If the economy is weak, then prices remain constant although unemployment rises. But unemployment rises only if inve...
izyatJune 19, 2019
Answer Choice D
I am unclear as to how we know for certain that answer choice D is correct because even if we know by the contrapositive that if prices are not rising, how can we say for sure the economy is weak since the initial statements is that it if either unemployment is not rising or prices are remaining constant that the economy is not weak. So wouldn't it be a could be true statement?
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Answer choice D is not the correct answer for this question because it could be true. The necessary conditions are that prices remain constant AND unemployment rises. Therefore, if prices remain constant but unemployment is not rising then the economy is not weak (as illustrated in the contrapositive below).
Economy weak - > prices remain constant AND unemployment rises Prices don't remain constant OR unemployment does not rise - > economy not weak
Unemployment rises - > investment decreases Investment does not decrease - > unemployment does not rise
Now we can use the transitive property to conclude:
Investment does not decrease - > unemployment does not rise - > economy not weak Economy weak - > prices remain constant AND unemployment rises - > investment decreases
From this, we can see that answer A must be false because 'the economy is weak' and 'investment is decreasing' exist in the same transitive chain. Therefore, it cannot be either the economy is weak or investment is decreasing because if the economy is weak then investment is decreasing.
Therefore, answer choice A (not answer choice D) is correct.
Hope this is helpful! Please let us know if you have any further questions.
