LSAT 117 | Section 2 | Logical Reasoning: Q11

LR Question 11 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: For many centuries it was believed …

QUESTION TYPE: Most Strongly Supported

FACTS:

• We used to believe only Euclidean geometry could correctly represent the universe.
• Scientists now believe non-Euclidean geometry is more useful for developing certain scientific theories.
• The currently most accepted cosmological theory uses a non-Euclidean representation.

ANALYSIS: So scientists generally no longer believe Euclidean geometry is the only correct option.

The key is the word uniquely in the correct answer.

The stimulus doesn’t prove Euclidean geometry is wrong. It only supports that scientists no longer think Euclidean geometry is the sole correct representation.

___________

1. The stimulus says nothing about what scientists who use Euclidean geometry believe about progress in math and science.
2. CORRECT. If scientists widely accept a theory based on non-Euclidean geometry as accurate, then they probably don’t believe Euclidean geometry is the only correct mathematical representation of the universe.
3. It says non-Euclidean geometry is more useful in some areas, not that it’s more complete.
4. This says there must be a uniquely correct representation. The passage points the other way: scientists accept a non-Euclidean representation without saying it’s uniquely correct.
5. Nowhere does it say scientists value usefulness more than correctness. In fact, the theory is described as widely accepted as accurate, so correctness still matters.