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Funky Necessary/Sufficient Condition Questions

Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 8:33 pm
by PLATONiC
EDIT: Another Tricky Question:

Once again, pretty distorted version, but key elements are the same: Decentralization enables departments of a large company to function autonomously. This always permits more X and Y. After dissecting the answer choices, I became utterly perplexed:

Do I interpret this as "a large company to function autonomously" is sufficient for more X and Y? Or is functioning autonomously a necessary condition for more X and Y?

Re: "The only" vs "Only"... Suff/Necc condition question

Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 8:42 pm
by honestabe84
PLATONiC wrote:Hey guys, I have a question about necessary/sufficient conditions that have puzzled me for some time.

Is "The only X are Y" the same thing as "Only X are Y"?
I interpretted the former was X-->Y and the latter as Y-->X.

A problem was presented in this way, and what tripped me up was the "only" part, since I'm used to thinking necessary condition every single time I see "only."

Just in case this helps, let me create a distorted version of the stimulus:

The only preexisting recordings that are transferred onto CDs are those that companies believe will sell well enough on CDs to be profitable.
Transferred onto CDs------>Companies believe will sell

I've actually never seen this before, but it makes sense.

Re: "The only" vs "Only"... Suff/Necc condition question

Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 9:04 pm
by 20121109
honestabe84 wrote:
Transferred onto CDs------>Companies believe will sell

I've actually never seen this before, but it makes sense.
+1

OP, "The only" at the beginning of a sentence introduces a sufficient condition.

Good luck on your test!!

Re: "The only" vs "Only"... Suff/Necc condition question

Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 9:17 pm
by PLATONiC
I knew it! "Only" has been triggering my necessary condition bell for the past few months, and I got this question wrong because of that. Reading the stimulus like I would read plain English would have been a better option...

Re: "The only" vs "Only"... Suff/Necc condition question

Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 9:20 pm
by redsox
The whole test is plain English.

Re: "The only" vs "Only"... Suff/Necc condition question

Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 9:22 pm
by PLATONiC
I'm a little retarded, so I need your help!