1958 AMC 12 Problem 44
Attempt Problem 44 of the 1958 AMC 12 below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 1958 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.
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44.
Given the true statements:
If is greater than then is greater than
If is less than then is greater than
A valid conclusion is:
If is less than then is greater than
If is greater than then is less than
If is less than then is greater than
If is greater than then is less than
none of these
Answer: E
Small Hint:
Represent the comparisons as propositions and distinguish each implication from its converse
Big Hint:
The second premise’s hypothesis is incompatible with the first premise’s conclusion, but that alone does not chain the implications
Solution:
Let mean mean mean and mean The premises are The statements and cannot both hold. The contrapositives are and None of the four proposed implications follows. For example, knowing gives and hence but says nothing about knowing gives not
Therefore, the correct answer is E.