Problem Set
Problem Set
BSP-1A
Assessment
▪ Prove or disprove the following statements using counterexample. Write a short explanation of
your step-by-step process for each test item. (maximum of 5 sentence)
1. All numbers that end in 1 are prime numbers.
➢ First let us list all numbers that ends in 1. 11, 21,31,41,51,61,71,81,91
Prime numbers are numbers that only have 2 factors, 1 and themselves, lets see if
these numbers are all prime numbers with listing their factors;
Numbers Factors
11 1,11
21 1,3,7,21
31 1,31
41 1,41
51 1,3,17,51
61 1,61
71 1,71
81 1,3,9,27,81
91 1,7,13,81
Since 21,51,81 and 91 have more than 2 factors they are considered composite
number and we can say that not all numbers that end in 1 are prime numbers. So we
call 21 as a counterexample.
2. All numbers that end in 3 are composite numbers.
➢ First let us list numbers that ends in 3; 13, 23, 33, 43, 53, 63, 73, 83, 93. Let us
define composite numbers, they are number that have more than two factors,
lets see if these numbers are all composite numbers by listing their factors:
Numbers Factors
13 1,13
23 1,23
33 1,3,11,33
43 1,43
53 1,53
63 1, 3, 7, 9, 21, 63
73 1,73
83 1,83
93 1, 3, 31, 93
With this we can see that 12,23,43,53,73 and 83 only have 2 factors which
means they are not composite number but prime numbers. So, we call 12 as a
counterexample.
3. The sum of any two whole numbers is divisible by 2.
➢ First let us list and add 2 pairs of whole numbers and divide its sum by 2.
1+2= 3 3/2=1.5
3+4= 7 7/2=3.5
5+7= 12 12/2=6
9+12= 21 21/2=10.5
Since 1 and 2 are whole numbers and when they are added the sum is 3, and when it
is divided by 2 the answer is 1.5 which means it is not divisible by 2. So, we call 1 and
2 as a counterexample.
▪ Use inductive and deductive reasoning in answering the problems below. Write a short
explanation of your step-by-step process for each test item. (maximum of 5 sentence)
1. 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, _____, _____, _____, …
➢ By observing these terms, we can see that the succeeding terms are added by 3.
Therefore, we can say that the next term will be the result of adding 3. We are
looking for the 6th, 7th and 8th terms, then we add 3 to the 5th term, add 3 to the
6th term and add 3 again to the 7th term so the next three terms are 23, 26, and
29.
2. 15, 7, -1, -9, ___, ___, ___, …
➢ Looking at these terms we can see that the succeeding terms are added by -8.
Thus, we can say that the next term will be the result of adding -8. We are
looking for the 5th, 6th and 7th term, then we will add -8 to the 4th term, add -8 to
the 5th term and add -8 again to the 7th term so the next three terms will be -17, -
25 and -33.
3. 32, 3.2, 0.32, 0.032, ___, ___, ___, …
➢ Looking at these terms we can see that the succeeding terms are multiplied by
0.1. Thus, we can say that the next term will be the product of 0.1. We are
looking for the 5th, 6th, and 7th term, then we will multiply 0.1 to the 4th term,
multiply it to the 5th and 6th term so the next three terms will be 0.0032,
0.00032, and 0.000032.
4. 20,40, 160, 960, 7680, ___, ___, ___, …
➢ Looking at these terms we can that the succeeding terms are multiplied by the
consecutive even numbers 2,4,6,8. Thus we can say that the next term will be
the product of the next even number. We are looking for the 6th, 7th, and 8th term
so we will multiply 10 to the 5th term, then we will multiply 12 to the 6th term
and multiply 14 to the 7th term so the next three terms will be 76,800, 921,600,
and 12,902,400.
5. 5, 8, 13, 20, 29, ___, ___, ___, …
➢ Looking at these terms we can see that the succeeding terms are added by the
consecutive odd numbers 3,5,7,9. Therefore we can say that the next term will
be the result of adding the next odd number. We are looking for the 6th, 7th and
8th term, then we will add 11 to the 5th term, add 13 to the 6th term and add 15 to
the 7th term so the next three terms will be 40, 53, and 68.
▪ Use deductive reasoning to answer the following. Show the 4 steps in problem solving to answer
these.
1. Suppose that you arrange dots in triangular shapes are shown below. How many dots will there
be in a triangle that has 10 rows?
This triangle has 10 rows and have a total of 55 dots and by counting it all our answer is
proven.
11 10
12 6
1 4 15
34 2 13 16 3 34
34 11 8 5 10 34
34 7 12 9 6 34
34 14 1 4 15 34
34 34 34 34 34 34
Since each column and row all have the sum of 34 in the magic square therefore the answer is
proven.
IV. Solve the following problem comprehensively using the four steps in problem solving devised by
Polya. Show all your solutions, if necessary.
Four married are members of couples for Christ. The wives’ names are Kathy, Sally, Jovie and
Apple. Their husbands are (in some order) Dannie, Wally, George, and Fernando.
▪ Clue 2: Jovie and Fernando dated some, but then Fernando met his
present wife.
8. Looking Back
Our
Kathy Sally Jovie Apple
answer is correct because it satisfy all the given conditions in the problem
➢ Clue 1: Wally and Jovie can’t be a couple since they are siblings.
➢ Clue 2: Jovie and Fernando cannot be a couple since they are in a relationship
before but Fernando met his wife.
➢ Clue 3: George and Kathy are married.
➢ Clue 4: Apple has two brothers which is Dannie and George
➢ Clue 5: Apple’s husband is an only child which is Fernando that is the only man
who doesn’t have any siblings according to the clues given.