Critical Reasoning

EricKryk wrote:

mbadrew wrote:
Sami,

Let's analyze the conclusion, " Since a rising per capita GDP indicates a
rising average standard of living, the average standard of living in Country A must have risen between 1980 and 1990". Now A states that the population of both countries increased. If that was the case then the difference will still be $5000 and not $6000. For example if country A has 10 people and country B has 10 people and difference in per capita GDP is $5000 to begin with, then if the population of bother countries increased, for example country A=12 people, country B= 12 people, the per capita will not rise, rather it'll remain constant or proportionately decrease, but not reflecting change in proportion for both countries.

I hope this helps.

It does help. thank you. What do you use to study CR?

lunarpower wrote:

mbadrew wrote:Ron,

Can you explain this using a chart system that you've mentioned.

I'm still not clear with the explanation.

thanks
Andrew

hey.

i'm not talking about anything fancy-schmancy, just about listing the facts in some sort of chart, table, or graph.

even just getting rid of all the verbiage and listing the numerical facts can help. if you don't see the power of something so simple, imagine the chaos that would ensue if the baseball standings from the daily newspaper (which currently appear in the form of lists) were suddenly changed to paragraph form. you wouldn't be able to understand them at all without an inordinate amount of reading and pondering.

in this case, it could just be something like
'80: A - average = $5000
'90: A - average = $6000

or, make a table with '80 and '90 on the columns, and A and Average on the rows.
in the Average column, you'd have X for '80 and Y for '90.
in the A column, you'd have X + $5000 for '80 and Y + $6000 for '90.
this sort of depiction would highlight the difference between X and Y, which would lead to the realization that, if X is greater than Y by enough of a margin, then the conclusion falls apart.