Question

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.

Answer 1

ANSWER:  

The statement of Jim is correct

SOLUTION:  

Given statements are  

Mikela claims that 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.

Let a,b be the two numbers and a is the greatest of a and b

According to the mikela statement = a + b > a

b > a – a

b > 0

Here, we got an condition that b > 0, but it may not be true always.  

Above condition fails when b is either 0 or negative number.  

Jim - sum of any two natural numbers is greater than the larger of the two numbers.

Let a,b be the two natural numbers. And a is the greatest of a and b

According to the jim statement  =  a + b > a

b > a – a

b > 0

Here, we got an condition that b > 0,

And this statement will always be true because b is an natural number, so it will be greater than 0.

Hence jim’s statement is true.