Irish Logical Thinking key terms

A word or phrase that means the same, or nearly the same, as another word in a given context. Verbal questions often ask you to pick the answer closest in meaning to a target word.

A word or phrase with the opposite meaning to another word. Antonym questions test whether you can identify contrast pairs, including near-opposites rather than exact opposites.

A comparison stating that two pairs of items share the same relationship, for example hand is to glove as foot is to shoe. You must identify the rule linking the first pair and apply it to the second.

A short sentence you write to state the precise link between two words, such as a glove covers a hand. A good bridge fits the second pair exactly and exposes weak or overly broad options.

The process of naming the exact connection between two items, for example cause and effect, part and whole, or worker and tool, before choosing an answer.

The emotional or evaluative shade a word carries beyond its literal meaning, such as the difference between thrifty and stingy. Verbal questions may hinge on positive, negative, or neutral tone.

How strongly two words oppose each other, from mild difference to direct opposites. Matching the intensity of the original pair prevents choosing an answer that is too weak or too strong.

The attitude an author expresses toward a subject, such as critical, neutral, or enthusiastic. Tone questions require evidence from word choice rather than your own opinion about the topic.

A conclusion drawn from stated evidence rather than stated outright. A valid inference must be supported by the passage and must not add assumptions the text does not justify.

An unstated idea that must be true for an argument to hold. Assumption questions ask what the author takes for granted, not what the author explicitly claims.

The main point an argument is trying to establish, supported by the other statements. Identifying the conclusion separates the claim being defended from the evidence offered for it.

A statement offered as evidence or support for a conclusion. Premises are the reasons given; they are accepted within the argument rather than argued for.

The arrangement of premises and conclusion in a piece of reasoning, including indicator words such as because, therefore, and since that signal which part plays which role.

A comparison of two quantities showing how many times one contains the other, written as a fraction or with a colon. Ratios scale both quantities together without changing the relationship.

An equation stating that two ratios are equal, used to scale a known relationship to a new case. Solving a proportion means finding the missing value while keeping the ratios balanced.

The size of an increase or decrease expressed as a percentage of the original value. The original value is the base, so a rise from 50 to 60 is a 20 percent increase, not 10.

Finding the original amount when you are given a value after a percentage change. You divide by the multiplier rather than subtracting the stated percentage from the final figure.

A single factor representing a percentage change, such as 1.15 for a 15 percent increase or 0.85 for a 15 percent decrease. Chaining multipliers handles successive changes efficiently.

A technique that first reduces a rate to the value of one unit, then multiplies to find the required quantity. It converts most proportion and rate problems into two simple steps.

A ratio comparing quantities with different units, such as kilometres per hour or euro per kilogram. Rate problems usually require matching units before calculating.

Total distance divided by total time for a whole journey, not the simple mean of the speeds on each leg. Equal distances at different speeds require weighting by time.

A mean in which each value is multiplied by its importance or frequency before dividing by the total weight. It differs from a simple average when groups are of unequal size.

A sequence of numbers following a hidden rule, such as adding a constant, multiplying, or alternating two patterns. The task is to identify the rule and supply the next or missing term.

A series rule found by examining the gaps between consecutive terms, and sometimes the gaps between those gaps. Constant first differences indicate addition; constant second differences indicate a quadratic rule.

A sequence in which two or more separate rules take turns, so odd-positioned and even-positioned terms each follow their own pattern. Checking every other term is the standard approach.

A shape turned about a fixed point by a stated angle, commonly 90, 180, or 270 degrees. Tracking one distinctive feature, such as a marked corner, makes rotation questions quick.

A mirror image of a shape across a line, reversing its orientation without changing size. Reflected shapes cannot be produced by rotation alone, which is the key distinction in answer options.

Any change applied to a shape, including translation, rotation, reflection, and enlargement. Identifying which transformation or combination produces a target figure is a common abstract task.

A property where a figure maps onto itself under a reflection or rotation. Lines of symmetry and rotational symmetry order are frequently counted in abstract reasoning items.

The consistent principle governing how elements change across a series, such as a shape gaining one side each step or a dot moving clockwise. Naming the rule explicitly prevents guesswork.

Tallying features such as sides, intersections, enclosed regions, dots, or shaded cells across figures. Many abstract series encode a simple arithmetic progression in these counts.

A question type where all but one figure share a common property and you must find the exception. The shared property is often numerical, such as region count, rather than visual style.

A deductive argument with two premises and a conclusion, typically using quantifiers such as all, some, and no. Validity depends on form, not on whether the statements are factually true.

A word stating how much of a group a claim covers, such as all, some, none, or most. The exact meaning of some, meaning at least one, is decisive in many deduction questions.

The property of an argument whose conclusion must be true whenever its premises are true. A valid argument can still have false premises, so validity is about structure rather than truth.

The logically equivalent form of a conditional statement obtained by swapping and negating both parts. If all A are B, then anything not B is not A, which is always a safe deduction.

The mistake of reversing a conditional statement, treating if A then B as if B then A. The reversed form is not guaranteed, so conclusions relying on it are invalid.

A single case that satisfies the premises but makes the conclusion false, proving an argument invalid. Finding one is the fastest way to reject a proposed deduction.

A table used to track categories and eliminate possibilities in matching puzzles, such as assigning people to seats or jobs. Marks for confirmed matches and crosses for ruled-out options drive the solution.

Removing answer options or puzzle possibilities that contradict a stated condition. Systematic elimination often solves problems faster than constructing a full solution.

A rule limiting which arrangements or answers are allowed, such as A must sit next to B or the task cannot start before noon. Listing all constraints before solving prevents missed conditions.

Solving a problem from the required end state toward the given information, reversing each operation as you go. It is especially effective when the final result is stated but the starting value is not.