Deductive Reasoning Flashcards

All managers attend the Monday meeting. Sarah is a manager. Which conclusion must be true?

Answer: Sarah attends the Monday meeting

Since all managers attend and Sarah is a manager, she must attend the Monday meeting.

If a product fails quality control, it is sent for rework. Product X was NOT sent for rework. What can be concluded?

Answer: Product X passed quality control

By contrapositive, if a product was not sent for rework, it did not fail quality control — meaning it passed.

No reptiles are warm-blooded. All snakes are reptiles. Which statement must be true?

Answer: No snakes are warm-blooded

Since all snakes are reptiles and no reptiles are warm-blooded, no snakes can be warm-blooded.

Every employee who completes training receives a certificate. Tom did not receive a certificate. What follows?

Answer: Tom did not complete the training

By contrapositive, not receiving a certificate means Tom did not complete the training.

Either the shipment arrives today or the project is delayed. The shipment did not arrive today. What must be true?

Answer: The project is delayed

With an either/or statement, if one option fails the other must be true.

All certified accountants passed the CPA exam. Maria passed the CPA exam. What can be concluded?

Answer: Maria may or may not be a certified accountant

Passing the CPA exam is necessary but not stated as sufficient for certification, so Maria may or may not be certified.

If it is raining, the ground is wet. The ground is wet. Which conclusion is valid?

Answer: It may or may not be raining

Wet ground does not confirm rain because other causes could exist — this is the fallacy of affirming the consequent.