Negation Question

Comments

• 1 Like

  Niner Papa Alum Member

  January 2017 47 karma

  Take my explanation with little clout, since I am a novice.
  I think you are correct. Here's why. The negation of a statement is equivalent to the logical opposite. Since the word "some" in the LSAT world means at least one, possibly all, the logical opposite of at least one is: none. Since the word "most" in the LSAT world means something greater than 50%, possibly all, the logical opposite would be: something less than 50%, which would naturally include anything from 0-50%.
• 1 Like

  M.Yanka106 Member

  January 2017 113 karma

  I believe there is no need for the not here
  
  Between 0-50% of the trade goods that came into western Mexico centuries ago were [not ]transported by boat.
• Seriousbird Alum Member

  January 2017 1278 karma

  @M.Yanka106 so you mean it should say 0-50% of trade goods were transported by boat as opposed to 0-50% of trade goods were not transported by boat?
  
  If so, why?
• 2 Likes

  danielznelson Alum Inactive Sage Inactive ⭐

  January 2017 4181 karma

  @sweetsecret said:
  Between 0-50% of the trade goods that came into western Mexico centuries ago were not transported by boat.
  

  I think you're negating twice, which is in effect potentially bringing it back to its normal state.
  
  Original statement: "Most" were transported.
  
  Your negation: 0-49% (not most) were not transported. This seems to indicating that most were transported (or could be), which isn't negating the statement.
  
  Here's how I would negate it:
  
  It is not the case that most of the trade goods that came into western Mexico centuries ago were transported by boat.
  
  Translation: Most of the trade goods that came into western Mexico centuries ago were not transported by boat.
  
  Or: As much as half, but no more, were transported by boat.
  
  
  
• 1 Like

  Seriousbird Alum Member

  January 2017 edited January 2017 1278 karma

  @danielznelson ohh I get it now, so we are not negating the fact that they went by boat but rather the amount of trade goods transported by boat if we keep the 0-50%.
  
  Thank you for all the different iterations, I get it now! I think I'll return to this a couple times, just to ensure I understand the negation completely.
  
  Thank you @"jim-4" @M.Yanka106 @danielznelson for your help!
• 1 Like

  danielznelson Alum Inactive Sage Inactive ⭐

  January 2017 4181 karma

  @sweetsecret I honestly think you could look at the negation either way. The fact is, most didn't go by boat under the negation. And thus, the amount of goods transported is different, as well.
• 1 Like

  M.Yanka106 Member

  January 2017 113 karma

  Sweetsecret think about the numberline JY uses in the lessons. I think that is the best way to remember this.
• 4 Likes

  J.Y. Ping Administrator Instructor

  January 2017 14214 karma

  Original sentence: Most of the trade goods that came into western Mexico centuries ago were transported by boat.

  Reduced: Most X were Y
  X = "of the trade goods that came into western Mexico centuries ago"
  Y = "transported by boat"

  You know how to negate "most X were Y." You say "it's not the case that most X were Y."

  In other words, 0% - 50% of X were Y. In other words, anywhere from no X up to as many as half the X were Y.

  Now just plug the referents of X and Y back in.

  Here's one way to say it, fully and properly negated: Anywhere from half to zero of the trade goods that came into western Mexico centuries ago were transported by boat.

  
• lenelson2 Member

  January 2017 523 karma

  I just tried to like this once, but I guess 7,348 likes is okay as well.
• J.Y. Ping Administrator Instructor

  January 2017 14214 karma

  @lenelson2 lol

  We need @"Alan Cheuk"