4 ms·

6 can not be true because if it where then 1,2,3,4 & 5 would be false, but that would make 5 true as well which is a contradiction, therefore 6 can only be fals

6 can not be true because if it where then 1,2,3,4 & 5 would be false, but that would make 5 true as well which is a contradiction, therefore 6 can only be false 1 Can not be true because we just determined 6 as false so 1 can only be false 3 can not be true because we just determined 1 as false so 3 can only be false With 1 and 3 now proven false, 2 can only be true if 4 is false, but if 2 is true then 4 would be true as well. This is a contradiction so 2 can not be true. With 1,2 and 3 now proven false, 4 is false. 5 is true since we just proved 1,2,3 and 4 to be false

thaumasiotes 7y ago
Everyone in the comment thread seems to be focused on whether each proposition can be true. This is looking for your keys under the lamppost despite the fact that you dropped them in the dark. It's easy to determine whether a proposition can be true. But the question doesn't ask about that. It just asks "which of these is the correct answer to this question?" There are no stated criteria for being the correct answer, and there is no reason to assume that the correct answer must be true or even capable of being true. Consider this other question: Which of the following is the correct answer to this question? (A) This one. (B) This one.
- decasia 7y ago
  This seems like a crucial problem with the initial question. As with so many puzzles like this, it assumes that the reader will make similar (unargued, unstated) assumptions as the writer. But what justifies that methodological assumption? Nothing, as thaumasiotes is pointing out.
  - PeterStuer 7y ago
    Any communication relies by necessity on a mutual implicit frame of reference, and while there most certainly are cases where question tread the line of unambiguous interpretability (I have suffered these many times, especially in education tests), I'd say in this case the demands are rather benign.
- zyx321 7y ago
  That's arguing about semantics. It seems obvious from context that the intended interpretation of "the correct answer" is "the only true answer" — since "true" and "correct" are nearly synonymous, and the use of definite article singular implies that there exists exactly one answer.
  - gmfawcett 7y ago
    To be fair, making the argument that something is obvious from context is also arguing about semantics. The other poster makes a defensible point (as do you!).

thaumasiotes 7y ago

Everyone in the comment thread seems to be focused on whether each proposition can be true. This is looking for your keys under the lamppost despite the fact that you dropped them in the dark. It's easy to determine whether a proposition can be true. But the question doesn't ask about that. It just asks "which of these is the correct answer to this question?" There are no stated criteria for being the correct answer, and there is no reason to assume that the correct answer must be true or even capable of being true. Consider this other question: Which of the following is the correct answer to this question? (A) This one. (B) This one.

decasia 7y ago
This seems like a crucial problem with the initial question. As with so many puzzles like this, it assumes that the reader will make similar (unargued, unstated) assumptions as the writer. But what justifies that methodological assumption? Nothing, as thaumasiotes is pointing out.
- PeterStuer 7y ago
  Any communication relies by necessity on a mutual implicit frame of reference, and while there most certainly are cases where question tread the line of unambiguous interpretability (I have suffered these many times, especially in education tests), I'd say in this case the demands are rather benign.
zyx321 7y ago
That's arguing about semantics. It seems obvious from context that the intended interpretation of "the correct answer" is "the only true answer" — since "true" and "correct" are nearly synonymous, and the use of definite article singular implies that there exists exactly one answer.
- gmfawcett 7y ago
  To be fair, making the argument that something is obvious from context is also arguing about semantics. The other poster makes a defensible point (as do you!).