSC CGL 2013

Tier-1 Re-exam result...

MANISHA { Thanx a lot

vk... } – [Economy] WTO:

Bali Summit, Trade

Facilitation

Agreement...

MANISHA { Thanx

Ritu...for making it clear } –

[Economy] WTO: Bali

Summit, Trade

Facilitation

Agreement...

http://mrunal.org/2014/08/economic-survey-ch8-agriculture-minimum-support-prices-msp-sugar-pricing-fci-procurement.html/comment-page-1#comment-235950

http://mrunal.org/2014/08/explained-wto-bali-summit-trade-facilitation-agreement-tfa-de-minimus-level-india-modi-objection.html/comment-page-2#comment-235948

http://mrunal.org/2014/08/economic-survey-ch8-agriculture-minimum-support-prices-msp-sugar-pricing-fci-procurement.html/comment-page-1#comment-235945

http://mrunal.org/2014/08/result-ssc-cgl-2013-tier-1-re-exam-cutoffs-vacancies.html/comment-page-1#comment-235943





format

“xyz subject is/are (not) predicate.”

For example,

Xyz Subject Is/are (+/-not) Predicate

All Cats Are Dogs

Some Pigs Are not birds

Based on “xyz” and “not”, we classify the statements

as following

Statement Type Codename

1. All cats are dogs Universal Positive UP

2. Some dogs are birdsParticular

PositivePP

3. No bird is a pigUniversal

NegativeUN

4. Some pigs are not

birds.

Particular

NegativePN

Please remember following words. Whenever they

come, you classify the statement accordingly.

All, every, any, none, not a single, only etc.

Universal

(positive or

negative)

Some, many, a few, quite a few, not many,

very little, most of, almost, generally,

often, freqently, etc.

Particular

(positive or

negative)

KJ { you will have to

appear for tier 2 exam and

if u clear cutoffs after tier 2

.. u will get tax assistant

jobs ...... } – [RESULT] SSC

CGL 2013 Tier-1 Re-

exam result...

RECRUITMENT

E x a m D a t e s

IBPS:11 Oct to 2 Nov

SSC-CGL 2014:19 & 26 Oct

CAT:16 & 22 Nov

CDS:26 Oct

MAT: 7 & 13 Sep

Ba n ki n g

11-Aug: IBPS 2014

O n 2 0 1 3 R R B s c o r e

19-Aug: Baroda Gramin

11-Aug: Kerala Gramin

MBA

23-Aug: MAT-2014

30-Sep: CAT-IIM

U t t a r P r a d e s h

16-Aug: UP Food safety insp.

IT / C o m p u t e r

01-Sep: Haryana Programmers

30-Aug: IITD Delhi system

admin(3)

25-Aug: Lucknow

Programmers

21-Aug: NIRD MIS

19-Aug: SSC 10+2 Data Entry

Op

E n g i n e e r s

01-Sep: Haryana Engg.

30-Aug: TIFR Electronics

http://mrunal.org/2014/08/result-ssc-cgl-2013-tier-1-re-exam-cutoffs-vacancies.html/comment-page-1#comment-235936

http://ibps.in/career_pdf/CWE_PO_MT_IV_27_06_2014.pdf

http://www.ssc-cr.org/noticeboard/EXAM_CALANDER_2014.pdf

http://iimcat.ac.in/

http://www.upsc.gov.in/exams/notifications/2014/cds2/CDS-II%20ENGLISH.pdf

http://apps.aima.in/matbschool/

http://ibps.in/career_pdf/CWE_PO_MT_IV_27_06_2014.pdf

http://www.brkgb.com/

http://www.keralagbank.com/careers/job_openings/?id=22

http://apps.aima.in/matbschool/

https://iimcat.ac.in/EForms/Mock/Web_App_Template/756/1/index.html?1@@1@@1

http://uppsc.up.nic.in/Notifications.aspx

http://recruitment-portal.in/HSSPP.htm

http://iiitd.ac.in/careers/staff

http://jobs.kgmu.org/

http://nird.org.in/Jobvacancy.aspx

http://www.ssconline.nic.in/


http://www.ncra.tifr.res.in/ncra/opportunities/non-academic/2014-8



Standard format: conversion

The standard 2-statement syllogism question format

is following:

1. (xyz) “A” is/are (+/- not) “B”

2. (xyz) “B” is/are (+/- not) “C”

So basically it is

1. A—>B

2. B—>C

(read as “A to B then B to C”)

What does this tell us?

