Propositions and Negations

Recognizing Propositions
A proposition is a statement that has the  Which are propositions? – explain
property of being true or false – not both  2 + 2 = 4.
 Example 1: 2 is an odd number.  Are you ill?
 Example 2: John went to the store.  Today is Thursday and it is raining.
 Questions,commands and exclamations are  7 x 8 = 13.
Propositions and Negations
not considered propositions or statements.  The sky is blue or John went to school.
 Example 1: How are you?  8–3
 Example 2: Close the window.  Open the window and close the door.
 Example 3: Watch out!  What a beautiful day!
 It is 2 0’clock.

Text – Chapter 3 – Section 1 In-class Assignment 8 - 1 In-class Assignment 8 - 1

Recognizing Simple and Open

Propositions
A simple proposition is a statement that is A simple open proposition is a sentence that  Determine which of the following are simple,
singular in nature and conveys one thought. contains variables (pronouns) and it will be a open or simple open propositions. Explain.
 2 + 5 is 7. proposition when replacements are made for  Today is Friday.
 6 is an odd number. the variables.  x+7
 The flower is red.  Example 1: “He went to the store” contains the  If it rains then they will go on a picnic.
variable “he”. When “he” is replaced by say He did it!
 “John and Mary gave a party” is not a simple 
“John” then the sentence becomes a proposition.
proposition because it is not singular in  She went to school on Thursday.
 Example 2: x > 4, x is a mathematical pronoun
nature.  Dick and Jane are going to the movie.
and when it is replaced by say 1 then the
 “The boy is 10 and his friend is 9” is not a sentence becomes a proposition.  2 + 4 < 7.
simple proposition because it conveys 2  X < 0.
thoughts.
In-class Assignment 8 - 2 In-class Assignment 8 - 3 In-class Assignment 8 - 3

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Propositions and Negations

Compound propositions
 Simple propositions are denoted by lower A compound propositions is a sentence which  The negation of a proposition is a proposition
case letters p, q, r, s, t, etc. contains several simple propositions which changes the truth value of the given
connected by connectives such as “and”, proposition.
 This allows reference to a proposition
“or”, “although”, “if and only if”, etc.  The notation for the negation of a given
without saying or writing the entire
proposition, p, is ~p.
proposition.  The simple components of a compound
 Simple propositions are usually negated by
 Example1: p: Washington was the first president proposition are denoted by lower case letters
either the insertion or deletion of the word
of the United States. p, q, r, s, etc. “not.”
p is true.
 Today is Friday and it is very hot.

 Example1: p: The car is a Ford.
 Example 2: q: 2 + 8 = 11. ~p: The car is not a Ford.
p and q
q is false.

 Example 2: q: Jane is not a good student.
 “and” is the connective.
~q: Jane is a good student.

No in-class assignment problem In-class Assignment 8 - 4 In-class Assignment 8 - 5

Quantified Propositions and Their

Negating a Compound Proposition Negating propositions. Negations
A statement that contains more than one  Negate each of the following.  There are two basic types of quantifiers.
thought is called a compound proposition.  The book is heavy.  The universal quantifier “All”
 The existential quantifier “Some”
 To negate a compound proposition place one  It is not raining.
of the following in front of the proposition.  3 divides 9 and 12 is a multiple of 3.  Negate an “all” statement by changing the
The sky is gray.
quantifier to “some” and negating the rest of
 It is not true that p. 
the proposition.
 It is false that q.  The division problem is difficult.
 p: All cats purr. ~p: Some cats do not purr.
 It is not the case that r.  The rose is red.
 Negate a “some” statement by changing the
 Example 1: p: 2 is odd and 4 is even.  John knows how to read but he can’t do math. quantifier to “all” and negating the rest of
~p: It is not true that 2 is odd and 4 is even.
 If an object has 3 sides then it is a square. the proposition or changing “some” to “no”.
 Example 2: q: If I study hard I will succeed.
~q: It is false that if I study hard I will succeed.  Today is Friday or tomorrow is Wednesday.  q: Some cars are blue.
~q: All cars are not blue. Or No cars are blue.

In-class Assignment 8 - 6 In-class Assignment 8 – 5, 6 In-class Assignment 8 - 7

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Propositions and Negations

Negating Quantified Propositions Negations and Truth Tables

 A negation, ~p, is true or it is false.
 Alland some are not and some and no are  Its truth table will have 2 lines (conditions) beside the
heading and 2 columns.
negations of each other.
 A column is needed for p and a column is needed for ~p.
 Negate each of the following. Explain.
 p is true or false.
 All math is easy.  The truth value of ~p must change the truth value of p.
 Some dogs have 3 legs.
p ~p
 Some classes are not boring.
 No persons are hungry. T F
 All speeders lose their licenses.
 His mother did not spank him soundly. F T
 Some people are lazy.
 The book fell to the floor.
In-class Assignment 8 - 7 No in-class assignment problem