Logical Reasoning
Statement
A sentence that is either true or false, but not both; a question or command is not a statement.
| English | Statement |
|---|---|
| Bahasa Melayu | Pernyataan |
| 中文 | 陈述 |
How it is used
"9 is a prime number" is a statement because it has a definite truth value (it is false, since 9 = 3 × 3). By contrast, "Solve x + 2 = 5" is a command, so it is not a statement.
Where it shows up in SPM
This is the opening idea of the Logical Reasoning chapter (Form 4). In Paper 1 you get multiple-choice items asking whether a sentence is a statement and whether it is true or false.
In Paper 2 you determine truth values before building compound statements.
Don't confuse it with
Open the chapter: Logical Reasoning →
Frequently asked questions
Is a question a statement?
No. A question such as "Is 7 an even number?"
cannot be labelled true or false on its own, so it is not a statement. Only declarative sentences with a definite truth value, like "7 is an even number" (false), count as statements.
Does a statement have to be true?
No. A statement only needs a definite truth value, true or false.
"All prime numbers are odd" is a statement even though it is false, because 2 is an even prime. What matters is that it is one or the other, never both.
How do I show a sentence is not a statement?
Check whether it can be judged true or false. Commands ("Draw a triangle"), questions ("How old are you?")
and open sentences with unknown variables cannot, so they are not statements. If you cannot assign a single truth value, it is not a statement.