Mrunal (Reasoning) 4-Statement Syllogism - Approach, Techniques, Explained For SBI PO (High Level Reasoning) and UPSC CSAT Paper 2

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[Reasoning] 4-Statement Syllogism: Approach, Techniques, explained for SBI

PO (High level reasoning) and UPSC CSAT paper 2
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Introduction
Recap: 2 statement
Complimentary case
Approaching 4 statement syllogism
Case#1 : Stick, lamps, power, dresses, shirts
Case#2: Bird, Horse, Tiger, Lion & Monkey
Case#3: Bench, Wall, House, Jungle, Road
Case#4: (Complimentary Pairs): Cups, Bottles, Jugs, Plates & Tables
Case#5: (Complimentary Pairs): Chair, Handle, Pots, Mats & Buses
Introduction
SBI loves asking 4 statement syllogism questions in its PO exam. (usually 5
questions.)
In 2012, UPSC asked 3 statement syllogism in CSAT paper II, and nothing prevents
UPSC from asking 4-statement syllogism in future, under its BackbreakingTM
move.
Therefore, anyone who doesnt want to dig his/her grave in SBI or UPSC, should
thoroughly prepare syllogism.
Good news is, no matter whether they ask 2 statement syllogism, 3 statement
syllogism, 4 statement syllogism or 50 statement syllogism, our UP-UN method
continues to work.
However, to quickly and accurately solved 4 statement syllogism, first you must
master earlier techniques
Two statement syllogism
Click me to learn
Three statement syllogism Click me to learn
Recap: 2 statement
Whenever facing two statement syllogism, our standard operating procedure is:
1. Two statements, must have only three terms
2. Classify them into UP, UN, PP or PN.
3. Two statements must be in the Format A to B then B to C, if not then apply the
conversion rules
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Type of Statement
Valid Conversion
1. Universal Positive (UP)

2. All cats(A) are dogs (B)
3. Universal Negative (UN)

4. No Cats(A) are dogs (B)
Path
1. A to
B
2. B to
A
Only PP
Some Cats (A) are dogs. (B)
Some dogs (B) are cats. (A)
PN :Some Dogs (B) are not Cats

(A).
B to A
UN: No Dogs (B) are cats. (A)
5. Particular Positive (PP)

6. Some cats (A) are dogs
(B)
Only PP: Some dogs (B) are

cats(A)
B to A
7. Particular Negative (PN)
Not possible.
4. Now apply the combo rules. Unless specifically mentioned, conversion is A to C.
No conclusion combos
1. UPs politicians hate giving

particular statements (both
positive and negative). E.g. they
donot reveal their clear position
on FDI in retail until the 11th
hour. (UP+PP/PN=NO)
2. United Nations hates negativity.
(both Universal and particular)
(UN+UN/PN=NO)
3. Pritish Nandy hates everybody.
(first statement is PN=NO,
Irrespective of second statement.)
4. Two-negatives=no conclusion.
5. Two particulars=no conclusion.
Yes conclusion combos

1. If Uttar Pradesh meets Uttar Pradesh,
then its size doesnt increase.
(UP+UP=UP)
2. If Uttar Pradesh meets United Nations
then size increases and it becomes
United Nations. (UP+UN=UN)
3. United Nations Secretary Ban Ki Moon
is in very positive mood. But he meets
another positive person, and his attitude
is totally reversed- he becomes
particularly negative! (reversed =C to
A). (UN+UP/PP=PN)
4. When Mr.PP observes the universe via
NASA telescope, his mood becomes
particularly positive or negative
depending on the mood of universe.
(PP+UP/UN=PP/PN)
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Complimentary case
Incase you get a no-conclusion combo, BUT any of the answer choice says
either ** or ** follows. In that case youve to check for complimentary cases.
(this is critical for SBI PO, since often the 4 statement conclusion have
complimentary case situation).
For complimentary case to be valid, two conditions must be met:
Condition #1: Two answer choices have same subject and predicate.
Applicable
1. Some Politicians are honest.
2. No Politicians are honest
Because both have common
subject (politician) and common
predicate (honest)
Not applicable
2. No Honest are Politicians.
In first statement, subject=Politician but in
second statement, subject= Honest. Hence
complemantary case not possible.
Condition#2: The answer choice combo must be either of these three

Answer choice combo
example
Uttar Pradesh (UP) + Pritish Nandy (PN)
1. All Politicians are honest.

