How to solve Syllogisms Questions easily in

Reasoning Section
Posted in Reasoning, Study Notes On May 6, 2016

The Reasoning section of every competitive exam includes questions from the topic
Syllogisms. This topic is considered to be quiet important and every year a good
number of questions are asked from this topic. It is considered to be a very scoring
topic. We are providing you with all the important tools to solve Syllogisms questions
easily and accurately.

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

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3. Study Notes

Basic Concepts on Mathematical Operators

in Reasoning Section
Posted in Reasoning, Study Notes On April 19, 2016

The Reasoning section of every competitive exam includes questions from the
topicMathematical Operators. This topic is considered to be quiet important and
every year a 2-3 number of questions are asked from this topic. We are providing you
different types of questions were asked which will surely help you in the
upcoming Railway & SSC Exams.

This section deals with questions on simple mathematical operations. Here, the four
fundamental operations addition, subtraction, multiplication and division and also
statements such as less than\ greater than, equal to, not equal to, etc. are
represented by symbols, different from the usual ones. The questions involving these
operations are set using artificial symbols.The candidate has to substitute the real signs
and solve the questions accordingly, to get the answer.

Different types of questions covered in this chapter are as follows

Symbol Substitution

Balancing the Equation

Interchange of Signs and Numbers

Trick Based Mathematical Operations

Note:- While solving a mathematical expression, proceed according to the rule

BODMAS i.e., Brackets, Of, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction.

Example:

(36 -12) + 4 + 6 + 2 x 3 = 24 + 4 + 6 + 2 x 3 (Solving Bracket)

= 6 + 3 x 3 (Solving Division)

= 6+9 (Solving Multiplication)

= 15 (Solving Addition)

Type 1: Symbol Substitution

In this type of question, a candidate is provided with substitutes for various

mathematical symbols, followed by a question involving calculation of an expression or
choosing the correct/ incorrect equation. The candidate is required to put in the real
signs in the given equation and then solve the questions as required.

Ex 1: if means -, means +, + means , then 18 5 5 +6 is equal to

(a) 58
(b) 49

(c) 43

(d) 37

Solution: (c)

Change of symbols according to the question,

? = 18 5 5 +6 = 18 5 +5 6

= 18 5 + 30 = (18 +30) = 43

Type2: Balancing the Equation

In this type of questions, the signs in one of the alternatives are required to fill up the
blank spaces for the signs is order to balance the given equation

Ex : If the following equations has to be balance, then the signs of which of the following
options will be used?

24 6 12 16 = 0

(a) , + and +

(b) , + and

(c) -, and

(d) , + and

Solution: (d)

From Option (a)

Like above options we have to check one by one.

From Option (d)

Hence, option (d) is correct.

Type 3: Interchange of Signs and Numbers

In this type of questions, the given equation becomes correct and fully balanced when
either two signs of the equation or both the numbers and the signs of the equation are
interchanged. The candidate is required to find the correct pair of signs and numbers
from the given alternatives.

Ex: Which one of the given interchange in signs would make the given equation correct?

10 2 +9 24=19

(a) and

(b) and +

(c) and

(d) and

Solution: (a)

Let is check the options one by one

From option (a),

As options (a) gives us the correct answer. Hence, there in no need to check other
options

Type 4: Trick Based Mathematical Operations

The questions are based on simple mathematical operations that do not come under any
of the above given types coverd here. These questions can be based on several different
patterns.

Ex: If 9 52 = 529 and 4 72 =724, then 398 =?

(a) 983

(b) 839

(c) 938

(d) 893

Solution: (a)

As,
=983