Syllogism – Logical Reasoning – MBA CUET PG – Notes & Practice Questions

Syllogism is a kind of logical argument drawn from given statements. It is an art of thinking and reasoning in strict accordance wih the limitations and incapacities of the human misunderstandings, thats why some times irrelevant statements are given and on the basis of which we have to draw conclusions.

Types of Statements

(a) Universal Statements (All Type Statements)

(1) Universal Affirmative/Positive

i.e. All A’s are B’s

Note: Converse: All B’s Are A’s is a Possibility

(2) Universal Negative:

All A’s are not B

Converse: All B’s are not A

(b) Particular Statements

(3) Particular Affirmative / Positive:

Some A’s are B’s

(4) Particular Negative

Some A’s Are not B

Types of Syllogism

Type 1. All, All related statement

Statements:

• All potatoes are Onions.
• All Onions are Tomatoes.
• All Tomatoes are Spinach.
• All Spinach are Cabbages.

In this type of questions, conclusions have word ‘All’.

Conclusions:

• All potatoes are tomatoes.
• All onions are cabbage.
• All tomatoes are cabbage.

but when they come inner side from outer side, then the conclusions must have word ‘Some’

Conclusions: 

• Some cabbages are tomatoes.
• Some tomatoes are potatoes.
• Some onions are potatoes.

Type 2. Some, Some Related Statements

Statements: Some chains are rings.

Some rings are ankle rings.

Some ankle rings are bangles.

Some bangles are hand.

Some hands are fingers.

Sol. 

In these types of questions as per concern of conclusion, all the conclusions with ‘some’. Without few there is no conclusion.

• Some ankles are rings
• Some fingers are hands.

One thing is to remember here is that those diagram which are nearer to each-other, they will be right answer. Separate diagrams are not answes.

• Some chains are ankle rings.
• Some ankle rings are hands.
• conclusions are wrong.

Type 3: Few, All, NO related statements.

Statements:

• Few mangoes are sweets
• All sweets are red.
• All reds are dates.
• No dates are bananas

Conclusion:

I. Some mangoes are banana

II. No mango is banana

Sol.

                                            or 

In this situation our answer must be if either I or II conclusion follows

Type 4: All, Some related statements.

Statements: All mangoes are apples.

Some apples are stones.

Sol. 

Conclusion:

• All stones are apples.
• All stones are mangoes.
• Some mangoes are stones.
• No mangoes is stone.

On seeing diagram it is obvious that no conclusion given above follows because conclusion must be drawn from all possible diagram.

Type5: Some, All related statements.

Statements:

• Some Trees are buses.
• All buses are hats.

Sol.

From above diagram it is obvious that conclusion I, II and IV follow. Conclusions III does not follow because hats do not lie entirely in the buses. Just as we can not say that all Indian are Rajasthani.

Practice Questions

Directions (1-20): In each of the questions given below are given some statements followed by some conclusions. Read all conclusions and give the answer as follows-

(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.

1. Statements:

All cots are tables.

All tables are trains.

All trains are buses.

Conclusions:

I. All tables are buses.

II. All trains are tables.

2. Statements:

Some mobile are computers.

Some computers are calculators.

Some calculators are phones.

Conclusions:

I. Some phones are computers.

II. Some computers are mobile.

3. Statements:

All spoons are bowls.

Some bowls are glasses.

Some glasses are plates.

I. Some glasses are spoons.

II. Some plates are bowls.

Conclusions:

4. Statements:

Some envelopes are packets.

Some packets are boxes.

All boxes are parcels.

Conclusions:

I. Some parcels are packets.

II. Some parcels are envelopes.

5. Statements:

Some cards are plastics.

Some Plastics are metals.

All metals are pots.

Conclusions:

I. Some pots are cards.

II. No pot is a card.