Question statements must have ONLY three terms.

(A, B and C).

In the exam, if they give you two question

statements with four terms then your time is saved!

Just tick the answer “no conclusion can be drawn”.

For example

Question

statementsAnswer

1. All cats

are Dogs

2. Some

birds are

pigs

No conclusion can be drawn. Because it

has four terms (cats, dogs, birds, pigs)

A–>B

C–>D

Anyways back to the topic,

The standard format for question statements is:

1. A—>B

2. B—>C

1. First term—>Middle Term

2. Middle Term—>Third term

28-Aug: Mech Engg11

28-Aug: Aeronaut. Engg15

28-Aug: NIT Karnataka

25-Aug: GAIL Engineers

25-Aug: EIL Delhi

23-Aug: BPCL Assam

22-Aug: Cement India

20-Aug: BEL Dy.Engg

20-Aug: BEL Pune

20-Aug: Himachal Engg.

14-Aug: IRCON Civil 20

P o l i c e / D e fe n c e / In t e

l .

16-Sep: CISF constables 985

01-Sep: Army Vets

31-Aug: Army Dental

29-Aug: Chandigarh Constbl

19-Aug: Hindi Translator ITBP

18-Aug: CDS (II)

11-Aug: BSF constables 1670

S p e c i a l i s t

E n t r a n c e

19-Aug: CSIR NET

08-Sep: Agro-research+NET

B C o m / H R / M B A

01-Sep: Jhajjar Accounts/HR

01-Sep: ICAR account, admin

30-Aug: Accountant NIFFT

Ranchi

25-Aug: CPET Chennai

25-Aug: EIL Delhi

21-Aug: NIRD Accounts

11-Aug: SBI Mgmt.XO (2-5

yrXP)

M e d i c a l

28-Aug: Specialists in Health

min.

http://upsc.gov.in/recruitment/advt/2014/Advt.%20No.%2013%20of%202014.pdf


http://www.nitk.ac.in/announcments/recruitment-officer-cadre-posts

http://www.gailonline.com/

http://recruitment.eil.co.in/

http://www.bcplonline.co.in/content.php?pageno=7&pageid=21&SubpageNo=1

http://www.cementcorporation.co.in/page.php?id=20

http://bel-india.com/sites/default/files/WEBADVT_%20DY%20ENGR_FIXED%20TERM%20BASIS_CS.pdf

http://bel-india.com/sites/default/files/Advertisement%20on%20website%20for%20contract%20Engineers%20-%202014.pdf

http://hp.gov.in/hppsc/page/Latest-Advertisement.aspx

http://www.ircon.org/images/file/Recruitment_vacancy/2014/adv%20for%20web.pdf

http://cisf.gov.in/

http://joinindianarmy.nic.in/

http://indianarmy.nic.in/writereaddata/WhatsNew/445/SSC%20Ad-2014.pdf

http://chandigarhpolice.nic.in/const-recruitment-2014-35-wo.html

http://itbpolice.nic.in/eKiosk/writeReadData/RectAd/2014-07-03%20%286%29.pdf

http://upsconline.nic.in/mainmenu2.php

http://bsf.nic.in/doc/recruitment/r111.pdf

http://www.csirhrdg.res.in/

http://asrb.org.in/


http://www.asrb.org.in/

http://www.nifft.ernet.in/Advt%20No%202014_2_Non-%20teaching%20Staff.pdf

http://cipet.gov.in/job.html

http://recruitment.eil.co.in/


https://www.sbi.co.in/portal/web/home/careers-with-us




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

Given question statements

are

1. A—>B

2. C—>B

This must be converted

into

1. A—>B

2. B—>C

Given question statements

are

1. B—>A

2. B—>C

This must be converted

into

1. A—>B

2. B—>C

Ok, so how to convert the statements?

