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Universe (Or Domain) of Discourse: 8xP (X) "For All X, P (X) " 8xP (X) 8xP (X)

A predicate takes variables as arguments and returns True or False, while a proposition is simply True or False without variables. Assigning values to the variables of a predicate turns it into a proposition. Universal quantification turns a predicate into a proposition that is True if the predicate is true for all possible values, while existential quantification turns it into a proposition that is True if the predicate is true for at least one value.

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Shiv Raj Pant
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61 views1 page

Universe (Or Domain) of Discourse: 8xP (X) "For All X, P (X) " 8xP (X) 8xP (X)

A predicate takes variables as arguments and returns True or False, while a proposition is simply True or False without variables. Assigning values to the variables of a predicate turns it into a proposition. Universal quantification turns a predicate into a proposition that is True if the predicate is true for all possible values, while existential quantification turns it into a proposition that is True if the predicate is true for at least one value.

Uploaded by

Shiv Raj Pant
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Definition A predicate is a function.

It takes some variable(s) as arguments; it returns either True or False (but not both) for each combination of the argument values. In contrast, a proposition is not a function. It does not have any variable as argument. It is either True or False (but not both). The variables are always associated with a universe (or domain) of discourse, which tells us what combinations of the argument values are allowed. Suppose P(x) is a predicate, where the universe of discourse for x is {1, 2, 3}. Then P(x) is not a proposition, but P(1) is a proposition. In general, a predicate is not a proposition. But when you assign values to all its argument variables, you get a proposition. Example: P(x, y) : x + 2 = y is a predicate. It has two variables x and y; Universe of Discourse: x is in {1, 2, 3}; y is in {4, 5, 6}. P(1, 4) : 1 + 2 = 4 is a proposition (it is F); P(2, 4) : 2 + 2 = 4 is a proposition (it is T); P(2, 3): meaningless (in this example), because 3 is not in the specified universe of discourse for y. Universal quantification is another way of converting a predicate into a proposition. Definition Suppose P(x) is a predicate on some universe of discourse. The universal quantification of P(x) is the proposition: P(x) is true for all x in the universe of discourse. We write 8xP(x), and say for all x, P(x). 8xP(x) is TRUE if P(x) is true for every single x. 8xP(x) is FALSE if there is an x for which P(x) is false. Example: P(x) : x + 2 = 5, universe of discourse: {1, 2, 3}. 8 x P(x) means: for all x in {1, 2, 3}, x + 2 = 5. In other words, it means: 1+2=5, 2+2=5, and 3+2=5, which is false. So it is a proposition. Existential quantification is yet another way of converting a predicate into a proposition. Definition Suppose P(x) is a predicate on some universe of discourse. The existential quantification of P(x) is the proposition: P(x) is true for some x in the universe of discourse. We write 9 x P(x), and say there exists x, P(x). 9 x P(x) is TRUE if P(x) is true for any x. 9 x P(x) is FALSE if for every x, P(x) is false. Example: P(x) : x + 2 = 5, universe of discourse: {1, 2, 3}. 9 x P(x) means: for some x in {1, 2, 3}, x + 2 = 5. In other words, it means: 1 + 2 = 5, or 2 + 2 = 5, or 3 + 2 = 5 which is true. So it is a proposition.

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