Alright LSAT prep friends, today I'd like to delve into the world of Quantity statements, namely "most" statements. "Most" statements are somewhat sneaky because not only can they be combined with a Sufficient & Necessary statements, but they can also be combined with "most" statements! Let's first go over the basics.
"Most" means more than half. So key words and phrases indicating that we are dealing with a "most" statements include: "a majority," "over half," "more often than not," and "more than 50%," to name a few.
Now, as with all Quantity statements, a "most" statement does not have contrapositives. We can, however, take the variables and switch them, making the "most" into a "some" statement. For example, let's look at the statement: "Most A's are B's."
Diagram: A-most-B
We can switch the variables and make the "most" into a "some."
Like so: B-some-A
So, how do we combine a "most" statement with another "most" statement? We need to make sure that the left-hand-side variables are the same. Like the following:
Q1: A-most-B
B-some-A
Q2: A-most-C
C-some-A
In the above situation, we can combine Q1 and Q2 by placing their right-hand-side variables into a "some" statement: B-some-C.
Let's look at a more concrete example.
"Most cats have pointed ears. Most cats eat fish."
Q1: C-most-PE
PE-some-C
Q2: C-most-EF
EF-some-C
We can combine this to become: "Some things with pointed ears like to eat fish."
C: PE-some-EF
EF-some-PE
Easy right? Let's try one more example:
"Most cats have soft fur. Over half the animals with soft fur will shed. A majority of cats have very good night vision. Some cats are lactose-intolerant."
Q1: C-most-SF
SF-some-C
Q2: SF-most-S
S-some-SF
Q3: C-most-VGNV
VGNV-some-C
Q4: C-some-LI
LI-some-C
We can only combine Q1 and Q3. We cannot combine "most" statements with "some" statements. Q1 and Q3 have the same left-hand-side variable. We can properly infer: Some things with soft fur have very good night vision.
C: SF-some-VGNV
VGNV-some-SF
Remember, you want to look for "most" statements with the same left-hand-side variable. Simple as that! Why don't you try practicing this today during your LSAT preparation? You'll soon see how easy combining "most" statements can be! Keep up the hard work!
Happy studying!
