Which option best defines a counterexample?

Which option best defines a counterexample?

• A. A specific case that disproves a general statement
• B. A hypothetical scenario that supports the rule
• C. A universal claim that applies to all cases
• D. A generalization without exception

Answer: (A)

A counterexample is a specific case that disproves a general statement. It shows that a rule or claim isn’t true in every situation by presenting one exception. For example, if someone says all swans are white, finding a black swan provides a counterexample and proves the general statement isn’t universally true. That single case is enough to overturn the claim because it demonstrates a situation where the rule fails. This is why the definition is the best fit: a counterexample directly challenges a universal or broad claim by giving an instance where it doesn’t hold. The other ideas describe scenarios that either support the rule, restate a universal claim, or describe a generalization without faulting it, none of which capture the essence of a counterexample.

A counterexample is a specific case that disproves a general statement. It shows that a rule or claim isn’t true in every situation by presenting one exception.

For example, if someone says all swans are white, finding a black swan provides a counterexample and proves the general statement isn’t universally true. That single case is enough to overturn the claim because it demonstrates a situation where the rule fails.

This is why the definition is the best fit: a counterexample directly challenges a universal or broad claim by giving an instance where it doesn’t hold. The other ideas describe scenarios that either support the rule, restate a universal claim, or describe a generalization without faulting it, none of which capture the essence of a counterexample.