Homework 3

Homework 3
Section 1.3
6. Provide a counterexample for each statement.

(a) For every real number 𝑥𝑥, if 𝑥𝑥 2 > 9 then 𝑥𝑥 > 3.
Let 𝑥𝑥 = −5. (−5)2 = 25 > 9 but −5 < 3. In fact, 𝑥𝑥 2 > 9 for 𝑥𝑥 < −3.
(b) For every integer 𝑛𝑛, we have 𝑛𝑛3 ≥ 𝑛𝑛.

Let 𝑛𝑛 = −5. (−5)3 = −125 < −5. In fact, if 𝑛𝑛 < −1, then 𝑛𝑛3 < 𝑛𝑛.
(c) For all real numbers 𝑥𝑥 ≥ 0, we have 𝑥𝑥 2 ≤ 𝑥𝑥 3 .

1 1 2 1 1 1 3
Let 𝑥𝑥 = , then � � = > = � � . If 0 < 𝑥𝑥 < 1, then 𝑥𝑥 2 > 𝑥𝑥 3 .
2 2 4 8 2
(d) Every triangle is a right triangle.

An equilateral triangle (all three angles are 60°) is one counterexample. Acute angles have all
angles less than 90°. Obtuse triangles have one angle greater than 90° and the other two less
than 90°.
(e) For every positive integer 𝑛𝑛, 𝑛𝑛2 + 𝑛𝑛 + 41 is prime.

Let 𝑛𝑛 = 41. (41)2 + 41 + 41 = 41(41) + 2(41) = (41 + 2)(41) = 43(41).
Let 𝑛𝑛 = 40. (40)2 + 40 + 41 = 40(40 + 1) + 41 = 41(40 + 1) = 41(41).
(f) Every prime number is an odd number.

2 is an even prime number.
(g) No integer greater than 100 is prime.

101 is prime and greater than 100.
(h) 3𝑛𝑛 + 2 is prime for all positive integers 𝑛𝑛.

Let 𝑛𝑛 = 5. 35 + 2 = 243 + 2 = 245 which is divisible by 5 and hence not a prime.
(i) For every integer 𝑛𝑛 > 3, 3𝑛𝑛 is divisible by 6.

Let 𝑛𝑛 = 7. 3(7) = 21 is not divisible by 6. Any odd integer > 3.
(j) If 𝑥𝑥 and 𝑦𝑦 are unequal positive integers and 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 is a perfect square, then 𝑥𝑥 and 𝑦𝑦 are perfect
squares.
Let 𝑥𝑥 = 2, 𝑦𝑦 = 32. 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 = 64 is a perfect square but 𝑥𝑥 and y are not perfect squares.
(k) For every real number 𝑥𝑥, there exists a real number 𝑦𝑦 such that 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 = 2.
Let 𝑥𝑥 = 0, then 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 = 0 ≠ 2.
(l) The reciprocal of a real number 𝑥𝑥 ≥ 1 is a real number 𝑦𝑦 such that 0 < 𝑦𝑦 < 1.
Let 𝑥𝑥 = 1, then 𝑦𝑦 = 1 which is not between 0 and 1.
Homework 3
(m) No rational number satisfies the equation 𝑥𝑥 3 + (𝑥𝑥 − 1)2 = 𝑥𝑥 2 + 1.

Let 𝑥𝑥 = 0.
The numbers that satisfies this equation are −√2, 0 and √2. 0 is the only rational number that
satisfies this equation.
(n) No rational number satisfies the equation 𝑥𝑥 4 + (1/𝑥𝑥) − √𝑥𝑥 + 1 = 0.

Let 𝑥𝑥 = −1. (−1)4 + (1⁄−1) − √−1 + 1 = 1 − 1 − 0 = 0.
7. Suppose 𝑝𝑝 and 𝑞𝑞 are integers. Recall that an integer 𝑚𝑚 is even iff 𝑚𝑚 = 2𝑘𝑘 for some integer 𝑘𝑘 and 𝑚𝑚
is odd iff 𝑚𝑚 = 2𝑘𝑘 + 1 for some integer 𝑘𝑘. Prove the following. [You may use the fact that the sum of
integers and the product of integers are again integers.]
(a) If 𝑝𝑝 is odd and 𝑞𝑞 is odd, then 𝑝𝑝 + 𝑞𝑞 is even.
Suppose 𝑝𝑝 = 2𝑗𝑗 + 1 and 𝑞𝑞 = 2𝑘𝑘 + 1 for integers 𝑗𝑗 and 𝑘𝑘.
Then 𝑝𝑝 + 𝑞𝑞 = (2𝑗𝑗 + 1) + (2𝑘𝑘 + 1) = 2(𝑗𝑗 + 𝑘𝑘 + 1).
Hence 𝑝𝑝 + 𝑞𝑞 is even.
(b) If 𝑝𝑝 is odd and 𝑞𝑞 is odd, then 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 is odd.

