Chapter 1.

6, Problem 20E

Problem

Determine whether these are valid arguments,

a) If x is a positive real number, then .x2 is a positive real number. Therefore, if a2 is positive,
where a is a real number, then a is a positive real number.

b) If x2 ≠ 0, where x is a real number, then x ≠ 0. Let a be a real number with a2 ≠ 0; then a ≠

0.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1 of 2

(a)

If x is a positive real number, then is a positive real number.

But if is positive, then a need not be a positive real number. The following counter example
gives the explanation:

Consider ,which is a negative real number.

Then , which is a positive real number.

Therefore, if is positive, then a need not be a positive real number.

Hence, the given statement is not a valid argument.

 Step 2 of 2

(b)

If x is a real number and , then

Take a real number with , then it is required to check whether .

If , then

The equivalent contrapositive statement is as follows:

If , then

Hence, the given statement is a valid argument.