Massachusetts Institute of Technology
6.042J/18.062J, Fall ’05: Mathematics for Computer Science September 9
Prof. Albert R. Meyer and Prof. Ronitt Rubinfeld revised September 19, 2005, 777 minutes
Problem Set 1
Due: September 21
Reading: Notes for Week1 and Week 2
� 1. A real number r is called sensible if there exist positive
Problem √ integers a and b such
that
√ a/b = r. For example, setting a = 2 and b = 1 shows that 2 is sensible. Prove that
3
2 is not sensible. (Consider only positive real roots in this problem)
Problem 2. Translate the following sentence into a predicate formula:
There is a student who has emailed exactly two other people in the class,
besides possibly herself.
The domain of discourse should be the set of students in the class; in addition, the only
predicates that you may use are equality and E(x, y), meaning that “x has sent email to
y.”
Problem 3. Express each of the following predicates and propositions in formal logic
notation. The domain of discourse is the nonnegative integers, N.
In addition to the propositional operators, variables and quantifiers, you may define pred
icates using addition, multiplication, and equality symbols, but no constants (like 0, 1, . . . ).
For example, the proposition “n is an even number” could be written
∃m. (m + m = n).
(a) n is the sum of three perfect squares.
Copyright © 2005, Prof. Albert R. Meyer and Prof. Ronitt Rubinfeld.
Problem Set 1 2
Since the constant 0 is not allowed to appear explicitly, the predicate “x = 0” can’t be
written directly, but note that it could be expressed in a simple way as:
x + x = x.
Then the predicate x > y could be expressed
∃w. (y + w = x) ∧ (w =
� 0).
Note that we’ve used “w =� 0” in this formula, even though it’s technically not allowed.
But since “w �= 0” is equivalent to the allowed formula “¬(w + w = w),” we can use
“w �= 0” with the understanding that it abbreviates the real thing. And now that we’ve
shown how to express “x > y”, it’s ok to use it too.
(b) x > 1.
(c) n is a prime number.
(d) n is a product of two distinct primes.
(e) There is no largest prime number.
(f) (Goldbach Conjecture) Every even natural number n > 2 can be expressed as the
sum of two primes.
(g) (Bertrand’s Postulate) If n > 1, then there is always at least one prime p such that
n < p < 2n.
Problem 4. If a set, A, is finite, then |A| < 2|A| = |P (A)|, and so there is no surjection from
set A to its powerset. Show that this is still true if A is infinite. Hint: Remember Russell’s
paradox and consider {x ∈ A | x ∈ / f (x)} where f is such a surjection.
Problem 5. (a) Prove that
∃z. [P (z) ∧ Q(z)] −→ [∃x. P (x) ∧ ∃y. Q(y)] (1)
is valid. (Use the proof in the subsection on Validity in Week 2 Notes as a guide to writing
your own proof here.)
(b) Prove that the converse of (1) is not valid by describing a counter model as in Week
2 Notes.
Problem Set 1 3
Problem 6. (a) Give an example where the following result fails:
False Theorem. For sets A, B, C, and D, let
L ::= (A ∪ C) × (B ∪ D),
R ::= (A × B) ∪ (C × D).
Then L = R.
(b) Identify the mistake in the following proof of the False Theorem.
Bogus proof. Since L and R are both sets of pairs, it’s sufficient to prove that (x, y) ∈ L ←→
(x, y) ∈ R for all x, y.
The proof will be a chain of iff implications:
(x, y) ∈ L iff
x ∈ A ∪ C and y ∈ B ∪ D, iff
either x ∈ A or x ∈ C, and either y ∈ B or y ∈ D, iff
(x ∈ A and y ∈ B) or else (x ∈ C and y ∈ D), iff
(x, y) ∈ A × B, or (x, y) ∈ C × D, iff
(x, y) ∈ (A × B) ∪ (C × D) = R.
(c) Fix the proof to show that R ⊆ L.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Solutions cover sheet
6.042J/18.062J, Fall ’05: Mathematics for Computer Science September 9
Prof. Albert R. Meyer and Prof. Ronitt Rubinfeld
Student’s Solutions to Problem Set 1
Your name:
Due date: September 21
Submission date:
Circle your TA: David Jelani Sayan
Collaboration statement: Circle one of the two choices and provide all pertinent info.
1. I worked alone and only with course materials.
2. I collaborated on this assignment with:
got help from:1
and referred to:2
DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LINE
Problem Score
1
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6
Total
Copyright © 2005, Prof. Albert R. Meyer and Prof. Ronitt Rubinfeld.
1
People other than course staff.
2
Give citations to texts and material other than the Fall ’02 course materials.