1959 AHSME Problems/Problem 6

Problem 6

Given the true statement: If a quadrilateral is a square, then it is a rectangle. It follows that, of the converse and the inverse of this true statement is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ \text{only the converse is true} \qquad \\ \textbf{(B)}\ \text{only the inverse is true }\qquad \\ \textbf{(C)}\ \text{both are true} \qquad \\ \textbf{(D)}\ \text{neither is true} \qquad \\ \textbf{(E)}\ \text{the inverse is true, but the converse is sometimes true}$

Solution

First, let us list the statement "If a quadrilateral is a square, then it is a rectangle" as a statement of the form "If $p$ , then $q$ ". In this case, $p$ is "a quadrilateral is a square", and $q$ is "it is a rectangle".

The converse is then: "If $q$ , then $p$ ". Plugging in, we get "If a quadrilateral is a rectangle, then it is a square". However, this is obviously false, as a rectangle does not have to have four sides of the same measure.

The inverse is then: "If not $p$ , then not $q$ ". Plugging in, we get "If a quadrilateral is not a square, then it is not a rectangle". This is also false, since a quadrilateral can be a rectangle but not be a square.

Therefore, the answer is $\boxed{\textbf{D}}$ .

Page

Toolbox

Search

1959 AHSME Problems/Problem 6

Problem 6

Solution