Are you logical?

Put your reasoning skills under the microscope...

Kashmira Gander
Monday 16 November 2015 18:06 GMT
Comments
Scientists believe that logic may be intuitive
Scientists believe that logic may be intuitive (Getty Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Logic is the process of reasoning using the facts put before you.

So, test your cognitive abilities with this tricky quiz.

How did you do? Let us know in the comments below.

If you did better than you thought you would, it may be because we use logic more often than we realise.

A 2011 study at the University of Toulouse, France, concluded that logic may be intuitive. Writing in the 'Perspectives of Psychological Science' journal at the time, researcher Wim De Neys explained how the following questions holds the key to the findings.

Bill is 34. He is intelligent, punctual but unimaginative and somewhat lifeless. In school, he was strong in mathematics but weak in social studies and humanities. Which one of the following statements is most likely? (a) Bill plays in a rock band for a hobby. (b) Bill is an accountant and plays in a rock band for a hobby.

&#13; <p> </p>&#13;

Most people will pick B despite the fact they do not know what Bill’s job is and it is logically more likely that the random possibility that he is in a rock band would be true.

Brain scans of those involved in the study showed that when people considered the problem the area part of their brain that deals with conflict was active, meaning that as they chose the least logical option they sensed they were doing wrong.

De Neys said the study may help explain more complex decision-making, for example when a person smokes knowing that it damages their health.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in