Logical Reasoning - Logical Deduction - Discussion

Discussion Forum : Logical Deduction - Section 1 (Q.No. 39)
Directions to Solve

In each question below are given two statements followed by two conclusions numbered I and II. You have to take the given two statements to be true even if they seem to be at variance from commonly known facts. Read the conclusion and then decide which of the given conclusions logically follows from the two given statements, disregarding commonly known facts.

Give answer:

  • (A) If only conclusion I follows
  • (B) If only conclusion II follows
  • (C) If either I or II follows
  • (D) If neither I nor II follows and
  • (E) If both I and II follow.


39.

Statements: Some books are tables. Some tables are mirrors.

Conclusions:

  1. Some mirrors are books.
  2. No book is mirror.
Only conclusion I follows
Only conclusion II follows
Either I or II follows
Neither I nor II follows
Both I and II follow
Answer: Option
Explanation:
Since both the premises are particular no definite conclusion follows. However, I and II involve only the extreme terms and form a complementary pair. Thus, either I or II follows.
Discussion:
15 comments Page 1 of 2.

Yogendra Ray said:   6 years ago
Book to Table and Table to Mirror implies Book to Mirror.

A is correct.
(2)

S.N. said:   7 years ago
C is wrong because the statement 'no book is a mirror' contradicts both initial statements, when we're instructed to take both statements as true. C is also wrong because 'some mirrors are books' also contradicts the initial statements, because if we assume that some books are tables and some tables are mirrors, mirrors cannot be anything else other than a book (a table, at least one of which is a mirror, is also a book).

The only way C can be correct is if a mirror could be anything other than a book, but that would've required further information in the question (which was not given). The instructions and setup we are given means we think of all our choices not as a Venn diagram, but as a box (or a circle, triangle, whatever other shape you like). Now think of some of those books as tables (a smaller box encased within the outer box). Then think of some of those tables as mirrors (an even smaller box inside the inner box). You can't possibly have a mirror that's not also a book in this layout, given this setup. Again, that would have required different information and instructions.

So, given this, only D can be correct.
(1)

Amb said:   7 years ago
The answer is D only.

To apply either or case three conditions have to be fulfilled,
1. One conclusion should be positive and one negative.
2. Both the conclusions should be individually wrong.
3. The elements in both conclusion should be same.

Like in above case through Venn diagram, First condition one is positive and 2 is negative
Second condition both are wrong, Third condition is not fulfilled as in 1 conclusion element is mirror and book but in second conclusion it is book and mirror. As a result third condition is not fulfilled. So, we cannot apply option C.

So, the answer is D only.
(1)

Vikey said:   7 years ago
I have studied in CAT that when there are two premises in the question, no conclusion can be drawn. So how the answer is C not D?
(1)

P.T said:   7 years ago
This question is similar to the following question:

1. Some doctors are fools 2. Some fools are rich.

Ans both options contain the extreme terms for this question too, but in the solution, it's been said that there's no definite conclusion.

Whereas for the question (1. Some books are tables. ), it's been said that either 1 or 2 follows. Why?

Can someone kindly explain this?

K.N.Jayanth Krishnamoorthy said:   8 years ago
In my opinion, D is the correct answer. Please tell me where I am going wrong. My bone of contention, is as follows:

Some books are tables. Some tables are mirrors.

Taking the 1st statement, it can be deduced that some books are tables. Therefore all tables are books.

Similarly, in the 2nd statement, it can be deduced that some tables are mirrors. Therefore, all mirrors are tables.

The choices given are: some mirrors are books; no book is mirror. Both of these conclusions cannot be drawn and hence D is the answer.

Can someone please explain why am I wrong?

Yash said:   8 years ago
The correct answer is C. The logic is simple. Some books are tables, and some tables are mirrors right. So either some mirrors can be books or no mirror can be books.

Jyoti said:   8 years ago
Can someone please explain with a venn diagram how is the answer C ?

Add said:   8 years ago
Answer C is correct because depending on how you draw your venn diagram, either 1 or 2 can be correct, but not at the same time.
(1)

Trishul said:   8 years ago
Answer should be D.

From the given premise two extremes can be drawn:

Some books are mirrors.
No book is mirror.

But in the question it is given 'some mirror are books' which is NOT a converse of 'some book are mirror'.


Post your comments here:

Your comments will be displayed after verification.