What is Counterexample: Definition and 55 Discussions

In logic (especially in its applications to mathematics and philosophy), a counterexample is an exception to a proposed general rule or law, and often appears as an example which disproves a universal statement. For example, the statement "all students are lazy" is a universal statement which makes the claim that a certain property (laziness) holds for all students. Thus, any student who is not lazy (e.g., hard-working) would constitute a counterexample to that statement. A counterexample hence is a specific instance of the falsity of a universal quantification (a "for all" statement).In mathematics, the term "counterexample" is also used (by a slight abuse) to refer to examples which illustrate the necessity of the full hypothesis of a theorem. This is most often done by considering a case where a part of the hypothesis is not satisfied and the conclusion of the theorem does not hold.

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  1. S

    Counterexample so that (ab)^i=a^ib^i for two consecutive integers

    counterexample so that (ab)^i=a^ib^i for two consecutive integers for any a and b in a group G does not imply that G is abelian. this is a problem in herstein and I'm struggling to find an example. The previous problem to show that if (ab)^i=a^ib^i for 3 consecutive integers then G is...
  2. L

    Can a Continuous and Integrable Function Have an Infinite Limit?

    Hi all, I'm looking for a positive real-valued function definition on all of R such that the function f(x) is continuous and integrable (the improper integral from -infinity to infinity exists and is finite) but that lim sup f(x)=infinity as x goes to infinity. I'm thinking about something with...
  3. L

    Counterexample: Showing the Non-Continuity of a Function with Rational Values

    I was asked to show whether this is true: f(x) is defined for all x in [a,b] with f(b) > f(a) [values given]. the values of f at any x in (a,b) is rational. So, is f(x) continous? I think this is not continuous as this seems like the question is trying to use intermediate value property to...
  4. D

    Is Phi a Valid Counterexample? Examining the Limits of Integration

    As a problem I was asked to show that phi, as defined by: \phi_n(t) = \frac{n}{\pi(1+n^2t^2)} Satisfies the property that for any f with the property to continuious at 0, then: \lim_{n\rightarrow\infty} \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \phi_n(t)f(t)dt = f(0) But if we let f be 1/phi, we see that it...
  5. C

    Counterexample involving an abelian group

    Basically, I have to show an example such that for a nonabelian group G, with a,b elements of G, (a has order n, and b has order m), it is not necessarily the case that (ab)^mn= e. where e is the identity element. im not sure where to start. =\
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