Identify the argument form that is at the heart of each of the following argumen

Question

Identify the argument form that is at the heart of each of the following arguments. The webcam requires a USB cable to attach to the computer. Landry has a USB cable and an HDMI cable. Therefore. Landry can attach the webcam to the computer. If Elon Musk succeeds with his plans, we will have a Mars colony. If we have a Mars colony, humanity will be a multi-planetary civilization. Therefore, if Elon Musk succeeds with his plans, humanity will be a multi-planetary civilization. Mary was very unlucky on her vacation to Rome. Every day she was there, if the forum was open, then it rained, and if the forum was closed, then the sun shone. When she told her computer scientist friend Lily about that, Lily remarked, I know one thing for certain now: every day you were there, it rained, or the sun shone. Mike from tech support tells you: Those mysterious can only be caused by faulty RAM or by a failing hard drive. I tested your RAM thoroughly and I'm certain there is nothing wrong with it. It must be your hard drive. A. simplification B. Hypothetical Syllogism C. Resolution D. Disjunctive Syllogism.

Explanation / Answer

S1.

The webcam requires.....computer

This statement is an example of (A) Simplification

P: Web Cam requires USB cable to attach computer , Q: Landry has a USB cable and HDMI cable to connect

So,

We can infer that Landry can connect webcam to the computer.

that is,

If p ^ q , conclusion is p.

S2.

If ELON....civilization.

This statement is an example of (B) Hypothetical Syllogism

P: Elon musk succeed with his plans , Q: Will have Mars Colony, R:humanity will be a multiplanetary civilization

So,

We can infer that whenever Elon musk succeed with his plans, humanity will be a multiplanetary civilization.

that is,

If P, then Q. If Q, then R. So, if P, then R.

S3.

Mary was very unlucky .......sun shone.

This statement is an example of (C) resolution.

p q, ¬ p r therefore conclusion is  q r

P: Forum was open , Q: Rained, R:Sun shone

So,

We can infer that whenever she is there, it rained or the sun shone.

that is,

p q, ¬ p r therefore conclusion is  q r

S4.

Last statement, let it be S4, "Mike from tech support tells you: The mysterious corrupt files can only be caused by faulty RAM or by a failing hard drive. I tested your RAM thoroughly and I'm certain there is nothhing wrong with it. It must be your hard drive".

This statement is an example of (D) disjunctive syllogism.

Out of 2 disjuncts, one is false, so we can conclude that other disjunct is true.

P: Corrupt files by faulty RAM , Q: Corrupt files by failed hard drive

So,

Structure of disjunctive syllogism:

Either by faulty RAM or hard drive

Tested RAM and nothing wrong with it

_____________________________________

We can infer that problem is with hard drive.

That is, either P or Q, if not P therefore Q.

p q, ¬ p then we can conclude q

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