Ramos Carlson
04/21/2024 · Senior High School
14. Error Analysis A student wrote the following conjecture. Find a counterexample and explain the error. If \( x \) is a positive even number and \( y \) is any integer, then the product \( x y \) will be positive.
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The student's conjecture states that if \( x \) is a positive even number and \( y \) is any integer, then the product \( xy \) will be positive.
To find a counterexample, we can choose a positive even number for \( x \) and a negative integer for \( y \).
Let's take:
- \( x = 2 \) (which is a positive even number)
- \( y = -3 \) (which is an integer)
Now, we calculate the product:
\[
xy = 2 \times (-3) = -6
\]
In this case, the product \( xy \) is negative, which contradicts the student's conjecture.
### Explanation of the Error:
The error in the student's conjecture lies in the assumption that the product \( xy \) will always be positive regardless of the value of \( y \). While \( x \) is indeed a positive even number, \( y \) can be any integer, including negative integers. When \( y \) is negative, the product \( xy \) will also be negative, demonstrating that the conjecture is not universally true.
Thus, the conjecture fails when \( y \) is a negative integer, providing a clear counterexample.
Quick Answer
The student's conjecture is false. A counterexample is \( x = 2 \) and \( y = -3 \), resulting in \( xy = -6 \), which is negative. The error is assuming that the product of a positive even number and any integer will always be positive.
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