Then 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 = (2𝑗𝑗 + 1)(2𝑘𝑘 + 1) = 4𝑗𝑗𝑗𝑗 + 2𝑗𝑗 + 2𝑘𝑘 + 1 = 2(2𝑗𝑗𝑗𝑗 + 𝑗𝑗 + 𝑘𝑘) + 1.
Hence 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 is odd.
(c) If 𝑝𝑝 is odd and 𝑞𝑞 is odd, then 𝑝𝑝 + 3𝑞𝑞 is even.

Then 𝑝𝑝 + 3𝑞𝑞 = (2𝑗𝑗 + 1) + 3(2𝑘𝑘 + 1) = 2𝑗𝑗 + 6𝑘𝑘 + 4 = 2(𝑗𝑗 + 3𝑘𝑘 + 2).
Hence 𝑝𝑝 + 3𝑞𝑞 is even.
(d) If 𝑝𝑝 is odd and 𝑞𝑞 is even, then 𝑝𝑝 + 𝑞𝑞 is odd.

Suppose 𝑝𝑝 = 2𝑗𝑗 + 1 and 𝑞𝑞 = 2𝑘𝑘 for integers 𝑗𝑗 and 𝑘𝑘.
Then 𝑝𝑝 + 𝑞𝑞 = (2𝑗𝑗 + 1) + 2𝑘𝑘 = 2(𝑗𝑗 + 𝑘𝑘) + 1.
Hence 𝑝𝑝 + 𝑞𝑞 is odd.
(e) If 𝑝𝑝 is even and 𝑞𝑞 is even, then 𝑝𝑝 + 𝑞𝑞 is even.

Suppose 𝑝𝑝 = 2𝑗𝑗 and 𝑞𝑞 = 2𝑘𝑘 for integers 𝑗𝑗 and 𝑘𝑘.
Then 𝑝𝑝 + 𝑞𝑞 = 2𝑗𝑗 + 2𝑘𝑘 = 2(𝑗𝑗 + 𝑘𝑘).
Hence 𝑝𝑝 + 𝑞𝑞 is even.
(f) If 𝑝𝑝 is even or 𝑞𝑞 is even, then 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 is even.

Case 1: Suppose 𝑝𝑝 = 2𝑗𝑗 for integer 𝑗𝑗, then 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 = 2(𝑗𝑗𝑗𝑗), hence 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 is even.
Case 2: Suppose 𝑞𝑞 = 2𝑘𝑘 for integer 𝑘𝑘, then 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 = 2(𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘), hence 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 is even.
(g) If 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 is odd, then 𝑝𝑝 is odd and 𝑞𝑞 is odd.

This is the contrapositive of part f.
Homework 3
(h) If 𝑝𝑝2 is even, then 𝑝𝑝 is even.

Proof the contrapositive: If 𝑝𝑝 is odd, then 𝑝𝑝2 is odd.
Suppose 𝑝𝑝 = 2𝑗𝑗 + 1 for integer 𝑗𝑗.
Then 𝑝𝑝2 = (2𝑗𝑗 + 1)2 = 4𝑗𝑗 2 + 4𝑗𝑗 + 1 = 2(2𝑗𝑗 2 + 2𝑗𝑗) + 1. Hence 𝑝𝑝2 is odd.
(i) If 𝑝𝑝2 is odd, then 𝑝𝑝 is odd.

Proof the contrapositive: If 𝑝𝑝 is even, then 𝑝𝑝2 is even
Suppose 𝑝𝑝 = 2𝑗𝑗 for integer 𝑗𝑗.
Then 𝑝𝑝2 = (2𝑗𝑗)2 = 4𝑗𝑗 2 = 2(2𝑗𝑗 2 ). Hence 𝑝𝑝2 is even.
8. Let 𝑓𝑓 be the function given by 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = 4𝑥𝑥 + 7. Use the contrapositive implication to prove the
statement: If 𝑥𝑥1 ≠ 𝑥𝑥2 , then 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥1 ) ≠ 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥2 ).
Suppose 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥1 ) = 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥2 ). That means 4𝑥𝑥1 + 7 = 4𝑥𝑥2 + 7. Consequently 𝑥𝑥1 = 𝑥𝑥2 .
Section 1.4
4. Prove: For every 𝜀𝜀 > 0, there exists a 𝛿𝛿 > 0 such that 1 − 𝛿𝛿 < 𝑥𝑥 < 1 + 𝛿𝛿 implies that
2 − 𝜀𝜀 < 7 − 5𝑥𝑥 < 2 + 𝜀𝜀.
Given 𝜀𝜀 > 0, let 𝛿𝛿 = 𝜀𝜀/5. Then 𝛿𝛿 is also positive and whenever
1 − 𝛿𝛿 < 𝑥𝑥 < 1 + 𝛿𝛿 we have 1 − 𝜀𝜀/5 < 𝑥𝑥 < 1 + 𝜀𝜀/5,
so that 5 − 𝜀𝜀 < 5𝑥𝑥 < 5 + 𝜀𝜀, and −2 − 𝜀𝜀 < 5𝑥𝑥 − 7 < −2 + 𝜀𝜀.
Then 2 + 𝜀𝜀 > 7 − 5𝑥𝑥 > 2 − 𝜀𝜀 which results in 2 − 𝜀𝜀 < 7 − 5𝑥𝑥 < 2 + 𝜀𝜀 as required.
7. Prove: If 𝑛𝑛 is an integer, then 𝑛𝑛2 + 𝑛𝑛3 is an even number.

