Notes, 1(c)
ECE 606
Dis/proof strategies
All our strategies are based on logical deduction.
Strategies:
• Case analysis
For x, y, z ∈ N with x + y = z, if any two of x, y, z is divisible by 3, then so
is the third.
• Contradiction: focus on only row of truth-table for which p =⇒ q is false.
√
x = 2 =⇒ x 6∈ Q
• Contrapositive: p =⇒ q ≡ ¬q =⇒ ¬p.
y
x
!
X X
Given x, y ∈ Z+ , i= i =⇒ (x = y)
i=1 i=1
– Note: contrapositive is not the same as converse. The converse of p =⇒ q is
q =⇒ p.
• Construction: for statements of the form ∃x . . .
Given x, y ∈ R with x < y, ∃z ∈ R, x < z < y.
• Induction
n(n+1)(2n+1)
– 12 + 22 + . . . + n2 = 6
k−1
X
– Suppose n ∈ N whose digits are nk−1 nk−2 . . . n0 . If ni is divisible by 3, then
i=0
n is divisible by 3.
1
To disprove a statement S, we prove it’s negation, ¬S.
• ¬(∀n ∈ N, n2 − n + 11 is prime) ≡ ∃n ∈ N, n2 − n + 11 is not prime.
Can prove this by construction, i.e., a “counterexample.”
• Suppose P is the set of all primes, i.e., P = {2, 3, 5, 7, . . .}.
¬(∃p, q ∈ P, p − q = 513) ≡ ∀p, q ∈ P, p − q 6= 513.