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Math Handout 05

This document discusses the concepts of valid and invalid arguments in discrete mathematics. It provides examples of valid and invalid argument forms and uses truth tables to determine whether argument forms are valid or invalid.

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52 views2 pages

Math Handout 05

This document discusses the concepts of valid and invalid arguments in discrete mathematics. It provides examples of valid and invalid argument forms and uses truth tables to determine whether argument forms are valid or invalid.

Uploaded by

gcuusman
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Discrete Mathematics (MTH202)

LECTURE # 5
EXAMPLE
An interesting teacher keeps me awake. I stay awake in Discrete Mathematics class.
Therefore, my Discrete Mathematics teacher is interesting.
Is the above argument valid?
ARGUMENT:
An argument is a list of statements called premises (or assumptions or
hypotheses) followed by a statement called the conclusion.
P1 Premise
P2 Premise
P3 Premise
. . . . .. . . . .
Pn Premise
______________
C Conclusion
NOTE The symbol \ read therefore, is normally placed just before the conclusion.
VALID AND INVALID ARGUMENT:
An argument is valid if the conclusion is true when all the premises are true.
Alternatively, an argument is valid if conjunction of its premises imply conclusion.That is
(P1 P2 P3 . . . Pn) C is a tautology.
An argument is invalid if the conclusion is false when all the premises are true.
Alternatively, an argument is invalid if conjunction of its premises does not imply
conclusion.
EXAMPLE:
Show that the following argument form is valid:
pq
p
q
SOLUTION
premises
conclusion

pq

EXAMPLE

critical row

Show that the following argument form is invalid:


pq
Page 1 of 2
Copyright Virtual University of Pakistan

Discrete Mathematics (MTH202)


q
p
SOLUTION

premises

conclusion

pq

EXERCISE:
Use truth table to determine the argument form
pq
p ~q
pr
r
is valid or invalid.
premises

critical row

conclusion

pq

p~q

pr

critical rows

The argument form is invalid

Page 2 of 2
Copyright Virtual University of Pakistan

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