COMPLEX IF/THEN QUESTIONS
Some if /then questions contain multiple clauses. Don’t worry!
Combined Statesments
Two “if” statements cause the same “then” statement.
Complex Statement: If Karen hurts her ankle, then Fuad will hurt his arm.
If David mops the floor, then Fuad will hurt his arm.
Combined Statement:If Karen hurts her ankle OR David mops the floor, then Fuad will hurt his arm
Contrapositive: If Fuad doesn’t hurt his arm, then David didn’t mop the floor AND Karen didn’t hurt her ankle.
Linked Statements
Some if/then questions will contain a chain of events. Don’t worry!
1: If Fuad buys chalk, then Nick buys markers.
2: If Sarah buys erasers, then Fuad buys chalk.
1 + 2:If Sarah buys erasers, then Fuad buys chalk.
If Fuad buys chalk, then Nick buys markers.
Linked Statement: If Sarah buys erasers, then Nick buys markers.
Contrapositive: If Nick doesn’t buy markers, then Sarah didn’t buy erasers.
IF/THEN TIP
The linked statement and the contrapositive are valid conclusions. One of them will appear in the answer choices.
- Make sure the events are in order.
- Make sure they are in if/then format
- Drop the repeated statement to create the linked statement.
- Make the contrapositive of the linked statement.
