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  1. Home
  2. 12th grade
  3. Algebra I
  4. Exercise : Find a counterexample to a statement

Find a counterexample to a statement Algebra I

Find a counterexample to the following statements among the different propositions.

" f\left(x\right)=x^2-3x+2 has no real positive root."

A counterexample is an example that contradicts the proposed statement.

The proposed statement is " f\left(x\right)=x^2-3x+2 has no real positive root".

Therefore a positive real root is required to contradict the statement.

f \left(2\right) = 2^ 2 + -3 \cdot 2 +2=4-6+2=0

2 is a positive real root of f\left(x\right) hence it is a counterexample.

"2 is a root of f " is a counterexample to this statement.

"All odd numbers are prime."

A counterexample is an example that contradicts the proposed statement.

The proposed statement is "all odd numbers are prime".

Therefore a composite odd number is required to contradict the statement.

9 is a composite odd number, hence it is a counterexample.

9 is composite and an odd number hence it is a counterexample.

"All even numbers can be written as a power of two, such as 2=2^1 and 4=2^2."

A counterexample is an example that contradicts the proposed statement.

The proposed statement is "all even numbers can be written as a power of 2".

Therefore an even number which has an a odd factor in it's prime factorization is required to contradict the statement.

6 is an even number, and 6=2 \cdot 3, so it can not be written as a power of 2. Hence 6 is a counterexample.

6 is even and can not be written as a power of 2.

"All prime numbers are odd."

A counterexample is an example that contradicts the proposed statement.

The proposed statement is "all primes are odd".

Therefore an even number which is prime is required to contradict the statement.

2 is an even number, and it's prime. Hence 2 is a counterexample.

2 is even and prime, hence it is a counterexample.

" f\left(x\right)=x^2-3x+2 has no real positive root."

A counterexample is an example that contradicts the proposed statement.

The proposed statement is " f\left(x\right)=x^2-3x+2 has no real positive root".

Therefore a positive real root is required to contradict the statement.

f \left(6\right) = 6 ^ 2 + -2 \cdot 6 -24 = 36-12-24 = 0

6 is a positive real root of f\left(x\right) hence it is a counterexample.

6 is a real positive root of f(x).

"All animals living in the ocean are fish."

A counterexample is an example that contradicts the proposed statement.

The proposed statement is "All animals living in the ocean are fish".

Therefore a non-fish animal living in the ocean is required to contradict the statement.

Whales live in the ocean and they are not fish. Hence whales are a counterexample.

Whales live in the ocean and they are not fish is a counterexample.

" f \left(x\right) = x ^ 2 -x-12 has no real negative roots."

A counterexample is an example that contradicts the proposed statement.

The proposed statement is " f \left(x\right) = x ^ 2 -x-12 has no real positive root".

Therefore a positive real root is required to contradict the statement.

f \left(-3\right) = \left(-3\right) ^ 2 -\left(-3\right) -12 = 9+3-12=0

-3 is a negative real root of f\left(x\right) hence it is a counterexample.

-3 is a negative real root of f(x).

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See also
  • Course : Methods of reasoning and logic
  • Exercise : Identify hypotheses and conclusions
  • Exercise : Draw a truth table
  • Exercise : Find the inverse of a statement
  • Exercise : Find the converse of a statement
  • Exercise : Find the contrapositive of a statement
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