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Syllogism Reasoning Questions, Tricks & Solutions

Syllogism is the Verbal Reasoning questions and answers section in the Bank Exams. Get the Syllogism Reasoning Questions, Tricks & Solutions details in the article.
authorImagePriyanka Dahima28 Dec, 2024
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Syllogism

Syllogism

Syllogism is a part of logical reasoning that helps you draw conclusions from given statements. If you’re preparing for competitive exams, understanding syllogism is crucial. Let's break down what syllogism is, the types of statements you’ll encounter, and how to solve these questions step-by-step. Syllogism involves statements and conclusions. You need to assume the given statements are completely true and derive logical conclusions from them. The statements might initially seem confusing, but with practice, you can easily understand and solve them.

Types of Syllogism Statements

1. All A are B

This means everything in group A is also in group B. Think of it like this: if A is a small circle, it's entirely inside a bigger circle, B.

2. A = B

This means A and B are exactly the same. If you have a circle A, it's the same as circle B, meaning both overlap completely.

3. No A are B

Here, A and B are completely separate. Imagine two circles that do not touch each other at all.

4. Some A are B

This means some parts of A are also parts of B. Picture two circles that overlap a little bit.

5. Some A are not B

This means that while some parts of A are in B, there are definitely parts of A that are not in B. So, there's an overlap, but A also has parts outside of B.

Key Concepts for Syllogism

Types of Syllogism Statements

1. All A are B This means everything in group A is also in group B. Think of it like this: if A is a small circle, it's entirely inside a bigger circle, B. 2. A = B This means A and B are exactly the same. If you have a circle A, it's the same as circle B, meaning both overlap completely. 3. No A are B Here, A and B are completely separate. Imagine two circles that do not touch each other at all. 4. Some A are B This means some parts of A are also parts of B. Picture two circles that overlap a little bit. 5. Some A are not B This means that while some parts of A are in B, there are definitely parts of A that are not in B. So, there's an overlap, but A also has parts outside of B.

Types of Syllogism Questions

1. Basic Syllogism In basic syllogism questions, the conclusions must be 100% true. If there's any doubt, the conclusion is false. 2. Either-Or Case Here, if two conclusions are each 50% true, you consider the either-or case. This means if one conclusion is true, the other one can't be. 3. Coded Syllogism Statements and conclusions are given in a coded form. You need to decode them to find the answer. 4. Sequential Syllogism You are given a set of statements and options. You need to choose the option where the third statement logically follows from the first two.

COMPLEMENTARY PAIR

ALL   ↔ Some Not

Some ↔  No

Universal Rules for Syllogism

When solving syllogism questions, keep these rules in mind:
  1. All + All = All : If you have two "All" statements, the conclusion will also be "All."
  2. All + No = No : If you combine an "All" statement with a "No" statement, the conclusion will be "No."
  3. All + Some = No : If you have an "All" statement and a "Some" statement, the conclusion will be "No."
  4. Some + All = Some : If you combine a "Some" statement with an "All" statement, the conclusion will be "Some."
  5. Some + No = Some not : If you have a "Some" statement and a "No" statement, the conclusion will be "Some not."
  6. Some + Some = No : If you combine two "Some" statements, the conclusion will be "No."

Best Syllogism Examples

Examples: Directions: In the question below are given three statements followed by three conclusions I, II and III. You have to take the given statements to be true even if they seem to be at variance from commonly known facts, Read all the given conclusions and then decide which of the following conclusions logically follows from the given statements disregarding commonly known facts. Statements: Some Liquid are Glass. Some Glass are not Lip Balms. All Lip Balms are Pencil. Conclusions:
  1. Some Pencils being Glass is a possibility.
  2. All Lip Balms being Liquid is a possibility.
  3. Some Pencil being Lip Balm is a possibility.
Below questions consist of some statements followed by some conclusions. Study the following information carefully and decide which of the following conclusions logically follows from the given statements disregarding the commonly known facts. Statements: Only a few Markers are Pen. Some Pens are Dark. Only a few Dark is Red. All Markers are Black. Conclusions:
  1. Some Black being not Pen is a possibility.
  2. Some Red is not Dark.
  3. Some Marker being not Red is a possibility.
In this question given below some statements are followed by some conclusions. You have to consider every given statement as true. Read the Conclusion and decide which of the following conclusions can be derived. Statements-
  • All Jugs are Plates.
  • All Plates are Glass.
  • Only a few Glasses are Spoon.
Conclusions-
  • All glasses are spoon is a possibility.
  • Some Plates are Glasses.
Directions:Below questions consist of some statements followed by some conclusions. Study the following information carefully and decide which of the following conclusions logically follows. “A@B” means “Only a few A are B”. “A%B” means “Some A are B”. “A$B” means “No B is A”. “A&B” means “All B are A”. “A#B” means “Only B is A”. Statement: T @ Q $ S & R % P Conclusions:
  1. Some T are not R.
  2. Some P are not Q is a possibility.
  3. Some T are S is not a possibility.
Directions: Below questions consist of some statements followed by some conclusions. Study the following information carefully and decide which of the following conclusions logically follows. “A@B” means “Only a few A are B”. “A%B” means “Some A are B”. “A$B” means “No B is A”. “A&B” means “All B are A”. “A#B” means “Only B is A”. Statement: Y & P @ Z % Q $ S Conclusions:
  1. Some Y are not Z.
  2. Some P are not S is a possibility.
  3. Some S being Z is not a possibility.

