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Categorical logic with a universal negative and a universal affirmative: from ‘‘No magazine is cap’’ and ‘‘All caps are cameras’’ decide whether any statement about cameras and magazines is compelled.

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: Neither I nor II follows

Explanation:

Translate and inspect the relations.

  • Premise 1: No magazine is a cap, so Magazines ∩ Caps = ∅.
  • Premise 2: All caps are cameras, so Caps ⊆ Cameras.
  • Conclusions: I. No camera is magazine. II. Some cameras are magazines.

Concept/Approach
Only the cap portion of Cameras is known to be disjoint from Magazines. Cameras outside Caps could still overlap with Magazines; or they might not.
Testing conclusion I
I claims Cameras ∩ Magazines = ∅ which is stronger than the premises. Not forced, so I does not follow.
Testing conclusion II
II claims Cameras ∩ Magazines ≠ ∅ which is also not forced. Therefore II does not follow.
Verification/Alternative
Two models show independence: (a) Cameras = Caps, Magazines disjoint from all Cameras makes I true, II false. (b) Cameras include a non cap region that overlaps Magazines makes II true, I false. Since both are possible, neither conclusion is necessary.
Common pitfalls
Overextending properties of a subset to the entire superset.
Final Answer
Neither I nor II follows.
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