Back to the basics

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• 1 Like

  Wind-Up Bird Alum Member

  November 2016 edited November 2016 284 karma

  Here's how I mapped it:
  
  A is always the best student ("B") = A <---> B
  I think this is a special case. If you're operating under the reasonable assumption that there can only be one "best student", then the arrow goes both ways. If you're asked about A, you know that they're the best student. If you're asked about the best student, you know that it's A.
  
  However, a sentence like "dogs are always cute" would be represented as "dogs --> cute". The arrow only goes one way, since you now know that if you have a dog, it's always going to be cute. However, the arrow doesn't go the other way, since you don't always know if a cute thing is going to be a dog.
  
  Your second statement is just a classic group 1 example ("the only"). "A is the only best student" = "the only best student is A". Therefore, if you have a "best student", you know it's going to be A (best student --> A).
• 2 Likes

  Not Ralph Nader Alum Member Inactive Sage Inactive ⭐

  November 2016 edited November 2016 2098 karma

  Always is a necessary condition indicator so the first sentence "A is always the Best Student" mean "A --> Best Student" in plain English if A is in the class then A is the best student in that class.
  
  Second sentence is a normal conditional statement " Best Student --> A
  "A is the only Best Student" the only is sufficient condition indicator so it means if we have a best student in that class then it is A. "
  
  TBH I am not very sure about the second sentence, it would be great if one of the Sages or Mentors comment on this thread.
• 2 Likes

  Alejandro Member Inactive ⭐

  November 2016 2424 karma

  what @"Not Ralph Nader" said!