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this is a pure mathematical logic question

If A is true, then B must be true (A implies B)

If A then B
so
If not B then not A (True)

We have to find a statement that stands true to (if not B then not A)

The question says

Only if the electorate is moral and intelligent will a democracy function well.

the catch here is the word "Only"

so the sentence can be rewritten as:

Democracy will function well (D) Only when the electorate is moral and intelligent (M)

D ==> M

We have to find (Not M then Not D)....only C stands true to this relationship.

C says If the electorate is not moral or not intelligent (not M), then a democracy will not function well (not D).

If no morality then no democracy
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GMAT hardly tests these kinds of questions. But I think it should be E. The original premise has an AND between morality and intelligence (moral AND intelligent). The answer choices use OR (not moral or not intelligent). Not moral or not intelligent could mean Not moral but intelligent OR moral but not intelligent. So this breaks the original premise IMO. E stands true regardless - it cannot AT THE SAME TIME be true that an electorate is moral and intelligent and democracy does not function well.
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Hi

dwivedys is correct--this is not a GMAT-like question.

It is an LSAT or LSAT-like question testing technical formal logic skills in a way that GMAT never would.

We have:

Quote:
Only if the electorate is moral and intelligent will a democracy function well.

"Only if" tells us that the electorate's being moral and intelligent are necessary conditions for a well-functioning democracy.

Because they are necessary for a well-functioning democracy, if we don't have either of them, then we won't have a well-functioning democracy. This is what choice C says. Thus, choice C can be properly inferred.

We can't infer choice A because we only know that the electorate's being moral and intelligent are necessary conditions for a well-functioning democracy--we don't know that they are sufficient--we don't know that they will guarantee a well-functioning democracy. For the same reason, we can't infer choice E.

We can't infer choice D because there may be many other reasons why a democracy is not functioning well.

---


Here's an analogy:

Only if you have a gas tank and a functioning batter will you be able to drive your car.

We can infer that if you don't have a gas tank or if you don't have a functioning battery then you won't be able to drive your car. This inference is analgous to choice C of this question.

Can we infer that if your car isn't driveable it's because there is no gas tank or because the battery isn't functioning? Of course not, there may be other reasons your car isn't driveable. So, this improper inference is like choice D of this question.

Can we infer that if you do have a gas tank and a functioning battery, you will certainly be able to drive your car? Of course not, because your car may not have tires! So, this improper inference is like Choices A and E of this question.
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Only if the electorate is moral and intelligent will a democracy function well.
Which one of the following can be logically inferred from the claim above?
(A) If the electorate is moral and intelligent, then a democracy will function well.
(B) Either a democracy does not function well or else the electorate is not moral or not intelligent.
(C) If the electorate is not moral or not intelligent, then a democracy will not function well.
(D) If a democracy does not function well, then the electorate is not moral or not intelligent.
(E) It cannot, at the same time, be true that the electorate is moral and intelligent and that a democracy will not function well.

I understand why C is right but don't understand why D is wrong
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YangYichen
Only if the electorate is moral and intelligent will a democracy function well.
Which one of the following can be logically inferred from the claim above?
(A) If the electorate is moral and intelligent, then a democracy will function well.
(B) Either a democracy does not function well or else the electorate is not moral or not intelligent.
(C) If the electorate is not moral or not intelligent, then a democracy will not function well.
(D) If a democracy does not function well, then the electorate is not moral or not intelligent.
(E) It cannot, at the same time, be true that the electorate is moral and intelligent and that a democracy will not function well.

I understand why C is right but don't understand why D is wrong

I do not see any problem with D.
IF (A and B) THEN C
from above it can be deduced:
IF (NOT C) THEN (NOT(A AND B))
i.e.,
IF (NOT C) THEN ((NOT A) OR (NOT B))..................<NOT(A AND B) = (NOT A) OR (NOT B)>
Thus D should also be alright.
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15. Only if the electorate is moral and intelligent will a democracy function well.
Which one of the following can be logically inferred from the claim above?
(A) If the electorate is moral and intelligent, then a democracy will function well.
(B) Either a democracy does not function well or else the electorate is not moral or not intelligent.
(C) If the electorate is not moral or not intelligent, then a democracy will not function well.
(D) If a democracy does not function well, then the electorate is not moral or not intelligent.
(E) It cannot, at the same time, be true that the electorate is moral and intelligent and that a democracy will not function well.


OA is [spoiler=]c

I have marked D as the ans considering the correlation provided is A > B, then ~B > ~. Can somebody please respond>?[/spoiler]

I have found a quite easy trick to solve this type of questions (If A, then B)

Approach this question type with Boolean "AND" operation. So there are several inputs, A1, A2, A3, etc. to give output

So for our answer to be True, all inputs need to be True

Even if one input is False, then output is False. Also, it doesnt mean since A1 is true, our output will also be True. So every statement must be True

Option C says that, one input is False. so we know that output will be False, no matter what other inputs are.
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The use of the word "or" in not moral 'or' not intelligent compared to the use of the word "and" in the original statement. I don't think this correct answer should be C?
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