Reasoning and Computer Aptitude: Deduction Rules and Digital Fundamentals
This section mixes verbal and analytical reasoning with basic computer awareness. The reasoning half is rule-driven and fast; the computer half is factual recall on hardware, networking and office software.
Deduction rules
- Syllogism: draw the minimal Venn diagram satisfying the statements, then test each conclusion against that diagram. Only a conclusion true in every valid diagram follows.
- Inequality: chain statements into one line. Multiplying or dividing by a negative quantity flips the sign; a statement like P is at least Q never justifies P is greater than Q.
- Puzzles: build a fixed grid before reading clues twice, and convert words such as immediately, only, and not adjacent into positional constraints.
Computer fundamentals
- Memory hierarchy: registers, cache, RAM (volatile), then secondary storage. ROM is non-volatile.
- IPv4 addresses are 32-bit; IPv6 is 128-bit. The OSI model has seven layers, with routing at the network layer and switching at the data link layer.
- Spreadsheet formulas begin with an equals sign; absolute references use the dollar symbol; Ctrl plus Shift plus N creates a new folder in Windows Explorer.
Worked example
Statements: P is at least Q, Q is greater than R, and R equals S, with S at most T. Conclusion one, P greater than S: true, since P is at least Q, Q exceeds R, and R equals S. Conclusion two, T greater than R: does not follow, because T is at least S, which equals R; T may equal R.
Traps that cost marks
Either-or conclusions in syllogisms need a complementary pair, not just two false conclusions. In puzzles, only a few X are Y rules out all X are Y. Shortcut keys differ between Windows and MS Office applications.