All pencils are writing tools. All writing tools have ink. Therefore, all…
2024
All pencils are writing tools. All writing tools have ink. Therefore, all pencils have what?
- A.
Erasers
- B.
Ink
- C.
Wood
- D.
Lead
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Concept: A syllogism follows the transitive chain rule — if all A are B, and all B are C, then all A are C. The conclusion may only include what the premises actually chain together, nothing more.
Let A = pencils, B = writing tools, C = things that have ink.
Premise 1 gives A → B: all pencils are writing tools.
Premise 2 gives B → C: all writing tools have ink.
Chaining A → B → C gives A → C: all pencils have ink.
Cross-check: neither premise ties writing tools or pencils to erasers, wood, or lead — those are everyday associations with a physical pencil, not conclusions this argument's premises support.