Unit 8 · Detecting Reasoning Errors

Athletics Heats — Competition Logic Error

Lesson 28 of 34

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Tim beat Leon in Heat 1. Chloe says: if Leon qualifies, Tim will too. But every participant runs TWO heats. Leon's qualifying route might have nothing to do with Heat 1. Chloe ignores Leon's second heat entirely — and that's the mistake.

Chapters

0:00Introduction
0:24Question
1:13Strategy
1:56Step 1: Understand the qualifying rules — everyone has two chances
2:51Step 2: Expose the flaw — Leon's second heat breaks Chloe's logic
3:53Step 3: Test each option — find the one that names the real flaw
5:01Correct answer

Question

In an athletics competition there are four heats, and every participant runs in two of the heats. The finalists are all of the participants who finished in the top two in at least one of the heats.

Chloe: "Tim was faster than Leon in the first heat, so if Leon qualifies for the final, so will Tim."

Which one of the following sentences shows the mistake Chloe has made?

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