Tricks to Solve Syllogism Questions

  1. Diagramming : Draw Venn diagrams to visualize the statements. This makes it easier to see the relationships.
  2. Definite vs. Possible : Remember that a definite conclusion must be true in all possible scenarios. If a conclusion is false in even one scenario, it’s not a definite conclusion.
  3. Positive vs. Negative : If all statements are positive, any negative conclusion will be false, and vice versa.
  4. Complementary Pairs : For either-or cases, look for complementary pairs like “Some + No” or “All + Some not.”
By keeping these rules and tips in mind, you can approach syllogism questions with confidence. Practice regularly, and soon you'll find these questions much easier to solve!

Practice Questions

Below questions consist of some statements followed by some conclusions. Study the following information carefully and decide which of the following conclusions logically follows from the given statements disregarding the commonly known facts. Statements: Only a few Soda is Lassi. All Soda is Lime. Only a few Lassi is Milk. Some Milk is Curd. Conclusions:
  1. Some Lime is not Lassi.
  2. Some Curd being Lassi is not a possibility.
  3. Some Soda can never be Curd.
In the question below there are three statements followed by two conclusion I and II. You have to take the three given statements to be true even if they seem to be at variance from commonly known facts and then decide which of the given conclusions logically follows from the three statements disregarding commonly known facts. Statements: Only a few Question is Query Only Query is Answer No Solution is Question Conclusions:
  1. A few Questions may be Answer
  2. No Solution is Query
In this question given below some statements are followed by some conclusions. You have to consider every given statement as true. Read the Conclusion and decide which of the following conclusions can be derived. Statements-
  • No Cars are Bike
  • All Planes are Bikes.
  • No Planes are Jets.
Conclusions-
  • No Planes are Cars.
  • No Cars are Jets .
Below questions consist of some statements followed by some conclusions. Study the following information carefully and decide which of the following conclusions logically follows from the given statements disregarding the commonly known facts. Statements: Some Black is Blue. Some Blue is Green. No Green is White. Some White is Pink. Only Black is Red Conclusion:
  1. Some Black is not Green.
  2. Some Red is not white.
  3. Some Blue being not White is a possibility.

In each question below are given some statements followed by some conclusions numbered I, II, III and IV. You have to take the given statements to be true even if they seem to be at variance with commonly known facts. Read all the conclusions and then decide which of the given conclusions logically follows from the given statements, disregarding commonly known facts.

Statements:

  1. All A are B.
  2. No C are B.
  3. Some D are A.

Conclusions:

  1. Some B are D.
  2. Some D are not C.
  3. No A are C
  4. Some D are not A.

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Syllogism FAQs

Q1. What is Syllogism?

Ans. Syllogism is a form of logical reasoning where you draw conclusions from given statements. These statements are assumed to be true, and based on them, you derive logical conclusions. It's an essential part of many competitive exams.

Q2. What are the different types of syllogism statements?

Ans. The main types of syllogism statements include: All A are B: Everything in group A is also in group B. No A are B: A and B are completely separate. Some A are B: Some parts of A are also parts of B. Some A are not B: Some parts of A are in B, but there are definitely parts of A that are not in B.

Q3. How can I solve syllogism questions effectively?

Ans. Here are some tips: Draw Venn diagrams to visualize the statements. Focus on definite conclusions that must be true in all scenarios. Remember complementary pairs like “Some + No” or “All + Some not” for either-or cases. Practice regularly to get familiar with different types of syllogism questions.

Q4. What is the difference between a definite and a possible conclusion?

Ans. A definite conclusion must be true in all possible scenarios based on the given statements. If a conclusion can be false in even one scenario, it is not a definite conclusion. Possible conclusions, on the other hand, are those that could be true but are not guaranteed to be true in all cases.

Q5. How do you approach either-or cases in syllogism questions?

Ans. In either-or cases, if two conclusions are each 50% true, you consider the either-or scenario. This means if one conclusion is true, the other cannot be. Look for complementary pairs to identify such cases. For example, if the given statements suggest that either "Some A are B" or "No A are B" must be true, then you have an either-or case.
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