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Contrapositives are killing me
Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 11:46 pm
by rvadog
I just don't understand them.
I'm working through prep test 19, game 3 and I have the rule:
If F is assigned to boat 1, then G is assigned to boat 1 (only two boats and all variables get used)
So I diagram it to:
F1--->G1
And contrapositive of
G2--->F2
How the fuck is that different than
F<--->G ???
Re: Contrapositives are killing me
Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 11:49 pm
by dingbat
^I don't know what this means
However, your possibilities for boat 1 include:
F+G
G, but not F
Neither F nor G
Re: Contrapositives are killing me
Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 11:59 pm
by crazyrobin
In order to have your conclusion of F<---->G you have to have G1---->F1 or F2---->G2 (contrapositive of previous one)
But clearly you don't have this extrapolation.
Just as dingbat said, F1---->G1 leaves the possibilities for boat 1 are
F+G
G
Or neither
Note, F and G doesn't nessisarily have to be together.
Re: Contrapositives are killing me
Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 12:01 am
by dingbat
crazyrobin wrote:In order to have your conclusion of F<---->G you have to have G1---->F1 orand F2---->G2 (contrapositive of previous one)
But clearly you don't have this extrapolation.
Just as dingbat said, F1---->G1 leaves the possibilities for boat 1 are
F+G
G
Or neither
Note, F and G doesn't nessisarily have to be together.
I might not understand the terminology, but I know enough to fix this
Re: Contrapositives are killing me
Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 12:05 am
by crazyrobin
dingbat wrote:crazyrobin wrote:In order to have your conclusion of F<---->G you have to have G1---->F1 orand F2---->G2 (contrapositive of previous one)
But clearly you don't have this extrapolation.
Just as dingbat said, F1---->G1 leaves the possibilities for boat 1 are
F+G
G
Or neither
Note, F and G doesn't nessisarily have to be together.
I might not understand the terminology, but I know enough to fix this
Haha right, when I type "or" what I actually mean is that one of these rules will lead to conclusion F and G has to be together. But logically is "and"

Re: Contrapositives are killing me
Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 12:14 am
by chadbrochill
rvadog wrote:I just don't understand them.
I'm working through prep test 19, game 3 and I have the rule:
If F is assigned to boat 1, then G is assigned to boat 1 (only two boats and all variables get used)
So I diagram it to:
F1--->G1
And contrapositive of
G2--->F2
How the fuck is that different than
F<--->G ???
Because there is still the possibility of G1 and F2, and oftentimes they will test you to see if you made the distinction without jumping to an "if and only if" conclusion.
Re: Contrapositives are killing me
Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 12:20 am
by rvadog
I kind of get it. It's honestly difficult for me to wrap my head around contrapositives. I guess I need to reread that chapter in LG Bible.
Re: Contrapositives are killing me
Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 12:22 am
by chadbrochill
Ya its something that comes with time, and eventually becomes second nature.
Its good that you are taking the time to nip it in the bud right now though, and your question was a good one.
Re: Contrapositives are killing me
Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 12:22 am
by dingbat
rvadog wrote:I kind of get it. It's honestly difficult for me to wrap my head around contrapositives. I guess I need to reread that chapter in LG Bible.
I don't ever want to tell someone what to do or what not to do in terms of learning, but there's a chance you're too focused on the methodology and not on the puzzle. Try finding some logic puzzle books and completing those, see how you fare.
(don't time yourself, focus on the words and adhere to them)
Re: Contrapositives are killing me
Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 7:44 pm
by lsatkid007
Hey guys. How would you diagram this sentence?
If that were indeed the way the mind works, the sensei could transfer facts and rules so the machine, which would replace the sensei as drilmaster and coach.
Thanks
Re: Contrapositives are killing me
Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 8:50 pm
by TERS
The syntax is strange.
I'm certainly not an expert, but my first approach would be the following
If the mind worked that way, the sensei could transfer facts and rules to the machine; if the sensei could transfer facts and rules to the machine, the machine could replace the sensei as drillmaster and coach.
Mind works that way --> Sensei can transfer facts and rules to machine
Sensei can transfer facts and rules to machine --> machine can replace sensei as drillmaster and coach
Mind works that way --> Sensei can transfer facts and rules to machine --> machine can replace sensei as drillmaster and coach
Mind works that way --> machine can replace sensei as drillmaster and coach
Re: Contrapositives are killing me
Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 8:53 pm
by dingbat
lsatkid007 wrote:Hey guys. How would you diagram this sentence?
If that were indeed the way the mind works, the sensei could transfer facts and rules so the machine, which would replace the sensei as drilmaster and coach.
Thanks
If A then B can C resulting in D.
Just learn to read
Re: Contrapositives are killing me
Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 5:09 am
by 03152016
.
Re: Contrapositives are killing me
Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2012 4:19 pm
by willwash
contrapositives used to be a big weakness fr me...i practiced them so much that i dont even diagram them anyymore. I found that the extra diagramming was cluttering up my diagrams and slowing me down and i realized that i'd reached the point where just from diagramming a rule i was instantly and automatically cognizant of the contrapositive. hence diagramming the cp became a waste of time.
for op i recommend mlsat's contrapositive drills. you can also make up your own...its pretty easy to do, especially in an in/out game