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NAPOLCOM Exam

Logical Reasoning

"Tol, gamitin ang utak! Hindi pwedeng puro tapang lang. Logic ang sandata mo dito sa investigation at decision-making. Sharpen that mind!"

1. Deductive vs Inductive Reasoning 🧠

Dalawang uri ng pag-iisip na kailangan mo as investigator!

Deductive Reasoning (Top-Down)

General Rule → Specific Conclusion

Example:

Premise 1: All criminals leave evidence.

Premise 2: Juan is a criminal.

Conclusion: Juan left evidence. ✓

If premises are true, conclusion is GUARANTEED true.

Inductive Reasoning (Bottom-Up)

Specific Observations → General Rule

Example:

Case 1: Suspect A was near the scene.

Case 2: Suspect A has motive.

Conclusion: Suspect A is likely guilty. (Probable)

Conclusion is PROBABLE, not guaranteed.

🔍 Police Application:

Deductive: Use laws/rules to determine if an act is criminal.

Inductive: Gather clues to build a case against a suspect.

2. Syllogisms: The Classic Logic Structure 📐

Tol, ito ang foundation ng logical arguments. Master mo 'to!

Structure ng Syllogism:

Major Premise: General statement (All A are B)

Minor Premise: Specific statement (C is A)

Conclusion: Logical result (Therefore, C is B)

✅ Valid Syllogism:

All police officers carry badges.

Juan is a police officer.

∴ Juan carries a badge. ✓

❌ Invalid Syllogism:

All criminals wear black.

Juan wears black.

∴ Juan is a criminal. ✗

(Fallacy: Affirming the consequent)

📋 Types of Categorical Statements:

A (Universal Affirmative)
"All S are P" - All police are honest
E (Universal Negative)
"No S are P" - No criminals are innocent
I (Particular Affirmative)
"Some S are P" - Some officers are female
O (Particular Negative)
"Some S are not P" - Some cases are not solved

3. Conditional Statements (If-Then) ➡️

Pag may condition, may consequence. Understand the logic!

Standard Form: If P, then Q

✅ Modus Ponens (Affirming the Antecedent)

If it rains, the ground is wet.

It is raining.

∴ The ground is wet. (VALID)

✅ Modus Tollens (Denying the Consequent)

If it rains, the ground is wet.

The ground is not wet.

∴ It is not raining. (VALID)

❌ Affirming the Consequent (FALLACY)

If it rains, the ground is wet.

The ground is wet.

∴ It is raining. (INVALID - could be sprinkler!)

❌ Denying the Antecedent (FALLACY)

If it rains, the ground is wet.

It is not raining.

∴ The ground is not wet. (INVALID - other causes!)

4. Logical Fallacies to Avoid ⚠️

Tol, wag ka magpadala sa maling arguments! Kilala mo ang mga 'to:

Common Fallacies:

Ad Hominem
Attacking the person, not the argument
Hasty Generalization
Conclusion from too few examples
False Dilemma
Only 2 options when there are more
Appeal to Authority
"Expert said so" without evidence

More Fallacies:

Circular Reasoning
Using conclusion as a premise
Straw Man
Misrepresenting opponent's argument
Red Herring
Introducing irrelevant topic
Slippery Slope
Assuming extreme consequences

5. Assumption & Conclusion Analysis 🎯

Sa exam, madalas may tanong about hidden assumptions!

💡 Identifying Hidden Assumptions:

Look for unstated premises that connect the evidence to the conclusion.

Example:

"The suspect was seen near the crime scene. He must be guilty."

Hidden Assumption: Being near a crime scene means involvement.

Reality: Proximity ≠ Guilt

📝 Tips for Assumption Questions:

  • • Ask: "What must be true for this conclusion to be valid?"
  • • Look for gaps between premises and conclusion
  • • Check if the assumption, if false, would destroy the argument
  • • Be wary of words like "all", "never", "always"

6. Logical Sequence & Pattern Recognition 🔢

Series questions - favorite sa NAPOLCOM exam!

Number Patterns:

2, 4, 6, 8, ___ → 10 (Add 2)

3, 6, 12, 24, ___ → 48 (×2)

1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, ___ → 13 (Fibonacci)

2, 6, 12, 20, ___ → 30 (n² + n)

Letter Patterns:

A, C, E, G, ___ → I (Skip 1)

AZ, BY, CX, ___ → DW

ACE, BDF, CEG, ___ → DFH

🎯 Practice: Complete the Series

1. 5, 10, 20, 40, ___

Answer

80 (×2 each time)

2. 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, ___

Answer

36 (Perfect squares: 1², 2², 3²...)

🎯 Exam Strategy for Logical Reasoning

Winning Tips, Tol:

📖 Read Carefully:

  • • Identify premises vs conclusion
  • • Watch for qualifier words
  • • Don't add your own assumptions

🧠 Analyze Systematically:

  • • Test each answer choice
  • • Eliminate obviously wrong options
  • • Check for logical validity

Utak ang pangunahing sandata ng mabuting pulis, Tol! 🧠💪

Test Your Knowledge! 🧠

Ready ka na ba? Take the practice quiz for Logical Reasoning to reinforce what you just learned.

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