@mattrettig only if we assume that the only people who could win or lose are you and I, and that winning and losing are the only outcomes and mutually exclusive of one another. Reasonable assumptions, but assumptions nonetheless!
Could you invert the verb instead of the comparative link as well? EG: Option 1 is less harmful than option 2 => Option 2 is less beneficial than option 1
I understand the two-step process in this case. But, I am wondering when on the exam I will need to use this? What specific question types will target this process?
@AdrianaBader In the video, instructor noted that answers are often rephrased in this manner so being able to identify the inverse to find meaning is how I imagine this would be used.
not sure if I can think of a counter example but I am worried that swinging around levels of significance can create a potentially misinterpretation of facts.
is it always the case that if A is significantly greater than B implies B is significantly less than A?
I want to say yes logically, but I am worried that in some contexts the idea of significance is different depending on the viewing angle.
for purposes of LSAT I concede this is a non issue, I am mainly curious other's thoughts from a philosophical / thought provoking lens.
Reading comprehension portions with questions like "what is the primary theme of the text" and they swap the comparisons in a subtle manor to try and trip you up. That's just one of the scenarios.
Why doesn't the sentence "Some cultivars of corn are much more closely related morphologically to sorghum than to most other cultivars of corn" when rephrased turn into "Most cultivars of corn are much less closely related morphologically to sorghum than some other cultivars of corn?"
Isn't A v. B Some cultivars of corn v. Most other cultivars of corn?
I think it's because most other cultivars of corn implies there's a group of corn and most of that group is less closely related morphologically to sorghum
Saying "most cultivars of corn" implies most of all cultivars of corn. This changes the meaning from the original statement to increase the size of the group that is less closely related morphologically to sorghum.
In the example: "Some cultivars of corn are much more closely related morphologically to sorghum than to most other cultivars of corn" after going through the 2 step process, the answer becomes "Some cultivars of corn are much less closely related morphologically to most other cultivars of corn than to sorghum." Why not swap the modifiers that go along with the A and B? Wouldn't that answer change how people would perceive the amount of cultivars that are more closely related morphologically?
According to the last lesson, this is not an implied comparative. It is just an absolute claim; there is no comparison implied or reasonably inferred.
"... you don't want to confuse an absolute claim for a relative one.
Absolute Claim Example:
Tom’s recipe for lasagna is easy to follow for most people.
Okay, that means Tom's recipe for lasagna is easier to follow than most recipes for lasagna, right?
Nope. It could be true or it could be false. The statement just says that Tom's recipe is easy to follow (for most people). It could be that most recipes are also easy to follow in which case there's nothing special about Tom's. Or it could be that most recipes are hard to follow in which case, yeah, Tom's would stand out."
I believe that the correctly rephrased sentence would be: People with smart children are not less likely to get their kid tutoring than people with stupid children.
This sentence maintains the negative comparative, and the meaning is kept the same!
Some cultivars of corn are much more closely related morphologically to sorghum than to most other cultivars of corn.
Some cultivators of corn are much less closely related morphological to most other cultivators of corn than to sorghum.
Analysis: Tom is more like his mom than he is like his dad = Tom is less like his dad than he is like his mom.
If you are switching more to less than you have to switch the order in which relata comes first.
The genetic differences between the shrimp populations are much less significant than those between shrimp and many other marine species.
The genetic differences between shrimp and many other marine species are much more significant than those between shrimp populations.
Analysis: The personality difference between Tom and his family members is less significant than the difference between Tom and friends = The personality difference between Tom and his friends is more significant than between Tom and his family members.
Be cautious of the nuances in these sentences!
People tend to be less objective regarding a subject about which they possess extensive knowledge than regarding a subject about which they do not possess extensive knowledge.
People tend to be more objective regarding a subject about which they do not possess extensive knowledge than regarding a subject about which they possess extensive knowledge.
Analysis: Tom is more indifferent on subjects that he doesn’t enjoys than subjects he does enjoy.