From section 1.3 problem 7f: If 𝑝𝑝 is even or 𝑞𝑞 is even, then 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 is even.
It follows that 𝑛𝑛2 + 𝑛𝑛3 = 𝑛𝑛2 (1 + 𝑛𝑛).
If 𝑛𝑛 is odd, then 1 + 𝑛𝑛 is even, hence 𝑛𝑛2 (1 + 𝑛𝑛) is even.
If 𝑛𝑛 is even, then 𝑛𝑛2 is even, hence 𝑛𝑛2 (1 + 𝑛𝑛) is even.
3𝑛𝑛
9. Prove: There exists an integer 𝑛𝑛 such that 𝑛𝑛2 + = 1. Is this integer unique?
2
3𝑛𝑛
𝑛𝑛2 + 2
= 1 → 2𝑛𝑛2 + 3𝑛𝑛 − 2 = 0 → (2𝑛𝑛 − 1)(𝑛𝑛 + 2) = 0 → 𝑛𝑛 = 1/2 , 𝑛𝑛 = −2.
3𝑛𝑛
So 𝑛𝑛 = −2 is a unique integer that exists such 𝑛𝑛2 + 2
= 1.
Homework 3
17. Consider the following theorem: “If 𝑚𝑚2 is odd, then 𝑚𝑚 is odd.” Indicate what, if anything, is wrong
with each of the following “proofs.”
(a) Suppose 𝑚𝑚 is odd. Then 𝑚𝑚 = 2𝑘𝑘 + 1 for some integer 𝑘𝑘.

Thus 𝑚𝑚2 = (2𝑘𝑘 + 1)2 = 4𝑘𝑘 2 + 4𝑘𝑘 + 1 = 2(2𝑘𝑘 2 + 2𝑘𝑘) + 1, which is odd.
Thus if 𝑚𝑚2 is odd, then 𝑚𝑚 is odd.
This is not a valid proof because it proves the converse instead of proving the original
implication.
(b) Suppose 𝑚𝑚 is not odd. Then 𝑚𝑚 is even and 𝑚𝑚 = 2𝑘𝑘 for some integer 𝑘𝑘.
Thus 𝑚𝑚2 = (2𝑘𝑘)2 = 4𝑘𝑘 2 = 2(2𝑘𝑘 2 ), which is even.
Thus if 𝑚𝑚 is not odd, then 𝑚𝑚2 is not odd. It follows that if 𝑚𝑚2 is odd, then 𝑚𝑚 is odd.
This is a valid indirect proof using the contrapositive.
24. Consider the following theorem: There do not exist three consecutive odd integers 𝑎𝑎, 𝑏𝑏, and 𝑐𝑐 such
that 𝑎𝑎2 + 𝑏𝑏 2 = 𝑐𝑐 2 .
(a) Complete the following restatement of the theorem:
For every three consecutive odd integers 𝑎𝑎, 𝑏𝑏, and 𝑐𝑐, 𝑎𝑎2 + 𝑏𝑏 2 ≠ 𝑐𝑐 2 .
(b) Change the sentence in part (a) into an implication 𝑝𝑝 ⇒ 𝑞𝑞:

If 𝑎𝑎, 𝑏𝑏, and 𝑐𝑐 are consecutive odd integers, then 𝑎𝑎2 + 𝑏𝑏 2 ≠ 𝑐𝑐 2 .
(c) Fill in the blanks in the following proof of the theorem.

