Critical Reasoning

A LSAT CR:OA:later

i will go wid C

I will go with A

This is a must be true type question and we need to find the answer in the statements itself. The statements says only about Mathematicians so we can do away with answers saying individuals. Answer (A) clearly states what has been said in the First sentence of the passage.
Hence the answer is A.

IMO A

The question stem is asking for a conclusion that follows from the following facts.

1) No mathematician today would flatly refuse to accept the results of an enormous computation.
2) In the past some mathematicians rejected the results of a complex computer demonstration of a very simple mapping theorem
3) Some mathematicians still believe a simple theorem ought to have a simple proof.
4) Some simple theorem have required enormous proofs.

If 3) Some mathematicians still believe a simple theorem ought to have a simple proof and 1) No mathematician today would flatly refuse to accept the results of an enormous computation, then it would follow that some of those mathematicians who believe a simple theorem ought to have a simple proof would consider accepting the results of an enormous computation. Answer (A) states this.

Originally, I was wary of choosing this answer. Because the premise states that "no mathematician today..." I expected the answer to state "all mathematicians...would consider accepting" rather than "some mathematicians...would consider accepting".

After reading the premises a little closer I believe (A) is correct. The premise states that "no mathematician today would flatly refuse to accept the results of an enormous computation". I take it that this means that no mathematician would reject a result solely because it was derived from an enormous computation. However, they may reject the result for other reasons. This distinction allows for some of them to consider accepting a result and while some of them do not consider accepting the result.

B, C, D, and E discuss, in one way or another, what non-mathematicians believe. The fact set provided does not discuss the beliefs of non-mathematicians.

Could some one please explain the difference between A & C.I am confused and think C is the answer.

novel wrote:Could some one please explain the difference between A & C.I am confused and think C is the answer.

Here is why I did not choose C.

Answer C: "Today, some individuals who refuse to accept the results of an enormous computation as a demonstration of the truth of a theorem believe that a simple theorem ought to have a simple proof."

The passage states that, "No mathematician today would flatly refuse to accept the results of an enormous computation as a demonstration of the truth of a theorem." Answer C refers to "some individuals who refuse to accept the results...". Therefore, we know that these individuals are not mathematicians. We can then restate answer C as, "Today, some non-mathematicians believe that a simple theorem ought to have a simple proof."

The passage does not give any information on non-mathematicians. Therefore, we cannot come to any conclusions regarding those individuals.

Hope this helps...

gmatrix wrote:A LSAT CR:OA:later

this CR is tough! is A the answer?