Universal Positive (UP)

Given StatementValid

conversionsType

Given Statement: All

Cats are Dogs

Some Cats

are dogs

Particular

Positive (PP)

Some dogs

are cats

Particular

Positive (PP)

It means UP can be converted into PP.

Please note: if the statement is “Only Dogs are cats”,

then better convert it into “All cats are dogs”. (Only A

is B –> All B are A)

Universal Negative (UN)

28-Aug: Chattisgarh

Med.Service

19-Aug: Haryana Dental

19-Aug: Raj.Medical

14-Aug: AIIMS

09-Aug: SAIL Doctors

P a r a m e d i c s

05-Sep: ITBP Pharmacist 13

05-Sep: ITBP Lab Techni.

28-Aug: Drug controller10

L e g a l

28-Aug: Asst.Prosecuter 32

25-Aug: Allahabad HC

clerk,review officer

11-Aug: Uttarakhand HC

deskjobs

S c i e n c e / O t h e r

30-Sep: ICMR Scientists

08-Sep: Canara Sports Quota

05-Sep: RPSC various

30-Aug: Lab Attendent NIFFT

Ranchi

14-Aug: ISRO assistants 233

29-Aug: Raj.Agro research

25-Aug: Parliament interpreter

25-Aug: Punjab Labor

25-Aug: CSIR-SERC

22-Aug: Raj.Univ.Lab

Attendents 11

22-Aug: ONGC Technician 137

20-Aug: NCL scientist

18-Aug: Karnataka Urban

14-Aug: SSC Western Specialist

Mi s c / D e s k j o b s

10-Sep: PGIMER deskjobs

01-Sep: Jhajjar deskjobs

01-Sep: Haryana Clerks

http://psc.cg.gov.in/htm/online_application.html

http://hpsc.gov.in/Advertisement/Advt_Dental_25-07-2014.PDF

http://rpsc.rajasthan.gov.in/pdf_reports_files/Advt_1_14-15_Ass_Prof_Sr_Demo_biochemist_150714.pdf

http://www.aiims.edu/aiims/events/recruitment/recruit_advt.htm

http://sailcareers.com/careers

http://itbpolice.nic.in/

http://itbpolice.nic.in/



http://www.allahabadhighcourt.in/

http://www.highcourtofuttarakhand.gov.in/files/results/Recruitment_of_Court_Managers._1.pdf

http://icmr.nic.in/Forms/Download_Forms.html

http://www.canarabank.com/English/Scripts/Recruitment.aspx

http://rpsc.rajasthan.gov.in/pdf_reports_files/Advt_DyComm_Ass_dril_eng_JrGeophycist_Fishdevoff_310714.pdf


http://www.isac.gov.in/CentralOCB-2014/advt.jsp

http://rpsc.rajasthan.gov.in/pdf_reports_files/Advt_ARO_AARO_Agri_Dpt_Detail_220714.pdf

http://164.100.47.132/JRCell/Module/Notice/notice%20Parly.%20Interpreter.pdf

http://ppsc.gov.in/advertisement_03.html

http://www.serc.res.in/recruitment.html

http://www.rtu.ac.in/rtu/?page_id=138

http://www.ongc.co.in/wps/wcm/connect/ongcindia/home/

http://ww.ncl.res.in/

http://www.kuidfc.com/

http://www.sscwr.net/noticeboard/WR_1-2014-_ENGLISH_27_JUN%20final.pdf

http://pgimer.edu.in/PGIMER_PORTAL/PGIMERPORTAL/home.jsp





Given Statement Valid

conversions

Type

Given Statement: No

Cats are Dogs

Some dogs are

not cats

Particular

Negative (PN)

No dogs are

cats

Universal

Negative (UN)

It means UN can be converted into PN or UN.