Proof: Let 𝑎𝑎, 𝑏𝑏, and 𝑐𝑐 be consecutive odd integers.
Then 𝑎𝑎 = 2𝑘𝑘 + 1, 𝑏𝑏 = 2𝑘𝑘 + 3, and 𝑐𝑐 = 2𝑘𝑘 + 5 for some integer 𝑘𝑘.
Suppose 𝑎𝑎2 + 𝑏𝑏 2 = 𝑐𝑐 2 .
Then (2𝑘𝑘 + 1)2 + (2𝑘𝑘 + 3)2 = (2𝑘𝑘 + 5)2 .
It follows that 8𝑘𝑘 2 + 16𝑘𝑘 + 10 = 4𝑘𝑘 2 + 20𝑘𝑘 + 25 and 4𝑘𝑘 2 − 4𝑘𝑘 − 15 = 0.
(2𝑘𝑘 − 5)(2𝑘𝑘 + 3) = 0
Thus 𝑘𝑘 = 5/2 or 𝑘𝑘 = −3/2. This contradicts 𝑘𝑘 being an integer.
Therefore, there do not exist three consecutive odd integers 𝑎𝑎, 𝑏𝑏, and 𝑐𝑐 such that
𝑎𝑎2 + 𝑏𝑏 2 = 𝑐𝑐 2 .
28. Prove or give counterexample: For every positive integer 𝑛𝑛, 𝑛𝑛2 + 4𝑛𝑛 + 8 is even.
Let 𝑛𝑛 = 1 (counterexample). Then 𝑛𝑛2 + 4𝑛𝑛 + 8 = 13 proving the statement is false.
Every odd number will make 𝑛𝑛2 + 4𝑛𝑛 + 8 odd:
Let 𝑛𝑛 = 2𝑘𝑘 + 1.
Then 𝑛𝑛2 + 4𝑛𝑛 + 8 = (2𝑘𝑘 + 1)2 + 4(2𝑘𝑘 + 1) + 8
= 4𝑘𝑘 2 + 4𝑘𝑘 + 1 + 8𝑘𝑘 + 4 + 8 = 2(2𝑘𝑘 2 + 6𝑘𝑘 + 6) + 1 which is odd.
Homework 3
Additional Problems
1. Give an example of a true statement containing 2 or more quantifiers, but if the order of the
quantifiers is changed then the statement becomes false.
∀𝑥𝑥 ∃𝑦𝑦 ∋ 𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦 = 0 (true)
∃𝑦𝑦 ∋ ∀𝑥𝑥 𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦 = 0 (false)
2. How is finding a counterexample like doing a proof by contradiction?

A counterexample disproves a statement by giving a situation where the statement is false; in proof
by contradiction, you prove a statement by assuming its negation and obtaining a contradiction.
The proof by contradiction is a proof of a statement by assuming there is a counterexample and
then deriving a contradiction from that supposed counterexample.
Roberto Frontera
September 12, 2024

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6. Provide a counterexample for each statement.

(b) For every integer 𝑛𝑛, we have 𝑛𝑛3 ≥ 𝑛𝑛.

(c) For all real numbers 𝑥𝑥 ≥ 0, we have 𝑥𝑥 2 ≤ 𝑥𝑥 3 .

(d) Every triangle is a right triangle.

(e) For every positive integer 𝑛𝑛, 𝑛𝑛2 + 𝑛𝑛 + 41 is prime.

(f) Every prime number is an odd number.

(g) No integer greater than 100 is prime.

(h) 3𝑛𝑛 + 2 is prime for all positive integers 𝑛𝑛.

(i) For every integer 𝑛𝑛 > 3, 3𝑛𝑛 is divisible by 6.

(m) No rational number satisfies the equation 𝑥𝑥 3 + (𝑥𝑥 − 1)2 = 𝑥𝑥 2 + 1.

(n) No rational number satisfies the equation 𝑥𝑥 4 + (1/𝑥𝑥) − √𝑥𝑥 + 1 = 0.

(b) If 𝑝𝑝 is odd and 𝑞𝑞 is odd, then 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 is odd.

(c) If 𝑝𝑝 is odd and 𝑞𝑞 is odd, then 𝑝𝑝 + 3𝑞𝑞 is even.

(d) If 𝑝𝑝 is odd and 𝑞𝑞 is even, then 𝑝𝑝 + 𝑞𝑞 is odd.

(e) If 𝑝𝑝 is even and 𝑞𝑞 is even, then 𝑝𝑝 + 𝑞𝑞 is even.

(f) If 𝑝𝑝 is even or 𝑞𝑞 is even, then 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 is even.

(g) If 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 is odd, then 𝑝𝑝 is odd and 𝑞𝑞 is odd.

(h) If 𝑝𝑝2 is even, then 𝑝𝑝 is even.

(i) If 𝑝𝑝2 is odd, then 𝑝𝑝 is odd.

7. Prove: If 𝑛𝑛 is an integer, then 𝑛𝑛2 + 𝑛𝑛3 is an even number.

(a) Suppose 𝑚𝑚 is odd. Then 𝑚𝑚 = 2𝑘𝑘 + 1 for some integer 𝑘𝑘.

(b) Change the sentence in part (a) into an implication 𝑝𝑝 ⇒ 𝑞𝑞:

(c) Fill in the blanks in the following proof of the theorem.

2. How is finding a counterexample like doing a proof by contradiction?

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