No mathematician today -- Must be true

This topic has expert replies
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 543
Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2008 1:01 am
Thanked: 43 times
GMAT Score:580

No mathematician today -- Must be true

by codesnooker » Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:00 pm
No mathematician today would flatly refuse to accept the results of an enormous computation as an adequate demonstration of the truth of a theorem. In 1976, however, this was not the case. Some mathematicians at that time refused to accept the results of a complex computer demonstration of a very simple mapping theorem. Although some mathematicians still hold a strong belief that a simple theorem ought to have a short, simple proof, in fact, some simple theorems have required enormous proofs.

If all of the statements in the passage are true, which one of the following must also be true?

(A) Today, some mathematicians who believe that a simple theorem ought to have a simple proof would consider accepting the results of an enormous computation as a demonstration of the truth of a theorem.
(B) Some individuals who believe that a simple theorem ought to have a simple proof are not mathematicians.
(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.
(D) Some individuals who do not believe that a simple theorem ought to have a simple proof would not be willing to accept the results of an enormous computation as proof of a complex theorem.
(E) Some nonmathematicians do not believe that a simple theorem ought to have a simple proof.

User avatar
MBA Student
Posts: 1194
Joined: Sat Aug 16, 2008 9:42 pm
Location: Paris, France
Thanked: 71 times
Followed by:17 members
GMAT Score:710

by gmat740 » Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:31 pm
IMO A
(B) Some individuals who believe that a simple theorem ought to have a simple proof are not mathematicians.
(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.
(D) Some individuals who do not believe that a simple theorem ought to have a simple proof would not be willing to accept the results of an enormous computation as proof of a complex theorem
We are dealing with Mathematicians and not some individuals.
Some Individuals make the scope broad.

Left with A and E
No mathematician today would flatly refuse to accept the results of an enormous computation as an adequate demonstration of the truth of a theorem

This is the conclusion which is clearly reflected in A

Correct me If I am wrong

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 145
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 8:41 am
Thanked: 2 times
Followed by:2 members

by anshulseth » Mon Apr 20, 2009 11:37 pm
I feel A based on two statements:
No mathematician today would flatly refuse to accept the results of an enormous computation as an adequate demonstration of the truth of a theorem
And
Although some mathematicians still hold a strong belief that a simple theorem ought to have a short, simple proof
This leads to A
Asset

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 543
Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2008 1:01 am
Thanked: 43 times
GMAT Score:580

by codesnooker » Mon Apr 20, 2009 11:56 pm
Thanks.

OA is (A)

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 300
Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2015 10:33 am

by kris77 » Fri May 13, 2016 11:07 pm
I believe the correct answer should be A.