Logical deduction – age order and transitivity Given: Joe is younger than Kathy. Mark was born after Joe (so Mark is younger than Joe). Question: If those two facts are true, is the statement “Kathy is older than Mark” true, false, or uncertain?

Introduction / Context:This verbal reasoning item tests your ability to use transitive ordering on ages. If person A is younger than person B, and person C is younger than person A, where does that place C relative to B? You must translate the English statements into a consistent sequence.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Joe is younger than Kathy.
• Mark was born after Joe (so Mark is younger than Joe).
• Claim to evaluate: “Kathy is older than Mark.”
• Ages are strictly comparable, and “born after” means “younger.”

Concept / Approach:Treat “younger than” as a strict order. Use transitivity: if Mark is younger than Joe and Joe is younger than Kathy, then Mark is younger than Kathy. Therefore Kathy is older than Mark.

Step-by-Step Solution:1) Translate: Joe younger than Kathy ⇒ Joe < Kathy.2) Translate: Mark born after Joe ⇒ Mark younger than Joe ⇒ Mark < Joe.3) Chain them: Mark < Joe and Joe < Kathy ⇒ Mark < Kathy.4) Convert back: If Mark is younger than Kathy, then “Kathy is older than Mark” is True.

Verification / Alternative check:Pick sample ages: Kathy 15, Joe 13, Mark 12. All statements fit, and the conclusion is clearly true.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• False: Contradicts the transitive order.
• Uncertain: There is no ambiguity; the order is forced by the two premises.
• Both true and false: Logical truth values are not both simultaneously applicable here.

Common Pitfalls:Confusing “born after” (younger) with “older than,” or overlooking transitivity can lead to uncertainty where none exists.

Final Answer:True