2. Some Politicians arenot honest
PP + Pritish Nandy (PN)
1. Some Politicians are honest

2. Some Politicians arenot honest
PP + United Nations (UN)

2. No Politicians are honest
When these two conditions are met, then answer would be Either (I) or (II) follows.
(to see actual question related to the complimentary pair situation, check the case
number 4 and 5 given in the later part of this article.)
Approaching 4 statement syllogism

Here you pick up conclusion one at a time, find its parents.
Apply chain formula and see if it leads to the given conclusion. (pretty much the
same thing that we do in three statement syllogism click me)
Anyways without much ado, lets start solving 4-statement syllogism questions
from SBI PO 2010 exam
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Case#1 : Stick, lamps, power, dresses, shirts

This is a really cheap and easy question.
Question statements Subject
predicate Type
1. some
sticks
are lamps
PP
2. some
flowers are lamps
PP
3. some
lamps
PP
4. all
dresses are shirts
are dresses
UP
conclusion statements
1
some
shirts
are sticks
PP
some
shirts
are flowers
PP
some
flowers are sticks
PP
some
dresses are sticks
PP
Answer choice
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
None follows
Only 1
Only 2
Only 3
Only 4.
Approach
You can start with one conclusion at a time, find its parents and then apply combo
rules.
But if you look at it carefully: 3 out of 4 question statements are Particular Positive
(PP). So if you pick any two of them, PP+PP=no conclusion.
Fourth question statement is UP. UP+PP=PP if this is intermediate conclusion, it
wont give any final conclusion when paired with any other question statement
because PP + PP = no conclusion.
If situation requires you to convert UP (=can only be converted into PP), then
again PP+PP=no conclusion.
So with that thought in mind, check four conclusion statement, youll see none of
their parents can give conclusion.
Therefore answer is (A) none follow.
Case#2: Bird, Horse, Tiger, Lion & Monkey

Question statement Subject
predicate Type
All
Birds
are Horses
UP
all
Horses
are Tigers
UP
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Some
Tigers
are Lions
PP
Some
Lions
are Monkeys PP
conclusion statements
1
Some
Tigers
are Horses
Some
Monkeys are Birds
PP
Some
Tigers
PP
Some
Monkeys are Horses
are Birds
PP
PP
Answer choice
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Only 1 and 3
Only 1, 2 and 3
Only 2, 3 and 4
Only 1, 2, 3 and 4
None follows.
Approach
As you can see conclusion #3 is reappearing in option A to D. so first Ill check
conclusion #3. If it turns out to be false then my effort is saved, Ill directly tick
(E).
Checking conclusion #3
3 Some Tigers are Birds PP
If this conclusion is valid, whore its parents?
1 All Birds_A
are Horses_B UP
2 all Horses_B are Tigers_C UP

Ok this is in standard format: A to B then B to C.
Apply combo rule: when UP is merged in UP, its size doesnt increase
(UP+UP=UP, A to C). so my conclusion is All birds_A are tigers_C. Ill reconvert
this (UP to PP), so some tigers are birds. This matches with the conclusion
number #3.
So conclusion #3 is valid. So option E is eliminated.
Now Ill have to check other conclusions as well. Anyways, now lets check all
other conclusions in serial order (1, 2, 4)
Concl.1 Some Tigers are Horses PP
If this is legit, whore its parents?
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Just one:
Q.Statement 2 all Horses are Tigers UP
I can convert this! (UP to PP) so some tigers are horses. So conclusion #1=valid.
2 Some Monkeys are Birds PP
If this is valid, whore its parents?
1 All
Birds
are Horses
2 all
Horses are Tigers
3 Some Tigers are Lions

