Question

Consider the statement: "If a whole number $n$ is not prime, then the whole number $n - 2$ is not prime." Which of the following values of $n$ shows this statement to be false?

$9$

$12$

$13$

$16$

$23$

Answer: A

Concepts:counterexample prime

Difficulty rating: 1010

Solution:

A counterexample needs $n$ not prime but $n - 2$ prime. For $n = 9,$ the number $9$ is not prime while $9 - 2 = 7$ is prime, so it breaks the statement.

The others fail to be counterexamples: $12 - 2 = 10$ and $16 - 2 = 14$ are not prime, while $13$ and $23$ are themselves prime.

Thus, the correct answer is A .

1987 AMC 8 Problem 20

Answer: A

Solution:

Problem 20 in Other Years