Question

It is a fact that if a whale has exactly one nostril (also called a blowhole), then that whale has teeth. A second fact: some whales have two nostrils. Which one of the following statements is a logical conclusion from just these two facts?Group of answer choicesIf a whale has teeth, then that whale has exactly one nostril.If a whale has two nostrils, then that whale has teeth.If a whale has teeth, then that whale has two nostrils.None of the preceding three conclusions follows logically from the two given facts.

Answer 1

Solution:

Given:

Fact 1 - If a whale has exactly one nostril (also called a blowhole), then that whale has teeth.

Fact 2 - some whales have two nostrils.

From the above statements;

If a whale has teeth, then that whale has exactly one nostril. This is NOT TRUE because there are some whales that have two nostrils.

If a whale has two nostrils, then that whale has teeth. This is also NOT TRUE because there are some whales that have one nostril and have teeth.

If a whale has teeth, then that whale has two nostrils. This is NOT TRUE because if a whale has exactly one nostril, then that whale has teeth.

Therefore, none of the preceding three conclusions follows logically from the two given facts.