Particular Positive (PP)

Given StatementValid

conversionsType

Some Cats are

Dogs

Some dogs are

cats

Particular Positive

(PP)

It means PP can be converted into PP only.

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

Universal Positive (UP) Only PP

Universal Negative (UN) PN or UN

Particular Positive (PP) Only PP

30-Aug: NIFT HP Deskjobs

30-Aug: clerks NIFFT Ranchi

21-Aug: NIRD project Manager

19-Aug: SSC 10+2 Data Entry

Op

22-Aug: Raj.Univ.Clerks 29

14-Aug: BankPress Dewas

12-Aug: Western Rail Sports

Fa c u l t y Jo b s

14-Sep: Hissar Veterinary

03-Sep: NIRD Hyd.

01-Sep: Jhajjar Teacher's Edu.

31-Aug: NIFM

30-Aug: Bhopal Univ.

29-Aug: IIFT faculties

29-Aug: Raj Lecturer

25-Aug: Lucknow Medical

22-Aug: Kota univ.

20-Aug: NIT Himachal

17-Aug: Jammu University

16-Aug: Shimla Nutrition

14-Aug: Raj.Chemistry

11-Aug: Jammu Uni

W a r n i n g

Online Form Part-1 stops

few days b4 deadline.So

DONOT wait t ill last date.

DONOT forget/misplace

reg.id, Roll number.

http://nift.ac.in/kangra/recruitments.html



http://www.ssconline.nic.in/


http://bnpdewas.spmcil.com/Interface/JobOpenings.aspx

http://wr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,4,461,532

http://luvas.edu.in/recruitment.php



http://nifm.ac.in/

http://www.bubhopal.nic.in/notification2014/teachingpost2014det.pdf

http://wtocentre.iift.ac.in/work.asp

http://rpsc.rajasthan.gov.in/pdf_reports_files/ADV_Tech_Edu_22072014.pdf

http://jobs.kgmu.org/


http://www.nith.ac.in/recruitment/index.htm

http://www.jammuuniversity.in/job.asp

http://ihmshimla.org/vacancies.html

http://curaj.ac.in/2014/rec/jrf/Advertisment%20for%20Project%20Assistant.jpg

http://www.jammuuniversity.in/job.asp



Particular Negative (PN) Not possible.

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

1. Some Honest men are not Politicians.

2. All Honest men are not politician

3. Some Honest men are politicians.

4. None of Above.

(Please donot read further, without solving above

question.)

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

Given answer choice Thought process

1. Some Honest men

are not Politicians.

Particular negative (PN),

hence eliminate.

2. No Honest men are

politicians.

Universal Negative, hence

eliminate

3. Some Honest men

are politicians.

PP hence this is correct

answer.



4. None of Above. –not applicable because C is

the correct answer.

In case you are wondering,

Q. Some politicians are honest men.

In above case, can’t the answer be “A”: Some honest

men are not politicians?

Well, if you go by Venn Diagram method, it’ll lead to

two cases hence it is “doubtful”.

Case #1

Data

Subject (Politicians)

1. Sardar Patel

2. Lal Bahadur Shastri

3. Raja

4. Kalmadi

Predicate (Honest Men)

1. Sardar Patel


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

Subject (Politicians)

1. Sardar Patel


3. Raja



4. Kalmadi

Predicate (Honest Men)

1. Sardar Patel


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.

Hence, if the statement is

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

Type of Statement Valid Conversion Path

Universal Positive

(UP)All cats(A) are

dogs (B)

Only PPSome Cats (A) are

dogs. (B)Some dogs (B) are

cats. (A)

A to

BB

to A

Universal Negative

PN :Some Dogs (B) are not

Cats (A). B to



(UN)No Cats(A) are

dogs (B)

A

UN: No Dogs (B) are cats.

(A)

Particular Positive

(PP)Some cats (A) are

dogs (B)

Only PP: Some dogs (B) are

cats(A)

B to

A

Particular Negative

(PN)Not possible. –

Anyways back to the topic, what are we discussing?

1. Topic of discussion is: How to solve 2 statement

syllogism question

2. Subject vs predicate

3. Type of statements (UP, UN, PP, PN)

4. Standard format and conversion.

The standard question format is

A–>B

B–>C

If the given question doesn’t have statements in

âbove standard format, then we must convert them

into standard format. Only then we can proceed

further.

So far, We constructed our shortcut table on how to

convert the statements. Now

le t ’s try some examples

Question

statementsConversion?

1. All Cats are



dogs(B)

2. Some

dogs(B) are not

pigs.

Already in standard format (A to B and

then B to C)

hence no need to convert.

1. Some

dogs(B) are not

pigs.

2. All Cats are

dogs(B)

No need to convert any statement.

Just exchange the position of first and

second statement.

1. All Cats are dogs(B)

2. Some dogs(B) are not pigs.

1. All Cats are

dogs (B)

2. All pigs are

dogs(B)

Have to convert, because not in

standard format.1.All cats(A) 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.

First statement (A

to B)

Second statement (B

to C)Answer

Universal Positive

(UP)

Particular Positive

(PP)

No

conclusion

Particular Negative

(PN)

No

conclusion

Universal Negative No



Universal Negative

(UN)

(UN) conclusion

Particular Negative

(PN)

No

conclusion

Particular Positive

(PP)

Particular Positive

(PP)

No

conclusion

Particular Negative

(PN)

No

conclusion

Particular Negative

(PN)

Any other (UP, UN,

PP, PN)

No

conclusion

^does it look difficult?

Not really. Let’s condense this table into mug-up

rules.

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 âbove

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 (Âbove 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.”

First statement

(A to B)

Second

statement (B to

C)

Conclusion

Universal

Positive (UP)

Universal

Positive (UP)

Universal Positive

(UP) (A to C)

Universal

Negative (UN)

Universal Negative

(UN) (A to C)



Universal

Negative (UN)

Universal

positive (UP)Particular Negative

(PN). (C to A)

Particular

Positive (PP)

Particular

Positive (PP)

Universal

Positive (UP)

Particular Positive

(PP) (A to C)

Universal

Negative (UN)

Particular Negative

(PN) (A to C)

As you can see from above table,

The answer statement is usually in the format of A

to C. with exception when first question statement is

Universal Negative (UN).

Let’s condense this table into mug-up rules as well.

Conclusive-Combos In your head, visualize

1. UP+UP=UPIf 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.

3. UN+

(UP/PP)=PN

United Nations Secretary Ban Ki

Moon is in very positive mood. But

he meets another positive person,

and his attitude is totally

reversed- he becomes particularly

negative! (reversed =C to A)

When Mr.PP observes the



4. PP+

(UP/UN)=PP/PN

universe via NASA telescope, his

mood becomes positive or

negative depending on the mood

of universe.

Try a question from SSC-CGL (Tier-I, 2010) exam,

DemoQ: Crazy men and Women

Question Statements

1. All men are women.

2. All women are crazy.

Conclusion

1. All Men are crazy

2. All the crazy are men

3. Some of the crazy are men

4. Some of the crazy are women

Answer

1. None of the conclusion follows

2. All conclusions follow

3. Only 1, 3 and 4 follow

4. Only 2 and 3 follow

(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



1. All men are women.

2. All women are crazy.

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.

1. All men(A) are women. (B) (UP)

2. All women(B) are crazy.(C) (UP)

Third step, classify the statements.

1. All men are women. Universal Positive (UP)

2. All women are crazy. Universal Positive (UP)

Fourth step: check the combo for question

statements.

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)

Check the answer statements.

1. All Men

are

crazy

Correct.

Recall that “conversion table”.Universal



2. All the

crazy

are

men

Positive (UP) can be converted only into

Particular Positive (PP).

Since All men are crazy => Some Crazy 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

crazy

are

women

Given question statement : All women are

crazy. (Universal positive). If we apply

conversion table (UP=> PP) then Some

Crazy are women. Hence this statement is

also correct.

Final answer (C): only 1, 3 and 4 follow

If you’re still staggering, I suggest you go through

those rules again, note them down in a diary in your

own words and language, revise a few times. Then

try next question

DemoQ: Intell igent Poets and singers

Question Statements (SSC-CPO exam)



1. All poets are intelligent

2. All singers are intelligent.

Conclusion

1. all singers are poets

2. some intelligent persons are not singers

Answer choices

1. only conclusion one follows

2. only conclusion two follows

3. either conclusion one or conclusion two follows

4. neither follows

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

1. All poets (A) are intelligent (B)

2. All singers (C) are intelligent. (B)

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

question statement type

1. All poets(A) are intelligent (B)Universal positive

(UP)

2. Some intelligent persons(B) are

singers.(C)

Particular positive

(PP)

Fourth step, apply the combo rules.

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

i. all

singers(C)

are poets

(A)

False. UP+PP=no conclusion, as

explained above.

ii. some

intelligent

persons

are not

Check the second original question

statement : All singers are intelligent.

(Universal positive –UP).

According to our conversion table, UP

can be converted into particular positive

(PP) only. But this answer statement (II) is



singers a particular negative statement. Hence

this is also false.

Final answer: (D) neither follows.

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:

DemoQ: Sweet Testing Apples (CAT)

given question has five statements followed by

options containing three statements put together in

a specific order. Choose the option which indicates

a valid argument, where the third statement is a

conclusion drawn from the preceding two

statements.

Question statements (CAT 1999)

1. Apples are not sweet

2. Some apples are sweet

3. All sweets are tasty

4. Some apples are not tasty

5. No apple is tasty

answer choices

1. cea

2. bdc

3. cbd

4. eac



solution and approach

we’ve to check the given options one by one.

Option (i). CEA. Meaning we’ve to take C as our

statement (I), E as our Statement (II) and then

observe, if statement (A) can be concluded from C

and E.

C All sweets are tasty Universal positive

E No apple is tasty. Universal negative

A Apples are not sweet Universal negative

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

DemoQ: Working mother nurses (CAT)

question statement answer choices

1. No mother is a nurse.

2. Some Nurses like to work

3. No woman is prude

4. Some prude are also nurses

5. Some nurses are women

6. All women like to work

1. ABE

2. CED

3. FEB

4. BEF



Check the answer choices one by one.

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”

Move to next choice.

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

Question statements have three terms? Yes (women,

prude, nurses)

Are they in standard format (A to B then B to C?)

nope.



No woman(B) is prude Universal negative

Some nurses are women(B) Particular positive

change position of first and second statement.

1. Some nurses(A) are women(B)

2. No woman(B) is prude(C)

question statement type

1. Some nurses(A) are

women(B)Particular positive (PP)

2. No woman(B) is prude(C)Universal negative

(UN)

Apply the combo rules

PP+UN=??

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.

Some nurses(A) are

women(B)Particular positive PP

All women(B) like to work (C) Universal positive UP

Apply combo rule, again same situation

When Mr.PP observes the universe via NASA

telescope, his mood becomes particularly positive

or negative depending on the mood of universe.

Hence PP+UP=PP.(A to C).

Some nurses(A) like to work(C). Done! This is same

as the given conclusion (B)

Therefore, final answer is (iii) FEB.



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

1. all dinosaurs are prehistoric creatures. Water

buffaloes are not dinosaurs. Water buffaloes are

not prehistoric creatures

2. all politicians are frank. No frank people are

crocodiles. No crocodiles are politicians

3. no diamond is quartz. No opal is quartz.

Diamonds are opals.

4. All monkeys like bananas. Some Joes like

bananas. Some Joes are monkeys.

Answer choice

1. Only C

2. Only B

3. Only A and D

4. Only B and C

Approach

C. Diamonds,

Quartz,

Three terms yes. Standard format

=No.Both question statements are

Universal negative. We can convert either

of them, into UN or PN. But in any case,

both question statements will remain



Opals. negative. And Two negatives=no

conclusion. So “C” is not possible. Hence

answer choice (i) and (iv) eliminated.

