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Tips for identifying sufficient and necessary conditions?

Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2010 2:13 pm
by 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.

Re: Tips for identifying sufficient and necessary conditions?

Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2010 2:15 pm
by 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

Re: Tips for identifying sufficient and necessary conditions?

Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2010 2:20 pm
by 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.

Re: Tips for identifying sufficient and necessary conditions?

Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 10:01 am
by ly2010
ND'10 wrote: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.

Re: Tips for identifying sufficient and necessary conditions?

Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 11:35 am
by EarlCat
spece212 wrote:
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.

Re: Tips for identifying sufficient and necessary conditions?

Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 12:49 pm
by iamcutdacheck
ND'10 wrote: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

Re: Tips for identifying sufficient and necessary conditions?

Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 1:10 pm
by 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...?

Re: Tips for identifying sufficient and necessary conditions?

Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 7:11 pm
by Knock
whymeohgodno wrote:"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.

Re: Tips for identifying sufficient and necessary conditions?

Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 12:53 am
by 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?