Is this a right deduction to make? (LG) Forum

Prepare for the LSAT or discuss it with others in this forum.
Post Reply
Lovely_Lady_In_Red_

New
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu Jan 28, 2016 6:01 pm

Is this a right deduction to make? (LG)

Post by Lovely_Lady_In_Red_ » Tue Feb 02, 2016 10:06 am

_ _ _ (3 seats, 1,2 , and 3)

Alex, Betty, Clark

If Alex is 3rd, Betty is first.

Can I assume if Alex is 2 Betty cannot be 1?

User avatar
lymenheimer

Gold
Posts: 3979
Joined: Sat Jul 04, 2015 1:54 am

Re: Is this a right deduction to make? (LG)

Post by lymenheimer » Tue Feb 02, 2016 10:18 am

You can assume that because Alex is not 3, Betty DOES NOT HAVE to be 1.
You're reading the contrapositive incorrectly.
Argument: A3 --> B1
Incorrect Contrapositive (as you are reading it): ~A3 --> ~B1
Correct Contrapositive: ~B1 --> ~A3

So if Alex is 2, Betty is still able to be 1. If Betty is 2 (or any not 1), however, Alex cannot be 3.

User avatar
MAPP

Bronze
Posts: 380
Joined: Thu Jul 23, 2015 3:03 pm

Re: Is this a right deduction to make? (LG)

Post by MAPP » Tue Feb 02, 2016 1:30 pm

Lovely_Lady_In_Red_ wrote:_ _ _ (3 seats, 1,2 , and 3)

Alex, Betty, Clark

If Alex is 3rd, Betty is first.

Can I assume if Alex is 2 Betty cannot be 1?
Here is the conditional statement: If A 3rd, then B 1st

Contrapositive: If B not 1st, then A cannot be 3rd

The only place A triggers anything is if he is in spot 3. B triggers the contrapositive if she is not in spot 1

Post Reply

Return to “LSAT Prep and Discussion Forum”