Question

  Read the following three statements. Use the Law of Detachment and the Law of Syllogism to draw a conclusion.

If an elephant weighs more than 2,000 pounds, then it weighs more than Jill’s car.
If something weighs more than Jill’s car, then it is too heavy for the bridge.
Smiley the Elephant weighs 2,150 pounds.

A.  Smiley weighs more than 2000 pounds, then Smiley is too heavy for the bridge
B. 

If Smiley weighs more than Jill’s car, then Smiley is too heavy for the bridge.
C.  Smiley weighs more than Jill’s car.
D.  Smiley is too heavy for the bridge.

Answer 1

Answer: D. Smiley is too heavy for the bridge.

Explanation:

Given statements:

If an elephant weighs more than 2,000 pounds, then it weighs more than Jill’s car. ......(statement (1))

If something weighs more than Jill’s car, then it is too heavy for the bridge. .............(statement (2))

Smiley the Elephant weighs 2,150 pounds.

Then by law of detachment (using statement (1)) we get the conclusion that "it weighs more than Jill’s car."

By law of syllogism, we have the conclusion using statement (2) that "Smiley is too heavy for the bridge."