Discrete Mathematics with Applications 4th Edition

Published by Cengage Learning
ISBN 10: 0-49539-132-8
ISBN 13: 978-0-49539-132-6

Chapter 4 - Elementary Number Theory and Methods of Proof - Exercise Set 4.1 - Page 161: 16

Answer

This statement is true for some integers but false for others.

Work Step by Step

Let $m=1$ and $n=1$. Then $(m+n)/2=(1+1)/2=1$, so this is an example of the average of odd integers being odd. But now let $m=1$ and $n=3$. Then $(m+n)/2$$=(1+3)/2=4/2=2$. Since this is an example of two odd integers having an even average, it serves as a counterexample.
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