Mikela claims that the sum of any two numbers is greater than the larger of the two numbers. Jim claims that the sum of any two natural numbers is greater than the larger of the two numbers. Determine whose claim is correct, and explain why. Determine whose claim is incorrect, and give a counterexample. (A counterexample is an example that would disprove the claim.)

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Mathematics

Judith Buck

18 May, 20:09

Mikela claims that the sum of any two numbers is greater than the larger of the two numbers. Jim claims that the sum of any two natural numbers is greater than the larger of the two numbers. Determine whose claim is correct, and explain why. Determine whose claim is incorrect, and give a counterexample. (A counterexample is an example that would disprove the claim.)

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Brodie Fletcher · Answer 1

Jim is right if zero is not regarded as a natural number. This is because in Mikela's claim you could add a negative integer and a positive integer which would result in a number with a lesser value than the positive integer.