Discussion
If Fred's statements are true, which of the following can be concluded?
*This question is included in Exercise Set 5: Intro to Chains, question #6
(A) | Since Fred had too much to drink last night, he feels like hell today. |
(B) | ... |
(C) | ... |
(D) | ... |
(E) | ... |
(F) | ... |
The solution is
Posted: 04/17/2012 22:11
He said "it's only when I have too many drinks that I feel like hell in the morning " and last night he had too many drinks. So why doesn't he feel like hell this morning?
Posted: 04/18/2012 01:07
This is an example of an "only if" problem.
"Only if A then B" can be rewritten as:
If B then A, which be rewritten as: If not A then not B. These are the only conclusions that can be drawn.
The relevant statement is "only when I have too many drinks that I feel like hell in the morning".
So you can draw a conclusion that "If I feel like hell then I had too many drinks"; and also "If I didn't have too many drinks, then I don't feel like hell".
But you cannot rewrite / or conclude it as "if I had too many drinks, then I feel like hell in the morning". "Only" makes a big difference.
Remember these 3 conditional scenarios:
1. If A then B, you can conclude if not B then not A
2. Only if A then B, you can conclude if B then A, and by rule 1: if not A then not B
3. If and only if A then B, you can conclude if A then B, and if B then A
Google "LSAT only if", there are many free explanations.
"Only if A then B" can be rewritten as:
If B then A, which be rewritten as: If not A then not B. These are the only conclusions that can be drawn.
The relevant statement is "only when I have too many drinks that I feel like hell in the morning".
So you can draw a conclusion that "If I feel like hell then I had too many drinks"; and also "If I didn't have too many drinks, then I don't feel like hell".
But you cannot rewrite / or conclude it as "if I had too many drinks, then I feel like hell in the morning". "Only" makes a big difference.
Remember these 3 conditional scenarios:
1. If A then B, you can conclude if not B then not A
2. Only if A then B, you can conclude if B then A, and by rule 1: if not A then not B
3. If and only if A then B, you can conclude if A then B, and if B then A
Google "LSAT only if", there are many free explanations.