4 Some Lions
UP
UP
PP
are Monkeys PP
Ill reorder so it makes more sense

4 Some Lions
are Monkeys PP
3 Some Tigers are Lions
PP
2 all
Horses are Tigers
UP
1 All
Birds
UP
are Horses
Ok we are facing 4 statement chain. Weve to pick two at a time get intermediate
conclusions, pair them with next statement and keep moving.
But today is my lucky day, you see first two statements are PP + PP= no
conclusion. So we cant proceed further. And answer choice doesnt contain any
either or. So we dont need to check complimentary case either. That means
conclusion #2 is invalid. Our precious time and effort is saved.
So far weve done following
Conclusion number Valid/not?
3
Valid
Valid
Invalid.
Accordingly, Answer choice

a.
b.
c.
d.
Only 1 and 3
Only 1, 2 and 3
Only 2, 3 and 4
Only 1, 2, 3 and 4
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e. None follows
Final answer (A) Only 1 and 3 follow.
Case#3: Bench, Wall, House, Jungle, Road

predicate Type
Some
Bench Are Wall
PP
All
Wall
Are House
UP
Some
House
Are Jungle
PP
All
jungle
Are Road
UP
Conclusion Statements
1
some
Roads
Are Benches PP
Some
Jungles Are Walls
Some
Houses Are Benches PP
some
Roads
Are Houses
PP
PP
Answer choices
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Only 1 and 2
Only 1 and 3
Only 3 and 4
Only 2, 3 and 4
None follows.
Approach
To save time and effort, I am going to test only 2 and 4. Lets see if I can get lucky!
Checking conclusion statement #2

2 Some Jungle Are Wall PP
If this is valid conclusion, whore its parents (question statements)?
2 All
Wall
Are House UP
3 Some House Are Jungle PP

Cool, already in standard format A to B then B to C.
And UPs politicians hate giving particular statements so UP+PP=no conclusion.
So conclusion #2 is invalid, that means answer choice A and D are eliminated.
Lets see what is left in the answer choices:
a. Only 1 and 2
b. Only 1 and 3
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c. Only 3 and 4
d. Only 2, 3 and 4
e. None follows.
Ok now lets check conclusion #4.
Checking conclusion statement #4

4 some Roads Are Houses PP
If this is valid conclusion, who are its parents (question statements)?
3 Some House Are Jungle PP
4 All
jungle Are Road
UP
Good, already in standard format: A to B then B to C. so directly apply the combo

rule.
When Mr.PP observes the universe via NASA telescope, his mood becomes
particularly positive or negative depending on the mood of universe.
(PP+UP/UN=PP/PN)
PP+UP=PP. (A to C)
Therefore my conclusion is Some Houses are roads. And PP can be converted
into PP. So Some roads are houses = also valid.
So conclusion #4 is valid. Lets check our answer choices
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Only 1 and 2
Only 1 and 3
Only 3 and 4
Only 2, 3 and 4
None follows.
Final answer: C, only 3 and 4 follows.
Case#4: (Complimentary Pairs): Cups, Bottles, Jugs,

Plates & Tables
predicate Type
All
Cups
are Bottles
Some
Bottles are Jugs
PP
No
Jug
is
UN
some
Plates
are tables
Plate
UP
PP
Conclusion Statements
1
Some
Tables are Bottles
PP
Some
Plates
are Cups
PP
No
Table
is
UN
Bottle
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Some
jugs
are cups
PP
ANSWER choice
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Only 1 follows
Only 2
Only 3
Only 4
Either 1 or 3 follows.
Approach
Lets start with conclusion 1.
1 Some Tables are Bottles PP
If conclusion 1 is valid then whore its parents (question statements)?
2 Some Bottles are Jugs
3 No
Jug
is
PP
Plate UN
4 some Plates are tables PP

Ill rearrange the order
2 Some Bottles_A are Jugs_B
PP
3 No
UN
Jug_B
4 some Plates_C
Is
Plate_C
are Tables_D PP
Now it is a three statement syllogism.

Already in standard format. So, First combine 2+3.
PP+UN=PN. (A to C)
Some Bottles_A are not plates_C. (PN)
Thats my intermediate conclusion. Now Ill combine it with question statement
number 4.
Intermediate conclusion Some Bottles_A Are not Plate_C
Q. statement #4
some Plates_C
are
PN
Tables_D PP
Two particulars = no conclusion.

