Thread: Some Simple Predicate Logic Questions

Could someone please check my answers for these questions:

p(x): x^2 - 7x + 10 = 0; x = {5, 2}
q(x): x^2 - 2x - 3; x = {-1, 3}
r(x): x < 0

domains:
i) Z (set of all integers)
ii) Z+ (set of all positive integers)
iii) integers 2 and 5

Are these statements True or false (with counterexamples):


i) false x = 1
ii) false x = 1
iii) false


i) false x = 3
ii) false x = 3
iii) false x = 2 ?


i) true
ii) false
iii) false


i) false
ii) false
iii) false

Is it possible to find counterexamples for the existential statements? Also, in the first two problems with the universal quantifier, for these to be true, would p(x) and q(x) have to hold for every value in the domain? For example, would x^2 - 7x + 10 = 0 have to be true for every value of x in the domain, or just the solutions, 5 and 2? I understand quantifiers, but the conditional statement is confusing me a bit. Thanks!

Hello aaronrj

Originally Posted by aaronrj

Could someone please check my answers for these questions:

p(x): x^2 - 7x + 10 = 0; x = {5, 2}
q(x): x^2 - 2x - 3; x = {-1, 3}
r(x): x < 0

domains:
i) Z (set of all integers)
ii) Z+ (set of all positive integers)
iii) integers 2 and 5

Are these statements True or false (with counterexamples):


i) false x = 1
ii) false x = 1
iii) false

No - you haven't got this at all. means that if is true, then is false. And, in all three domains, is true when or . In both of these cases is false, since .

So the proposition is true in all three domains.

i) false x = 3
ii) false x = 3
iii) false x = 2 ?

(i) and (ii) are correct.

But (iii) is a bit sneaky, because in the domain is false for all . So for every value of that makes true, is true. In other words, there isn't a counterexample, so it's a true proposition.

i) true
ii) false
iii) false


i) false
ii) false
iii) false

These are all correct.

Is it possible to find counterexamples for the existential statements?

No. If an existential statement is false, it simply means that no value of exists that makes the statement true.

Also, in the first two problems with the universal quantifier, for these to be true, would p(x) and q(x) have to hold for every value in the domain?

No. When you form a proposition like you are simply saying if is true, then is true. You aren't saying anything at all about actually being true at all.

Indeed may never be true for any values of - see for example part (iii) of the statement , where is false for all values of in the domain .

Grandad