Nathan, Joshua, Michelle, and Denise were in a room where a porcelain vase was found broken. When an inquiry was conducted by the building caretaker, each made a statement.

Nathan: Michelle broke the vase.
Joshua: Nathan did it.
Michelle: Nathan lied when he said Michelle did it.
Denise: I did not do it.

The caretaker knew that only one statement is not true and concluded that Joshua broke the vase.

Describe in complete sentences the method you use to show that the caretaker made an incorrect conclusion

Question

Nathan, Joshua, Michelle, and Denise were in a room where a porcelain vase was found broken. When an inquiry was conducted by the building caretaker, each made a statement. 

Nathan: Michelle broke the vase. 
Joshua: Nathan did it. 
Michelle: Nathan lied when he said Michelle did it. 
Denise: I did not do it. 

The caretaker knew that only one statement is not true and concluded that Joshua broke the vase. 

Describe in complete sentences the method you use to show that the caretaker made an incorrect conclusion

anonymous · Answer

@ganeshie8

ganeshie8 · Answer

To prove : caretaker made an incorrect conclusion

ganeshie8 · Answer

assume the opposite of it, his conclusion is correct : Jashua broke the vase

ganeshie8 · Answer

and check the TRUE/FALSE of each of the guys statements

ganeshie8 · Answer

caretaker knew that only one statement is not true , so if you get more than one FALSE, you can conclude that caretaker made an incorrect conclusion.

getting  ?

anonymous · Answer

kind of

ganeshie8 · Answer

assume : Joshua broke the wase
then,

Nathan: Michelle broke the vase.  (FALSE, becoz Joshua broke it)
Joshua: Nathan did it.  (FALSE, becoz Joshua broke it)
Michelle: Nathan lied when he said Michelle did it. (TRUE, becoz michelle didnt broke it)
Denise: I did not do it.  (TRUE, becoz Denise didnt broke)

ganeshie8 · Answer

how many FALSE we got ?

anonymous · Answer

wouldnt it be 3 because you assume the first statement is false

ganeshie8 · Answer

we didnt assume any statement is false here

ganeshie8 · Answer

what we assumed true is the CONCLUSION that caretaker made

ganeshie8 · Answer

and we are trying to check statements for contradiction

anonymous · Answer

oh ok

ganeshie8 · Answer

since caretaker concluded Joshua broke the wase, and we want to prove caretaker is wrong, we are assuming caretaker is correct and searching for contradiction in given statements, ok ?

anonymous · Answer

that makes sense

ganeshie8 · Answer

>>>>> The caretaker knew that only one statement is not true and concluded that Joshua broke the vase.

since caretaker knew only one statement must be FALSE, but we got two statements FALSE, thats a contradiction. you knew the rest !!