Ok so, conclusion #1=cannot be concluded definitely.
But wait, look at answer choice #4: either 1 or 3 follows. So this could be a case
of complimentary pairs.
Lets relook at conclusion statement #1 and #3.
Subject
Predicate
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1 Some Tables are Bottles
PP
3 No
UN
Table
is
Bottle
Apply the checklist for complimentary case.

a. Two answer choices have same subject and predicate?= YES
b. The answer choice combo must be either of these three
i. Uttar Pradesh (UP) + Pritish Nandy (PN)
ii. PP + Pritish Nandy (PN)
iii. PP + United Nations (UN)
Yes, it is combo number III (PP+UN). So final answer is either 1 or 3 follows.
Case#5: (Complimentary Pairs): Chair, Handle, Pots, Mats

& Buses
Question statements are
Type
1. Some
chairs
are Handles PP
2. All
Handles
are Pots
UP
3. All
Pots
are Mats
UP
4. Some
Mats
are Buses
PP
Conclusion Statement
1. Some
buses
are handles PP
2. Some
mats
are chairs
PP
3. No
bus
is
UN
4. Some
mats
are handles PP
handle
Answer choices
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Only 1,2,3 follow

Only 2,3 and 4 follow
Either 1 or 3 AND 2 follow
Either 1 or 3 AND 2 and 4 follow
Approach
Take a look at c,d,e all of them contain Either 1 or 3. So weve to check for
complimentary cases. Given conclusions
1. some buses are handles pp
3. no
buses is
handle
un
Ok this both have some subject and predicate.
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And theyre in form of PP+UN. So, Yes, theyre fit for complimentary case=
Either 1 or 3 follows. Lets see our answer choices again:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Only 1,2,3 follow

So answer can be C/D/E. Lets Start with answer choice C.
C says either 1 or 3 AND 2
We have already checked that either 1 or 3 is valid.
Now lets test conclusion statement number 2
2. some Mats Are chairs PP

If this is valid then whore its parents (question statements)?
1. some Chairs(A)
are Handles(B) PP
2. all
Handles(B) are Pots(C)
UP
3. all
Pots(C)
UP
are Mats(D)
Ok now lets pair up 1 and 2

1. some Chairs(A)
2. all
Are Handles(B) PP
Handles(B) Are Pots(C)
UP
Are they in standard format A to B B to C? yes.

Apply rules. PP + UP.
When Mr.PP observes the universe via NASA telescope, his mood becomes
particularly positive or negative depending on the mood of universe.
(PP+UP/UN=PP/PN)
Therefore, PP + UP = PP (A to C)
Intermediate Conclusion statement is Some chairs(A) are pots(C)
Combine intermediate conclusion with q.statement #3.
Some chairs(A) are pots(C)
3. all Pots(C)
PP
are Mats(D) UP
Are they in std. format? yes theyre in standard format, (A to C C to D)

Apply rules. PP + UP = PP (A to D).
Our conclusion: Some chairs (A) are mats(D)==>convert Some mats are chairs
(PP to PP).
Conclusion statement #2 said: some mats are chairs.
Yes so conclusion statement #2 is legit. So far our situation is
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a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Only 1,2,3 follow

Now lets check conclusion statement #4.
4.some mats are handles PP

Find its parents.
2. all Handles_A Are Pots_B UP
3. all Pots_B
are Mats_C UP
2+3= already in std format, UP+UP =UP merged with UP, size doesnt hence.
So UP+UP=UP (A to C) very easy. Conclusion will be All handles are mats (UP).
But fourth conclusion is some mats are handles. No problem, well convert our
conclusion (rule UP>PP).
So, All handles are mats (UP) => Some mats are handles.
Therefore, conclusion number 4 is also correct. Therefore Final answer: (e)
Either 1 or 3 AND 2 and 4 follow.
For more articles on reasoning and aptitude, visit Mrunal.org/aptitude
URL to article: http://mrunal.org/2013/03/reasoning-4-statement-syllogism-approachtechniques-explained-for-sbi-po-high-level-reasoning-and-upsc-csat-paper-2.html

Posted By Mrunal On 18/03/2013 @ 15:39 In the category Aptitude
7/28/2014 6:47 PM

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