Venn Diagrams for "All"
A free Logic lesson from the “Counterexamples, Sets, and Diagrams” unit, with a worked example and practice problems including step-by-step solutions.
All A are B means the A set sits inside the B set. The diagram does not imply all B are A. Learning objective: Represent all statements with containment diagrams. Prerequisite: No formal prerequisite. Work in this lesson starts with ordinary language, then connects the idea to symbols only after the meaning is clear. Example 1: One odd number that is not prime, such as 9, disproves 'All odd numbers are prime.' Example 2: If all squares are rectangles, the square set belongs inside the rectangle set. A common misconception is to treat familiar wording as proof; instead, check exactly what the statement says and what follows from it.
What you'll learn
- Represent all statements with containment diagrams
- Explain the idea in plain English before using symbols
- Use examples, non-examples, or counterexamples to check the reasoning
Worked example
Problem. Example case A (Venn Diagrams for "All"): Worked example: In a Venn diagram, "All A are B" looks like:
- Worked Example: First identify exactly what the question is asking: Example case A (Venn Diagrams for "All"): Worked example: In a Venn diagram, "All A are B" looks like:
- For quantified statements, identify the domain first, then decide whether the claim is about all objects or at least one object.
- All A are B means every A is also a B.
- So A sits entirely within B.
Answer: Circle A drawn completely inside circle B.
Practice problems
1. Practice case A (Venn Diagrams for "All"): Practice: In a Venn diagram, "All A are B" looks like:
Choices: Circle A drawn completely inside circle B. · Circle B drawn completely inside circle A. · Two circles that do not touch. · Two circles that partly overlap.
Show solution
- Warm-up: First identify exactly what the question is asking: Practice case A (Venn Diagrams for "All"): Practice: In a Venn diagram, "All A are B" looks like:
- For quantified statements, identify the domain first, then decide whether the claim is about all objects or at least one object.
- All A are B means every A is also a B.
- So A sits entirely within B.
- It does not force every B to be an A.
- Verify the selected choice by checking that it preserves the stated logical meaning and that the other choices change the rule or claim.
Answer: Circle A drawn completely inside circle B.
2. Practice case B (Venn Diagrams for "All"): Practice: A diagram shows circle A entirely inside circle B. Which statement matches?
Choices: All A are B. · Some A are B (and some are not). · No A are B. · All B are A.
Show solution
- Warm-up: First identify exactly what the question is asking: Practice case B (Venn Diagrams for "All"): Practice: A diagram shows circle A entirely inside circle B. Which statement matches?
- For quantified statements, identify the domain first, then decide whether the claim is about all objects or at least one object.
- A inside B means every A is a B.
- That is the 'All A are B' picture.
- It does not show that all B are A.
- Verify the selected choice by checking that it preserves the stated logical meaning and that the other choices change the rule or claim.
Answer: All A are B.
3. Practice case C (Venn Diagrams for "All"): Practice: How is "some overlap" different from "complete inclusion" of A in B?
Choices: Overlap means at least one shared member; inclusion means every A is in B. · They are the same relationship. · Overlap means every A is in B. · Inclusion means the circles do not touch.
Show solution
- 'Some overlap' = a non-empty intersection.
- 'Complete inclusion' = A entirely within B.
- Inclusion is stronger than mere overlap.
Answer: Overlap means at least one shared member; inclusion means every A is in B.
4. Practice case D (Venn Diagrams for "All"): Practice: A diagram shows circles A and B overlapping, with one dot in the overlap. Does this prove "All A are B"?
Choices: No — it only shows some A are B; parts of A may be outside B. · Yes — any overlap proves all A are B. · No — it proves no A are B. · Yes — one dot is enough for all.
Show solution
- One shared member shows 'some,' not 'all.'
- Region of A outside B can still exist.
- So the diagram leaves 'all A are B' unproven.
Answer: No — it only shows some A are B; parts of A may be outside B.
5. Practice case E (Venn Diagrams for "All"): Practice: Which value is a counterexample to "All odd numbers are prime"?
Choices: 9 · 3 · 5 · 7
Show solution
- A counterexample is one odd number that is not prime.
- 9 is odd but not prime, since 9 = 3 × 3.
- One counterexample is enough to disprove an all claim.
Answer: 9
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