SYLLOGISM – A VERY IMPORTANT PORTION FOR NTA NET EXAMS. PART-1

Syllogism is one of the easiest chapters asked in reasoning. Usually syllogism is asked in Bank or SSC exams. But recently syllogism questions are even asked in NTA UGC NET exams. Syllogism comes under logical reasoning section of Paper one. Syllogisms are solved in many methods. But the easiest one is through rules, where you can solve the questions within 10 seconds. Yes! You heard it right 🙂
First let’s learn the basic terms used in syllogism.

1. Entity-  The terms or things between which a relation is specified or discussed.
   For example C and D are entities.
2. Proposition or Sentence – The statement from which we arrive at a conclusion.
3. Relation – Some, All ,Some Not, No are called relations.
4. Conclusion – Solution obtained from proposition.

THE MAIN CONCEPT –The First and Last rule
Look at the following sentences.

1. All A are B
2. Some Bare D.
3. Some D are F.

If you look at the proposition 1) and 2) there is a common element B, whereas in proposition 2) and proposition 3) common element is D.

FIRST AND LAST RULE

In order to solve syllogism first and last rule should be followed. There should be common element between both sentences and that common element should be placed diagonally. The common element in first proposition should be placed at the last part of the first proposition. While the common element in the second proposition should be placed in the beginning of the second proposition. Ok It’s a bit confusing. Just look at the following sentences.

In order to derive a conclusion between D and M, They should be placed at the beginning and end of the sentences. While the common element should be placed at the last of first sentence and first of second sentence. If the statements are mixed up you should always place them in this order to solve the syllogisms.
But sometimes this particular order is not seen in statements. In such cases you need to alter the sentences.

REVERSAL OF SENTENCES

Let’s look at some examples
1.All W is D.
Conclusions possible from that-i).Some W is D.  ii). Some D is W.
2. Find the relation between Q and L.

i)All W are Q.
ii)Some W are L.
Here the common element between both the statements is W. In order to derive relation between Q and L we need to arrange the W in last part of first sentence and first part of second sentence.
Some W are L can be written as Some L are W. Also rearranging the order of sentences we get.

Now since the common element is arranged diagonally in last position of first sentence and first position of second sentence we can find a relation between L and Q.

This is the basics of arrangement used in solving syllogism using rules. In next blog rules of Syllogism will be discussed.