ReasoningAges 16-18

Deductive & contrapositive logic

Evaluate conditional statements, contrapositives and valid deductive inferences. Review suitability for your learners before teaching.

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Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 16-18

Deductive & contrapositive logic

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. What single counterexample disproves the universal claim “All prime numbers are odd”?
What single counterexample… · Deductive & contrapositive…
2. What is the contrapositive of “If it rains, the pitch is wet”: “If the pitch is not wet, it did not rain” or “If the pitch is wet, it rained”?
What is the contrapositive… · Deductive & contrapositive…
3. Given “If a number is divisible by 6, then it is even” and “N is divisible by 6”, is N even (Yes / No)?
6 · 6 · Deductive & contrapositive…
4. To disprove “For every integer n, n² > n”, which value of n serves as a valid counterexample: “1” or “3”?
“1” · “3” · Deductive & contrapositive…
5. Does “If n is divisible by 10, then n is divisible by 5” have a true contrapositive: “If n is not divisible by 5, then n is not divisible by 10” (Yes / No)?
10 · 5 · 5 · 10 · Deductive & contrapositive…
6. What is the logical negation of “All birds can fly”: “At least one bird cannot fly” or “No birds can fly”?
“All birds can fly” · “No bird · Deductive & contrapositive…
7. By De Morgan’s laws, the negation of “Both X and Y are true” is: “At least one of X or Y is false” or “Both X and Y are false”?
By De Morgan’s laws, the n… · Deductive & contrapositive…
8. Given “Every square is a rectangle” and “Every rectangle is a parallelogram”, does it follow that “Every square is a parallelogram” (Yes / No)?
Given “Every square is a r… · Deductive & contrapositive…
9. Given “If a triangle is equilateral, all its interior angles are 60°” and “Triangle T has an angle of 90°”, can T be equilateral (Yes / No)?
60° · 90° · Deductive & contrapositive…
10. Given “Either the fuse blew OR the switch is off” and “The switch is NOT off”, did the fuse blow (Yes / No)?
Given “Either the fuse ble… · Deductive & contrapositive…
11. In a biconditional statement “P if and only if Q”, when is the statement True: when P and Q have the same truth value, or when P and Q have opposite truth values?
“P if and only if Q” · Deductive & contrapositive…
12. Does “If a metal is iron, it is magnetic” logically imply “If a metal is magnetic, it must be iron” (Yes / No)?
Does “If a metal is iron, … · Deductive & contrapositive…

12 questions · Seed 104757 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

View the answer key

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 16-18

Deductive & contrapositive logic

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. What single counterexample disproves the universal claim “All prime numbers are odd”?
2
2 is a prime number (divisible only by 1 and 2) and is even, disproving the universal claim.
2. What is the contrapositive of “If it rains, the pitch is wet”: “If the pitch is not wet, it did not rain” or “If the pitch is wet, it rained”?
If the pitch is not wet, it did not rain
The contrapositive of “If P then Q” is “If not Q then not P”, which is logically equivalent.
3. Given “If a number is divisible by 6, then it is even” and “N is divisible by 6”, is N even (Yes / No)?
Yes
By Modus Ponens (if P then Q; P is true; therefore Q is true), N must be even.
4. To disprove “For every integer n, n² > n”, which value of n serves as a valid counterexample: “1” or “3”?
1
For n = 1, 1² = 1, which is not greater than 1 (n = 0 also works).
5. Does “If n is divisible by 10, then n is divisible by 5” have a true contrapositive: “If n is not divisible by 5, then n is not divisible by 10” (Yes / No)?
Yes
A conditional and its contrapositive are always logically equivalent.
6. What is the logical negation of “All birds can fly”: “At least one bird cannot fly” or “No birds can fly”?
At least one bird cannot fly
The negation of a universal statement (∀x P(x)) is an existential statement (∃x ¬P(x)).
7. By De Morgan’s laws, the negation of “Both X and Y are true” is: “At least one of X or Y is false” or “Both X and Y are false”?
At least one of X or Y is false
¬(X ∧ Y) is logically equivalent to (¬X ∨ ¬Y): at least one is false.
8. Given “Every square is a rectangle” and “Every rectangle is a parallelogram”, does it follow that “Every square is a parallelogram” (Yes / No)?
Yes
Subset inclusion is transitive: Squares ⊆ Rectangles ⊆ Parallelograms.
9. Given “If a triangle is equilateral, all its interior angles are 60°” and “Triangle T has an angle of 90°”, can T be equilateral (Yes / No)?
No
By Modus Tollens, since not all angles of T are 60°, T cannot be equilateral.
10. Given “Either the fuse blew OR the switch is off” and “The switch is NOT off”, did the fuse blow (Yes / No)?
Yes
By disjunctive syllogism (P or Q; not Q; therefore P), the fuse blew.
11. In a biconditional statement “P if and only if Q”, when is the statement True: when P and Q have the same truth value, or when P and Q have opposite truth values?
When P and Q have the same truth value
P ↔ Q is true when both P and Q are true, or when both P and Q are false.
12. Does “If a metal is iron, it is magnetic” logically imply “If a metal is magnetic, it must be iron” (Yes / No)?
No
Assuming the converse is a fallacy; nickel and cobalt are also magnetic metals.

