Syllogism

Syllogism is a verbal reasoning type problem, which is an important topic and is

frequently asked in many competitive examinations in the Reasoning Section.
These types of questions contain two or more statement and these statements are
followed by the number of conclusion. You have to find which conclusions logically
follows from the given statements.
The best method of solving the Syllogisms problem is through Venn
Diagrams. There are four ways in which the relationship could be
made.
Category 1
All A are B Means the whole circle representing A lies within the circle
representing B.

Here we can also make conclusion: Some B are A. Some A are B.

For example: All boys are men.

Here we can also make a conclusion: Some men are boys. Some boys are
men.
All apples are fruits.

Here we can also make a conclusion: Some fruits are apples. Some apples are
fruits.
Category 2
No A is B means that circles representing A and B does not intersect at all.

For example: No ball is bat.

No door is wall.

Category 3
Some A are B
Means that some part of the circle represented by A is within the circle represented
by B.

This type of (category 3) statement gives the following conclusions:

(i) Some A are B also indicates that Some A are not B

(ii) Some A are B also indicates that All A are B.

(iii) Some A are B also indicates that All B are A.

(iv) Some A are B also indicates that All A are B and All B are A.

For e.g.: Some mobiles are phones.

(i)

Category 4.
Some A are not B
Means that some portion of circle A has no intersection with circle B while the
remaining portion of circle A is uncertain whether this portion touches B or not.
(i) Some A are not B also indicates that Some A are B.

(ii) Some A are not B also indicates that No A is B.

Important Points
1. At least statement At least statement is same as some statement.
For ex:
Statement: All kids are innocent.

Here we can make conclusion: At least some innocent are kids (Some
innocent are kids).
2. Some not statement: Some not statement is opposite to All type
statement. If All being true then Some not being false
For e.g.
1. Statement: Some pens are pencils. No pencils are jug. Some jug is pens.

Here we can make conclusion: Some pens are not pencils, which is true. In
above figure, green shaded part shows; some pens are not pencils, because in
statement it is already given No pencils are jug.
Complementary Pairs: (Either & or) Either and or cases only takes place in
complementary pairs.
Conclusions: (i) Some A are B.

(ii) No A are B.

From the given above conclusions, it is easy to understand that one of the given
conclusions must be true, which is represented by option either (i) or (ii). These
types of pairs are called complementary pairs.
Note: All A are B & Some A are not B are also complementary pairs.
Note: It is important to note that, in complementary pairs, one of the two
conclusion is true and other will be false simultaneously.

For example
Statement: All A are B. Some B are C.
Conclusion: I. All C are A. II. Some C are not A.

Here we can make conclusion, either I or either II follows.

Possibility cases in Syllogism In possibilities cases, we have to create all
possibilities to find whether the given conclusion is possible or not. If it is possible
and satisfies the given statement than given conclusion will follow otherwise
conclusion will not follow.
1. E.g.
Statement: All A are B. Some B are C.
Conclusion: All A being C is a possibility.

Conclusion is true.
Possibility figure

2. E.g.
Statements: No stone is a white. Some white are papers.
Conclusions: I. All stones being paper is a possibility.

Possibility figure:

Conclusion is true.
3. E.g.
Statements: Some mouse is cat.
All mouse are pets. No pet is animal.
Conclusions: I. All mouse being animal is a possibility.

Conclusion is false because possibility figure is not possible.

If we say all mouse being animal is possibility is true, than given statements No pet
is animal will be wrong. Here in the statement it is given No pet is animal and All
mouse is pet. So we can make also conclusion here that no mouse are animal is
true.
Important Rule:
Restatement is not a conclusion Conclusion has to be different
from the statement.
E.g.
Statement All A are B
Conclusion All are B. (invalid) Conclusion does not follow.
Conclusion Some A are B (follow) Conclusion follows.
Note: If statement and conclusion is same then, conclusion does not follow. This
rules also follows in possibilities case
In the next part we will cover How to Solve Inequality problems. Till then take SBI
PO 2015 Main Syllogism Test: