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Module 2a - Propositions

Module 2a focuses on propositions, defining them as declarative sentences that can be either true or false. It distinguishes between simple and compound propositions, providing examples and exercises to illustrate these concepts. The module also includes definitions of logical connectors and exercises for identifying propositions and their components.

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4 views

Module 2a - Propositions

Module 2a focuses on propositions, defining them as declarative sentences that can be either true or false. It distinguishes between simple and compound propositions, providing examples and exercises to illustrate these concepts. The module also includes definitions of logical connectors and exercises for identifying propositions and their components.

Uploaded by

jsablotcollegeapps
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Module 2a.

Propositions

Learning Outcome(s): At the end of the lesson, the learner is able to illustrate a
proposition, symbolize propositions, and distinguish between simple (primitive) and
compound propositions

Definition: A proposition is a declarative sentence that is either true or false, but not
both. If a proposition is true, then its truth value is true, which is denoted by T;
otherwise, its truth value is false, which is denoted by F.
Propositions are usually denoted by small letters. For example, the proposition

p: Everyone should study logic


may be read as

p is the proposition “Everyone should study logic.”

If a sequence of propositions is considered, we denote the propositions by p" , p$ , …

Example 1. Determine whether each of the following statements is a proposition or


not. If it is a proposition, give its truth value.

p: Baybay is a municipality in Leyte.

q: Find a number which divides your age.


r: My seatmate gets a perfect score in the logic exam.

s: Welcome to the Philippines!

t: 3 + 2 = 5
-
u: f x = is a rational function.
(-/")

v: What is the domain of the function?

w: I am lying.

p" : It is not the case that 2 is a rational number

p$ : Either logic is fun and interesting, or it is boring.

p1 : If you study hard, then you will get good grades.

p2 : If you are more than 60 years old, then you are entitled to a Senior Citizen’s card,
and if you are entitled to a Senior Citizen’s card, then you are more than 60 years old.

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Solution. Recall that for a statement to be a proposition, it must be a declarative
sentence, and it should have a truth value of either true or false, but not both true and
false at the same time.
p. This is a declarative sentence, and Baybay is one of the coastal
municipalities of the province of Leyte. Hence p is a proposition.

q. This is an imperative sentence, and so it is not a proposition.


r. The statement is a declarative sentence, but its truth value will only be known
after the logic exam. Nonetheless, it can either be true or false, but not both.
Hence r is a proposition.

s. This statement is exclamatory, and hence it is not a proposition.


t. The given equation is a mathematical sentence. Translated into English, the
equation reads “the sum of three and two is five”, which is a declarative
sentence. It is also a true statement. Hence t is a true proposition.
u. This is a declarative statement. Since the numerator of the function is not a
polynomial function, the function f is not rational, so the statement is false. It is
therefore a false proposition.
v. This is an interrogative sentence. Hence it is not a proposition.

w. Although w is a declarative sentence, it is not a proposition because it can


neither be true nor false. Suppose w is true—that is, it is the case that I am
lying. Since I am lying, my statement is not true, and so w must be false. The
same conclusion can be drawn if w is assumed to be false.

p" . While this is a declarative sentence, it can be shown that 2 cannot be


expressed as a quotient of two integers. Thus, p" is a false proposition.
p$ . This is a declarative sentence, which is true, since students may find logic
either fun or boring. Hence p" is a true proposition.

p1 . It is generally accepted as true that studying hard is a sufficient condition


for getting good grades. Therefore p1 is a true proposition.

p2 . We know that it is a true proposition. This is also known as a biconditional


statement, since we can rewrite it as “You are more than 60 years old if and
only if you are entitled to a Senior Citizen’s card.”
Definition. A compound proposition is a proposition formed from simpler
proposition using logical connectors or some combination of logical connectors.
Some logical connectors are expressed as follows:
Not <.> <.> and <.> <.> or <.> If <.>, then <.>

where <.> stands for some proposition. A proposition is simple if it cannot be broken
down any further into other component propositions.

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Example 2. For each of the propositions in Example 1, determine whether it is a simple
or a compound proposition. If it is a compound proposition, identify the simple
components.
Solution. The propositions p, r, t, and u are all simple propositions. On the other hand,
the following are compound propositions:

p" . It is not the case that 2 is a rational number.

p$ . Either logic is fun and interesting, or it is boring.

p1 . If you study hard, then you will get good grades.

p2 . If you are more than 60 years old, then you are entitled to a Senior Citizen’s card,
and if you are entitled to a Senior Citizen’s card, then you are more than 60 years old.
Furthermore, we can determine the simple propositions that make up the propositions
p" , p$ , p1 , and p2 . We do so in the following table

Proposition Primitive Component/s


p" r: 2 is a rational number
p$ f: Logic is fun
i: Logic is interesting
b: Logic is boring
p1 h: You study hard
g: You get good grades
p2 a: You are more than 60 years old
s: You are entitled to a Senior Citizen’s card

The compound propositions can thus be expressed as follows:

p" ; not r

p$ : f and i or b

p1 : if h, then g

p2 : (if a then s) and (if s then a)

Exercises
1. Determine whether the following statements are propositions. If it is a proposition,
determine its truth value if possible.

a: Is the traffic heavy along Katipunan Avenue today?


b: Please close the door.

c: 𝑥 + 2 = 11.

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d: 144 is a perfect square.

e: Keep right while passing through the corridor.

f: 2 ≤ −1.

g: The iPhone 6S comes with 64GB of memory and the Samsung Galaxy S6 has 32GB
of memory.

h: If a triangle has a right angle, then the triangle is called a right triangle.
i: Either a student takes a mathematics elective next semester, or he takes a business
elective next year.
j: What is 5/10 in simplest form?

k: This is a false statement.

2. For each of the following compound propositions, identify the primitive propositions
and the logical connectors used.

a: You went to the rock concert and your ears hurt.


b: It is not the case that it is Monday today.

c: Either today is a rainy day or today is a sunny day.


d: If fewer than 10 persons are in attendance, then the meeting will be cancelled.

e: Carlos will not fail the course if his final exam score exceeds 50%.

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