B. Frank

politicians

and

crocodiles

Already in three terms standard

format.UP+UN=size enlarged and

becomes UN.

So conclusion should be “No crocodile is

politician” so this statement is correct.

Hence answer choice (ii).

Final answer: (ii) only B.

The End?

No. Picture abhi baaki hai mere dost: just three

more concepts before concluding the Two-

Statement Syllogism

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.

Given Question

statement

Conversion (all applicable to

all given question

statements)

Type

None but

Politicians are

honest.

No one else but

Politicians are

1. All honest(people) are

politicians UP

2. No non-politician is



honest.

Only politicians

are honest.

Politicians alone

are honest

honest.

3. No honest (people) are

non-politicians.

UN

4. Some politicians are

honest PP

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.

Conclusion1. Some Politicians are honest.2. No

Politicians are honest.

Answer choice

1. Only 1 follows



2. Only 2 follows

3. Either 1 or 2 follows

4. Neither follows

Apply the standard operating procedure:

Three terms? Check: yes

Are they in standard format? A to B then B to C?

check. Yes

Then classify the statements

1. Some Politicians(A) are males(B) Particular positive.

2. Some males(B) are honest(C) Particular positive.

From the given rules, Two particulars = No

conclusion!

But please observe one of the answer choice (C)=

Either 1 or 2 follows.

Consider these cases

Case#2

Politicians Males honest

5. Sardar

Patel

6. Lal

Bahadur

Shastri

7. Raja

8. Kalmadi

9. Sheila

1. Sardar Patel

2. Lal Bahadur

Shastri

3. Raja

4. Kalmadi

5. Bhagat Singh

6. ChandraSekhar

Azad

1. Sardar Patel

2. Lal Bahadur

Shastri

3. Bhagat Singh

4. ChandraSekhar

Azad

5. Sarojini Naidu

6. Mother Teresa

In this case#1: some politicians (Sardar and Shastri)



are honest.

So “conclusion (1) may be possible.”

Case#2

Politicians Males honest

1. Raja

2. Kalmadi

3. Sheila

1. Raja

2. Kalmadi

3. Bhagat Singh

4. ChandraSekhar

Azad

1. Bhagat Singh

2. ChandraSekhar

Azad

3. Sarojini Naidu

4. Mother Teresa

In this case, No politician is honest.

So “conclusion (2) may be possible.”

Therefore answer becomes “Either 1 or 2 follows”

Such syllogism-situations are called

“complementary”.

You’ve to check following things, before thinking

about “complementary” cases.

1. Two statements with three terms? Yes

2. Question statements are given in standard

format (A to B Then B to C). if not, then rearrange

or convert them.

3. Classify the statements (UP, UN, PP, PN)

4. Apply the rules. Get the answer.

5. If Step #4 gives “No conclusion” AND one of the

answer choice is in the format of “Either I or II

follows”, only then check for complemantary

case.

Checklist: complementary case



1. Two answer choices have same subject and

predicate.

Applicable Not applicable

1. Some Politicians are

honest.2. No Politicians

are honestBecause

both have common

subject (politician) and

common predicate

(honest)


honest.2. No Honest are

Politicians.In first statement,

subject=Politician but in

second statement, subject=

Honest. Hence complemantary

case not possible.

2). The answer choice combo must be either of

these three

Answer choice combo example

Uttar Pradesh (UP) + Pritish

Nandy (PN)

1. All Politicians are

honest.

2. Some Politicians

arenot honest

PP + Pritish Nandy (PN)


honest.

2. Some Politicians

arenot honest

PP + United Nations (UN)


honest.

2. No Politicians are

honest

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

Just convert the

first statement.

1. Some Cats are

dogs. (Rule: UP

to PP)

2. Some Dogs

are pigs.