I felt like “more objective” or “more indifferent” are statements that we could also be looked at effectively by taking the equivalent statements.
More objective means less subjective.
More indifferent means less biased.
The proportion of fat calories in the diets of people who read the nutrition labels on food products is significantly lower than it is in the diets of people who do not read nutrition labels.
The proportion of fat calories in the diets of people who do not read the nutrition labels on food products is significantly higher than it is in the diets of people who do read the nutrition labels.
Analysis: The misbehaving of Tom’s pets that do not go to behavioral school is significantly higher than it is in the pets of Tom’s that did go to behavioral school.
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33 comments
For the first example, can we re-write it like below?
Sorghum is more closely related morphologically to some cultivars of corn than most other cultivars of corn are.
Becasue we are still keeping the comparison between
Shorgum
and
most other cultivars of corn
Any insights?
You're younger than I.
= I'm older than you.
Some cultivars of corn are much more closely related morphologically to sorghum than to most other cultivars of corn.
A v. B
Sorghum v. Most other cultivars of corn
Relationship to Identify?
Some cultivars of corn are much more closely related morphologically...to which one (A or B)?
Winner?
Sorghum.
Some cultivars of corn are much more closely related morphologically to Sorghum than to most other cultivars of corn.
Change the Sentence.
Some cultivars of corn are much less closely related morphologically to most other cultivars of corn than to sorghum.
The genetic differences between the shrimp populations are much less significant than those between shrimp and any other marine species.
A v. B
Between Shrimp Populations v. Shrimp and any other marine species.
What is the relationship between A and B?
The genetic differences between A and B. Which is less significant than?
Winner?
Between Shrimp Populations.
The genetic differences between shrimp populations are much less significant than shrimp and any other marine species.
Change the Sentence.
The genetic differences between shrimp and any other marine species are much more significant than those between shrimp populations.
That was kind of mind blowing. I can see this being super useful in translating (decoding) stimuli and making it simpler for me to understand!
Heads, I win. Tails, you lose. Those sentences do indeed mean the same thing!
Well that's just not true
@mattrettig only if we assume that the only people who could win or lose are you and I, and that winning and losing are the only outcomes and mutually exclusive of one another. Reasonable assumptions, but assumptions nonetheless!
Could you invert the verb instead of the comparative link as well? EG: Option 1 is less harmful than option 2 => Option 2 is less beneficial than option 1
I understand the two-step process in this case. But, I am wondering when on the exam I will need to use this? What specific question types will target this process?
@AdrianaBader My thoughts exactly! Maybe its just a tool to better help understand the text by rephrasing it in another way?
@AdrianaBader Parallel Reasoning, Must Be True / Inference, and Necessary Assumption questions
@AdrianaBader In the video, instructor noted that answers are often rephrased in this manner so being able to identify the inverse to find meaning is how I imagine this would be used.
not sure if I can think of a counter example but I am worried that swinging around levels of significance can create a potentially misinterpretation of facts.
is it always the case that if A is significantly greater than B implies B is significantly less than A?
I want to say yes logically, but I am worried that in some contexts the idea of significance is different depending on the viewing angle.
for purposes of LSAT I concede this is a non issue, I am mainly curious other's thoughts from a philosophical / thought provoking lens.
When you say "swing the comparative word", would it be necessary to find the opposite of that word or not really, or does it depends?
No wonder I was so lost as someone who delved into the test. I didn't understand the fundamentals. Now I'm having my AH-HA moments.
you'll see major gains if you grasp it...
@amyramirez73805 same!
Why and when would this be beneficial or helpful on a test?
Reading comprehension portions with questions like "what is the primary theme of the text" and they swap the comparisons in a subtle manor to try and trip you up. That's just one of the scenarios.
any other ways that they may use the comparatives to trip us up in the RC section?
like your explanation.
#help
Why doesn't the sentence "Some cultivars of corn are much more closely related morphologically to sorghum than to most other cultivars of corn" when rephrased turn into "Most cultivars of corn are much less closely related morphologically to sorghum than some other cultivars of corn?"
