The passage states which one of the following?

Nishant-Varma on May 15, 2020

Required vs Sufficient

What is the difference between the words required and sufficient? How is it different to say $100 is sufficient to have a good time vs saying $100 is necessary to have a good time?

Replies
Create a free account to read and take part in forum discussions.

Already have an account? log in

SamA on May 15, 2020

Hello @Nishant-Varma,

This is a very important question, because you will be tested on this principle frequently. I will give you an introduction, but you should also watch the sufficient and necessary lesson and practice with drills.

I'll use your examples.

"$100 is sufficient to have a good time."
Basically, this means that $100 will guarantee a good time. If I have $100, I will have a good time, no exceptions. We would diagram it like this:
sufficient ---> necessary
$100 ---> GT
However, note that I can still have a good time even if I am broke. $100 dollars will guarantee that I have a good time, but it is not the only way to do so.

"$100 is necessary to have a good time."
Contrary to the first example, $100 does not guarantee a good time. However, $100 is required. If I do not have $100, then I will not have a good time. The diagram looks like this:
GT ---> $100
conrapositive: not $100 ---> not GT

SOULCAGES71 on October 14, 2020

So just to be clear, is it a matter of how the statement is phrased?

Example 1:
If I choose to say that, "If I have a $100, I WILL have a good time." where "If" introduces a sufficient condition "$100" and the necessary condition would be "good time"
$100 --> GT contrapositive: not GT --> not $100 or, if I do not have a good time, it's because I did not have a $100.

Example 2:
What if I choose to say, "If I have a good time, it's because I have a $100 in my pocket." where "If" introduces the sufficient condition "good time" and the necessary condition would be "$100"
GT --> $100 contrapositive: not $100 --> not GT or, if I do not have a $100, I did not have a good time.

Thank you!