- PowerScore Staff
- Posts: 651
- Joined: Oct 19, 2022
- Wed Sep 11, 2024 2:29 pm
#108959
Hi nicizle,
The biconditional wording in this stimulus is a bit unusual/tricky/less common than something more standard like "if and only if."
You asked, "Is it due to the "but not otherwise" phrase in the stimulus?"
The short answer is yes, that is exactly why. That is what the phrase means in this context.
Reordering the first sentence a bit, the principle states that:
If an officer has an exemplary record, then the officer is eligible for a Mayor's commendation.
The principle then states "but not otherwise." "Otherwise" here refers to the sufficient condition not happening.
An officer not having an exemplary record would be "otherwise" to having an exemplary record.
The word "not" here refers to the necessary condition not happening.
The meaning of "but not otherwise" here is basically, "Otherwise, the officer is not eligible."
This means that "if an officer does not having an exemplary record, then the officer is not eligible."
Combining this with the first conditional statement creates a biconditional, in which having an exemplary record is both sufficient and necessary for eligibility.
Feel free to add this phrase to your list of biconditional indicators. Fortunately, it doesn't appear often, but it's good to know just in case.
The biconditional wording in this stimulus is a bit unusual/tricky/less common than something more standard like "if and only if."
You asked, "Is it due to the "but not otherwise" phrase in the stimulus?"
The short answer is yes, that is exactly why. That is what the phrase means in this context.
Reordering the first sentence a bit, the principle states that:
If an officer has an exemplary record, then the officer is eligible for a Mayor's commendation.
The principle then states "but not otherwise." "Otherwise" here refers to the sufficient condition not happening.
An officer not having an exemplary record would be "otherwise" to having an exemplary record.
The word "not" here refers to the necessary condition not happening.
The meaning of "but not otherwise" here is basically, "Otherwise, the officer is not eligible."
This means that "if an officer does not having an exemplary record, then the officer is not eligible."
Combining this with the first conditional statement creates a biconditional, in which having an exemplary record is both sufficient and necessary for eligibility.
Feel free to add this phrase to your list of biconditional indicators. Fortunately, it doesn't appear often, but it's good to know just in case.