Statement and Conclusion – Concepts for Aptitude

Introduction to Statements and Conclusions

In logical reasoning, Statements and Conclusions are key components of deductive reasoning. The ability to identify, analyze, and evaluate statements and conclusions is essential in solving many types of reasoning puzzles, including verbal reasoning tests commonly found in competitive exams.

What is a Statement?

A statement is a declarative sentence that presents a fact, claim, or assertion. Statements convey information that can either be true or false. In logical reasoning exercises, a statement provides the basis for reasoning and forming conclusions. The purpose of a statement is to present facts, observations, or premises that are used to evaluate the validity of conclusions.

Example of a Statement:

• “The sun rises in the east.”
• “The company reported a 20% increase in profits this year.”

What is a Conclusion?

A conclusion is a statement or judgment that follows logically from a given statement or set of statements. It is an inference or deduction made based on the provided information. In logical reasoning, conclusions must be assessed for their validity based on the truth of the original statements.

Example of a Conclusion:

• From the statement “The sun rises in the east,” one could conclude, “The sun does not rise in the west.”
• From the statement “The company reported a 20% increase in profits,” one might conclude, “The company is performing better this year.”

Types of Statement and Conclusion Questions

In logical reasoning, the typical format of a question involves a statement followed by a set of conclusions. Your task is to evaluate whether the given conclusions logically follow from the statement, using reasoning principles.

Possible Outcomes in Statement and Conclusion Questions

1. Only Conclusion I follows:
   This means the first conclusion can be logically deduced from the statement, but the second conclusion does not follow from the statement.
2. Only Conclusion II follows:
   This means the second conclusion can be logically deduced from the statement, but the first conclusion does not follow from the statement.
3. Both Conclusion I and II follow:
   Both conclusions logically follow from the statement. Both conclusions are valid inferences based on the information given in the statement.
4. Neither Conclusion I nor II follows:
   Neither conclusion is logically valid based on the given statement. This means both conclusions are either contradictory or do not logically follow from the statement.

How to Evaluate Statements and Conclusions

To evaluate whether a conclusion follows from a statement, consider the following methods:

1. Direct Deduction:
   Check if the conclusion directly follows from the information in the statement. If the statement asserts a fact, determine if the conclusion is a natural and direct inference from that fact.
2. Contradictions:
   Ensure that the conclusion does not contradict the statement. If the conclusion is in direct conflict with the statement, it cannot be correct.
3. Generalization and Specifics:
   If the statement is a generalization, a conclusion that is too specific may not follow logically. Similarly, if the statement is highly specific, a broad or generalized conclusion may not follow.
4. Premises to Conclusions:
   Examine if the statement provides sufficient premises or evidence to support the conclusion. A valid conclusion is based on the logic and relationships among the premises.

Examples of Statement and Conclusion Questions

In logical reasoning, Statement and Conclusion questions usually present a statement and two or more conclusions, and the task is to evaluate whether each conclusion follows logically from the statement.

Example 1:

Statement: “The restaurant closes at 10 PM.”

Conclusions:

1. “The restaurant will be open until 10 PM.”
2. “The restaurant closes at 9 PM.”

Evaluation:

• Conclusion 1 follows: The statement tells us the restaurant closes at 10 PM, meaning it is open until that time.
• Conclusion 2 does not follow: The statement specifically says the restaurant closes at 10 PM, not 9 PM.

Answer: Only Conclusion 1 follows.

Example 2:

Statement: “The temperature has dropped below freezing.”

Conclusions:

1. “It is extremely cold outside.”
2. “The ground may freeze.”

Evaluation:

• Conclusion 1 does not follow: While freezing temperatures suggest it is cold, “extremely cold” is a subjective term, and the statement doesn’t provide enough information to conclude it is “extremely cold.”
• Conclusion 2 follows: If the temperature is below freezing, it’s reasonable to infer that the ground may freeze.

Answer: Only Conclusion 2 follows.

Example 3:

Statement: “The company has reported a significant rise in sales this year.”

Conclusions:

1. “The company’s profits will definitely increase next year.”
2. “The company is performing better than last year.”

Evaluation:

• Conclusion 1 does not follow: A rise in sales does not guarantee that profits will increase, as there could be other factors affecting profits (e.g., higher costs).
• Conclusion 2 follows: A rise in sales generally indicates better performance than the previous year.

Answer: Only Conclusion 2 follows.

Example 4:

Statement: “The museum is open on Sundays.”

Conclusions:

1. “The museum is open today if today is Sunday.”
2. “The museum is closed on Sundays.”

Evaluation:

• Conclusion 1 follows: If the statement says the museum is open on Sundays, then it will be open on Sundays, which means the museum is open today if it is Sunday.
• Conclusion 2 does not follow: The statement directly contradicts Conclusion 2 by stating that the museum is open on Sundays.

Answer: Only Conclusion 1 follows.

Example 5:

Statement: “The traffic lights are malfunctioning.”

Conclusions:

1. “There may be a delay in traffic.”
2. “The road is closed.”

Evaluation:

• Conclusion 1 follows: Malfunctioning traffic lights can cause delays as drivers may not know when to stop or go.
• Conclusion 2 does not follow: The statement says nothing about the road being closed, only that the traffic lights are malfunctioning.

Answer: Only Conclusion 1 follows.

Key Tips for Solving Statement and Conclusion Questions

• Focus on the Scope of the Statement:
  Understand the limits of the statement. A conclusion must be consistent with the scope and content of the statement.
• Avoid Overgeneralization:
  Be careful not to make conclusions that extend beyond the information provided in the statement. A statement about “birds” does not automatically apply to “all animals.”
• Look for Logical Gaps:
  Check for any gaps in the logic. For example, a conclusion may seem reasonable but lacks sufficient evidence in the statement.
• Practice Common Logical Patterns:
  Many statement and conclusion questions follow common logical patterns, such as cause-effect relationships, definitions, and generalizations. Familiarizing yourself with these patterns helps in faster identification of valid conclusions.

Syllogism is a specialized case of this topic

Read concepts and formulas for: Arrangements

Refer Aptitude Questions with Solutions on Statement and Conclusions: https://www.learntheta.com/aptitude-questions-statement-conclusion/

Practice Aptitude Questions on Statement and Conclusions with LearnTheta’s AI Practice Platform: https://www.learntheta.com/placement-aptitude/