Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Both I and II follows
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question is designed to test fundamental understanding of inequalities and the transitive property of order among real numbers. The statements given are basic and obviously true for the natural numbers 1, 2, and 3. Your job is to decide which of the conclusions must follow logically from these statements.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Statement I: 1 is less than 2 (1 < 2).
- Statement II: 2 is less than 3 (2 < 3).
- Conclusion I: 1 is less than 3 (1 < 3).
- Conclusion II: 2 is less than 3 (2 < 3).
Concept / Approach:
The key mathematical property here is transitivity of inequality for real numbers. For any three real numbers a, b, and c, if a < b and b < c, then it logically follows that a < c. Additionally, any statement that is identical to one of the given statements is trivially valid as a conclusion. We apply these simple ideas directly to the numbers 1, 2, and 3.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: From Statement I, we know that 1 is strictly less than 2.
Step 2: From Statement II, we know that 2 is strictly less than 3.
Step 3: Using the transitive property of inequalities, if 1 < 2 and 2 < 3, then 1 must be less than 3. Symbolically, we have 1 < 3.
Step 4: This directly supports Conclusion I, which states 1 < 3.
Step 5: Conclusion II simply restates Statement II, that 2 < 3, which is already given as true.
Step 6: Therefore, both conclusions are logically valid consequences of the given statements.
Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify numerically with the standard ordering of natural numbers. On the number line, 1 is to the left of 2, and 2 is to the left of 3. This means 1 is to the left of 3 as well, confirming 1 < 3. Furthermore, since Statement II is assumed true, there is no doubt about 2 < 3. No other arrangement of 1, 2, and 3 can satisfy the original statements while making either conclusion false.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A says only Conclusion I follows, but Conclusion II is simply the same as Statement II and must be true as well. Option B says only Conclusion II follows, ignoring the clear transitive relation. Option C says neither follows, which contradicts both basic arithmetic and the given statements. Option E restricts validity to a transitive conclusion, but the question includes an explicit conclusion that restates a given statement; that is also valid.
Common Pitfalls:
Because the question is very simple, the main risk is overthinking. Some test takers might suspect a trick and doubt whether an already given statement can be treated as a valid conclusion. Remember that if the question asks which conclusions follow from the statements, any conclusion that is identical to a statement must also follow, since the statements are assumed true.
Final Answer:
The correct option is Both I and II follows, because 1 < 3 follows by transitivity, and 2 < 3 is explicitly given in the statements.
Discussion & Comments