Tips for identifying sufficient and necessary conditions? Forum

[spece212]

Folks,
I get confused at times in identifying the sufficient and necessary conditions in a conditional question. Anyone uses any rule of thumbs or smart tricks to get it right most of the times?

For e.g

If you are determined you will win

works out to be straightforward
determined -> win

You will win only if you are determined

This sometimes throws me off in test conditions.

You are either determined or you do not win

This type of conditional totally beats me.

Any help/hints will be most appreciated.

[Knock]

The LG and LR bible has lists of words that indicate a sufficient or necessary condition, that might be helpful. Have you worked through them?

What helped for me when I was learning it was just kind of sitting down and thinking it through in basic terms. The Sufficient condition is the one that must have the other one, while the necessary condition can be by itself. So i'd think, which one needs the other one to occur and which one can stand by itself

[ND'10]

Honestly, I made note cards from the LR Bible and drilled them until it was complete second nature. I didn't quite fully comprehend it yet, but I at least was able to recognize it. Then one day, it just kind of clicked and made sense after internalizing it for so long.

[ly2010]

Honestly, I made note cards from the LR Bible and drilled them until it was complete second nature. I didn't quite fully comprehend it yet, but I at least was able to recognize it. Then one day, it just kind of clicked and made sense after internalizing it for so long.

I'm starting to think that making notecards is a good idea. I thought I understood all the basic concepts after memorizing the lists...but I still make S/N mistakes when I am rushed.

[EarlCat]

You will win only if you are determined

This sometimes throws me off in test conditions.

Draw an arrow through "only if."

You will win -only if-> you are determined.
You will win ---------> you are determined.

[iamcutdacheck]

Honestly, I made note cards from the LR Bible and drilled them until it was complete second nature. I didn't quite fully comprehend it yet, but I at least was able to recognize it. Then one day, it just kind of clicked and made sense after internalizing it for so long.

Same here I put the LR Bible list of terms on my blackberry notepad, reviewed them between breaks at work for 3 to 4 days ... now I have them memorized

[whymeohgodno]

"You are either determined or you do not win"

Is this even a sufficient/necessary condition question?

I'm a bit confused myself...I don't think it is...?

[Knock]

"You are either determined or you do not win"

Is this even a sufficient/necessary condition question?

I'm a bit confused myself...I don't think it is...?

Yeah. Win ---> determined.

You can't win without being determined. But being determined in itself does not mean you'll win.

[spece212]

Can some one share the kind of flash cards or notes they are using for conditional reasoning? Are you using the terms given in the LR Bible or actual sentences?