Isn't A v. B Some cultivars of corn v. Most other cultivars of corn?
I think it's because most other cultivars of corn implies there's a group of corn and most of that group is less closely related morphologically to sorghum
Saying "most cultivars of corn" implies most of all cultivars of corn. This changes the meaning from the original statement to increase the size of the group that is less closely related morphologically to sorghum.
In the example: "Some cultivars of corn are much more closely related morphologically to sorghum than to most other cultivars of corn" after going through the 2 step process, the answer becomes "Some cultivars of corn are much less closely related morphologically to most other cultivars of corn than to sorghum." Why not swap the modifiers that go along with the A and B? Wouldn't that answer change how people would perceive the amount of cultivars that are more closely related morphologically?
You than I'm older
Interesting
How can we do this with implied comparatives? For example, Tom's recipe for lasagna is easy to follow for most people.
According to the last lesson, this is not an implied comparative. It is just an absolute claim; there is no comparison implied or reasonably inferred.
"... you don't want to confuse an absolute claim for a relative one.
Absolute Claim Example:
Tom’s recipe for lasagna is easy to follow for most people.
Okay, that means Tom's recipe for lasagna is easier to follow than most recipes for lasagna, right?
Nope. It could be true or it could be false. The statement just says that Tom's recipe is easy to follow (for most people). It could be that most recipes are also easy to follow in which case there's nothing special about Tom's. Or it could be that most recipes are hard to follow in which case, yeah, Tom's would stand out."
Can negative comparatives be rephrased using this method?
For Example
Original: People with stupid children are not more likely to get their kid tutoring than people with smart children.
Rephrased: People with smart children are more likely to get their kid tutoring than people with stupid children.
The problem is this cuts out the equally likely possibility.
I would love for this to be addressed in the lesson.
I believe that the correctly rephrased sentence would be: People with smart children are not less likely to get their kid tutoring than people with stupid children.
This sentence maintains the negative comparative, and the meaning is kept the same!
Yes, that's how I did it also.
Phrase: People with stupid children are not more likely to get their kid tutoring than people with smart children.
Rephrased: People with smart children are not less likely to get their kid tutoring than people with stupid children.
#feedback It would be great to have text boxes in these exercises so we can write out our answers prior to viewing the answer
Some cultivars of corn are much more closely related morphologically to sorghum than to most other cultivars of corn.
Some cultivators of corn are much less closely related morphological to most other cultivators of corn than to sorghum.
Analysis: Tom is more like his mom than he is like his dad = Tom is less like his dad than he is like his mom.
If you are switching more to less than you have to switch the order in which relata comes first.
The genetic differences between the shrimp populations are much less significant than those between shrimp and many other marine species.
The genetic differences between shrimp and many other marine species are much more significant than those between shrimp populations.
Analysis: The personality difference between Tom and his family members is less significant than the difference between Tom and friends = The personality difference between Tom and his friends is more significant than between Tom and his family members.
Be cautious of the nuances in these sentences!
People tend to be less objective regarding a subject about which they possess extensive knowledge than regarding a subject about which they do not possess extensive knowledge.
People tend to be more objective regarding a subject about which they do not possess extensive knowledge than regarding a subject about which they possess extensive knowledge.
Analysis: Tom is more indifferent on subjects that he doesn’t enjoys than subjects he does enjoy.
I felt like “more objective” or “more indifferent” are statements that we could also be looked at effectively by taking the equivalent statements.
More objective means less subjective.
More indifferent means less biased.
The proportion of fat calories in the diets of people who read the nutrition labels on food products is significantly lower than it is in the diets of people who do not read nutrition labels.
The proportion of fat calories in the diets of people who do not read the nutrition labels on food products is significantly higher than it is in the diets of people who do read the nutrition labels.
Analysis: The misbehaving of Tom’s pets that do not go to behavioral school is significantly higher than it is in the pets of Tom’s that did go to behavioral school.
Again. Nuances.