We’ll re-order the statements. (that is

interchange thee position of both

statements)

1. Some dogs(B) are pigs

2. All Dogs(B) are Cats

Now we’ll convert the first statement.

1. Some pigs are Dogs (B) (Rule: PP to

PP)

2. All dogs (B) are cats.

Both routes are valid.

Now the question is, which route should be

preferred?

The priority order is:

1) Particular positive (PP) >> 2) Universal Negative



(UN) >> 3) Universal Positive (UP)

Note: we’ve not included Particular Negative (PN) in

this order because PN cannot be converted. So

according to this priority order PP>UN>UP, route #2

is the more suitable approach. (although such

complications don’t usually arise in most of the

questions).

Tricky Situations: Priority order

Consider this scenario

Question statements Conclusion

1. All women(B) are birds

2. Some women(B) are tree

1. Some birds are tree

2. All trees are bird.

As you can see, the question statements are not in

standard format (A to B then B to C).

So, which question statement to convert?

First the wrong approach.

WRON

G

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

1. Some birds(A) are women (B)


Both question statements are particular, hence

final answer=No conclusion. (please note: this

approach is wrong, because we’ve not followed

the priority order).



Now the correct approach

CORR

E

C

T

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

1. All women(B) are birds


Convert second statement. (PP to PP)

1. All women(B) are birds.

2. Some trees are women(B).

Now exchange positions of question statements

1. Some trees are women(B). (PP)

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

Some trees are birds. (PP)

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.

Tricky Situations: 1-Statement

Conclusion

Question statements Conclusion

1. All the flowers are leaves.

(B) (UP)

2. Some leaves(B) are birds

(PP)

1. Some birds are

flowers

2. Some leaves are

flowers

Question statement contains only three terms=yes.

Are they in standard format? (A To B then B to C?)

=Yes.

Apply combo rules: UP+PP=No conclusion because

Uttar Pradesh’s politicians hate particular

statements.

But here’s the catch. Observe the conclusion

statements carefully

Conclusion

statementThought process

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 UP-

>PP, thenAll flowers are leaves=> Some



leaves

are

flowers

leaves are flowers. Hence this conclusion is

correct, although it did not employ both

question statements.

Moral of the story: Read terms (subject-predicate) of

conclusion statements.

Summary

What to do when 2-statement syllogism question is

given?

1. They must have only three terms (A, B and C)

2. Are the question statements in standard format

(A to B then B to C)? if no, then refer to following

conversion table. (important: priority order for

conversion is PP>UN>UP.)

Type Valid Conversion

Universal Positive (UP) Only PP

Universal Negative (UN) PN or UN

Particular Positive (PP) Only PP

Particular Negative (PN) Can’t do.

3. Classify the Question statement (UP, UN, PP, PN)

4. Apply the combo rules on Question statements.

No conclusion Yes conclusion

1. If Uttar Pradesh meets



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.

(UP+PP/PN=NO)

2. United Nations

hates negativity.

(both Universal and

particular)

(UN+UN/PN=NO)

3. Pritish Nandy hates

everybody. (first

statement is PN=NO,

Irrespective of

second statement.)

4. Two-negatives=no

conclusion.

5. Two particulars=no

conclusion.

Uttar Pradesh, then its

size doesn’t increase.

(UP+UP=UP)

2. If Uttar Pradesh meets

United Nations then size

increases and it becomes

United Nations.

(UP+UN=UN)

3. United Nations Secretary

Ban Ki Moon is in very

positive mood. But he

meets another positive

person, and his attitude is

totally reversed- he

becomes particularly

negative! (reversed =C to

A). (UN+UP/PP=PN)

4. When Mr.PP observes the

universe via NASA

telescope, his mood

becomes particularly

positive or negative

depending on the mood

of universe.

(PP+UP/UN=PP/PN)

5. (rarely required): if no-conclusion and “either or”

given in answer, then check for Complimentary case.

This concludes the discussion on 2 statement

Syllogism question.

In later article, we’ll see the 3-statement syllogism. It

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