12 questions · Seed 104757 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 16-18

Deductive & contrapositive logic

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. What single counterexample disproves the universal claim “All prime numbers are odd”?
What single counterexample… · Deductive & contrapositive…
2. What is the contrapositive of “If it rains, the pitch is wet”: “If the pitch is not wet, it did not rain” or “If the pitch is wet, it rained”?
What is the contrapositive… · Deductive & contrapositive…
3. Given “If a number is divisible by 6, then it is even” and “N is divisible by 6”, is N even (Yes / No)?
6 · 6 · Deductive & contrapositive…
4. To disprove “For every integer n, n² > n”, which value of n serves as a valid counterexample: “1” or “3”?
“1” · “3” · Deductive & contrapositive…
5. Does “If n is divisible by 10, then n is divisible by 5” have a true contrapositive: “If n is not divisible by 5, then n is not divisible by 10” (Yes / No)?
10 · 5 · 5 · 10 · Deductive & contrapositive…
6. What is the logical negation of “All birds can fly”: “At least one bird cannot fly” or “No birds can fly”?
“All birds can fly” · “No bird · Deductive & contrapositive…
7. By De Morgan’s laws, the negation of “Both X and Y are true” is: “At least one of X or Y is false” or “Both X and Y are false”?
By De Morgan’s laws, the n… · Deductive & contrapositive…
8. Given “Every square is a rectangle” and “Every rectangle is a parallelogram”, does it follow that “Every square is a parallelogram” (Yes / No)?
Given “Every square is a r… · Deductive & contrapositive…
9. Given “If a triangle is equilateral, all its interior angles are 60°” and “Triangle T has an angle of 90°”, can T be equilateral (Yes / No)?
60° · 90° · Deductive & contrapositive…
10. Given “Either the fuse blew OR the switch is off” and “The switch is NOT off”, did the fuse blow (Yes / No)?
Given “Either the fuse ble… · Deductive & contrapositive…
11. In a biconditional statement “P if and only if Q”, when is the statement True: when P and Q have the same truth value, or when P and Q have opposite truth values?
“P if and only if Q” · Deductive & contrapositive…
12. Does “If a metal is iron, it is magnetic” logically imply “If a metal is magnetic, it must be iron” (Yes / No)?
Does “If a metal is iron, … · Deductive & contrapositive…

12 questions · Seed 104757 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 16-18

Deductive & contrapositive logic

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. What single counterexample disproves the universal claim “All prime numbers are odd”?
2
2 is a prime number (divisible only by 1 and 2) and is even, disproving the universal claim.
2. What is the contrapositive of “If it rains, the pitch is wet”: “If the pitch is not wet, it did not rain” or “If the pitch is wet, it rained”?
If the pitch is not wet, it did not rain
The contrapositive of “If P then Q” is “If not Q then not P”, which is logically equivalent.
3. Given “If a number is divisible by 6, then it is even” and “N is divisible by 6”, is N even (Yes / No)?
Yes
By Modus Ponens (if P then Q; P is true; therefore Q is true), N must be even.
4. To disprove “For every integer n, n² > n”, which value of n serves as a valid counterexample: “1” or “3”?
1
For n = 1, 1² = 1, which is not greater than 1 (n = 0 also works).
5. Does “If n is divisible by 10, then n is divisible by 5” have a true contrapositive: “If n is not divisible by 5, then n is not divisible by 10” (Yes / No)?
Yes
A conditional and its contrapositive are always logically equivalent.
6. What is the logical negation of “All birds can fly”: “At least one bird cannot fly” or “No birds can fly”?
At least one bird cannot fly
The negation of a universal statement (∀x P(x)) is an existential statement (∃x ¬P(x)).
7. By De Morgan’s laws, the negation of “Both X and Y are true” is: “At least one of X or Y is false” or “Both X and Y are false”?
At least one of X or Y is false
¬(X ∧ Y) is logically equivalent to (¬X ∨ ¬Y): at least one is false.
8. Given “Every square is a rectangle” and “Every rectangle is a parallelogram”, does it follow that “Every square is a parallelogram” (Yes / No)?
Yes
Subset inclusion is transitive: Squares ⊆ Rectangles ⊆ Parallelograms.
9. Given “If a triangle is equilateral, all its interior angles are 60°” and “Triangle T has an angle of 90°”, can T be equilateral (Yes / No)?
No
By Modus Tollens, since not all angles of T are 60°, T cannot be equilateral.
10. Given “Either the fuse blew OR the switch is off” and “The switch is NOT off”, did the fuse blow (Yes / No)?
Yes
By disjunctive syllogism (P or Q; not Q; therefore P), the fuse blew.
11. In a biconditional statement “P if and only if Q”, when is the statement True: when P and Q have the same truth value, or when P and Q have opposite truth values?
When P and Q have the same truth value
P ↔ Q is true when both P and Q are true, or when both P and Q are false.
12. Does “If a metal is iron, it is magnetic” logically imply “If a metal is magnetic, it must be iron” (Yes / No)?
No
Assuming the converse is a fallacy; nickel and cobalt are also magnetic metals.

12 questions · Seed 104757 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification