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Discrete Mathematics (CSC 1204) : 1.3 Predicates and Quantifiers

This document provides an overview of predicates and quantifiers in discrete mathematics. It defines predicates as properties that subjects of statements can have, and gives examples of single-variable and multi-variable predicates. It then introduces the universal quantifier ∀ and existential quantifier ∃, explaining that ∀xP(x) means P(x) is true for all x, while ∃xP(x) means there exists at least one x for which P(x) is true. A number of examples are worked through to illustrate how to determine the truth value of quantified statements. The document concludes with a brief discussion of when universal and existential quantifiers evaluate to true or false.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
130 views21 pages

Discrete Mathematics (CSC 1204) : 1.3 Predicates and Quantifiers

This document provides an overview of predicates and quantifiers in discrete mathematics. It defines predicates as properties that subjects of statements can have, and gives examples of single-variable and multi-variable predicates. It then introduces the universal quantifier ∀ and existential quantifier ∃, explaining that ∀xP(x) means P(x) is true for all x, while ∃xP(x) means there exists at least one x for which P(x) is true. A number of examples are worked through to illustrate how to determine the truth value of quantified statements. The document concludes with a brief discussion of when universal and existential quantifiers evaluate to true or false.

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jk
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Discrete Mathematics

(CSC 1204)

Chapter 1
1.3 Predicates and Quantifiers

1
Agenda
• Predicate Logic
• Predicates
• Quantifiers
• Existential Quantifier, 
• Universal Quantifier, 

2
Predicates
• Predicate: A property that the subject of the statement can
have.
Rahim is a boy
• Example: “ x > 3 ”
x: variable
>3: predicate
• We can denote the statement “x is greater than 3” by P(x),
where P denotes the predicate “is greater than” and x is the
variable. The statement P(x) is also said to be the value of the
propositional function P at x.
• P(x): x>3
– The value of the propositional function P at x
• Note: Once a value has been assigned to the variable x, the statement P(x)
becomes a proposition and has a truth value (either TRUE or FALSE)
3
Example 1 (page 31)
• Let P(x) denote the statement “x>3”.
What are the truth values of P(4) and P(2)?

 Solution: Given ==> P(x) : “x>3”


• We obtain the statement P(4) by setting x=4 in the statement
“x>3”. Hence P(4), which is the statement “4>3”, is true.
• However, P(2) which is the statement “2>3”, is false.

4
Example 2(Modified) @ page 31
• Let, A(x) : “Computer x is under attack by an intruder”.
Suppose that of the computers on campus, only C1 and C7
are currently under attack by intruders.
What are the truth values of A (C1), A(C3), A(C7)?
 Solution:
• A(C1): “Computer C1 is under attack by an intruder” is true
• A(C7): “Computer C7 is under attack by an intruder” is true
• A(C3): “Computer C3 is under attack by an intruder” is false
• Why ?
– Because C3 is not in the list of computers that are attacked by
intruders.

5
Multivariable Predicates
• Multivariable Predicates ==> Predicates that have
more than one variable.
• For example, Q(x, y): “x = y + 3” ,
where x and y are variables and Q is the predicate.

 Note: When values are assigned to the variables x


and y, the statement Q(x, y) has a truth value.

6
Example 3(page 31)

• Let Q(x, y) denote the statement “x = y + 3”.


What are the truth values of the propositions Q(1,2)
and Q(3,0)?
• Solution:
• To obtain Q(1,2), set x=1 and y=2 in the statement
Q(x,y).
Therefore, Q(1,2): “1=2+3” is false
Similarly, Q(3,0): “3=0+3” is true

7
The Universal Quantifier
• Universal quantification: A predicate is true for every element.
• Definition: The universal quantification of P(x) is the
statement “P(x) for all values of x in the domain”.
–  is called the universal quantifier
“” reads “for all”
• The notation x P(x) denotes the universal quantification of
P(x).
• We read x P(x) as “for all x P(x)” or “for every x P(x)”
 An element for which P(x) is false is called a counterexample
of x P(x)

8
The Universal Quantifier

• “x P (x)” true when every instance of x makes P (x)


true when plugged in

• Like taking conjunction over entire universe:


x P (x )  P (x1) P (x2)  P (x3)  …  P(xn)

9
The Universal Quantifier
• Example 8 (page 34): Let P(x) be the statement “x+1>1”
What is the truth value of the quantification x P(x ),
where the domain consists of all positive integer
numbers?

• Solution: Because P(x) is true for all real numbers x, the


quantification x P (x ) is true.

10
The Universal Quantifier
• Example 9(page 35): Let Q(x) be the statement “x<2”.
What is the truth value of the quantification x Q(x ),
where the domain consists of all real numbers?
• Solution: Q(x) is not true for every real number x,
because, for instance, Q(3) is false. That is, x=3 is a
counterexample for the statement x Q(x ).
Thus, x Q(x ), is false

11
The Universal Quantifier
• (Modified) Example 10 (page 35): Let P(x) be the
statement “x2>0”. What is the truth value of the
quantification x P(x ), where the universe of
discourse consists of all integers?
• Solution: P(x) is not true for all integers.
We can give a counter example. We see that x=0 is a
counterexample, because x2 = 0 when x = 0,
so that x2 is not greater than 0 when x = 0.
Therefore, x P(x ) is false.

12
The Universal Quantifier
• Example 11 (page 35): What is the truth value of x P(x ),
where P(x) is the statement “x2<10” and the domain consists of
the positive integers not exceeding 4?

• Solution: The statement x P(x ) is the same as the


conjunction P(1)  P(2)  P(3)  P(4), because the domain
consists of the integers 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Because P(4), which is the statement “42<10”, is false, it follows
that x P(x ) is false.

13
The Universal Quantifier
• Quiz: What is the truth value of x P(x ), where P(x) is the
statement “x2<10” and the domain consists of the positive
integers less than 4?
• Solution: The statement x P(x ) is the same as the
conjunction P(1)  P(2)  P(3) , because the domain consists of
the integers 1, 2, 3.
So, x P(x ) is true.
How?----------See Below------------------------------------------------
P(1): “12<10”, is true
P(2): “22<10” is true
P(3): “32<10” is true

14
The Existential Quantifier
• Definition: The existential quantification of P(x) is the
proposition “There exists an element x in the domain such that
P(x)”.
– Existential quantification: There is one or more elements for
which a predicate is true.
“” reads “there exists”
• We denote the existential quantification of P(x) by x P(x)
•  is called the existential quantifier.
• Existential quantification x P(x) is read as:
– “There is an x such that P(x)”,
– “There is at least one x such that P(x)”, or
– “for some x P(x)”

15
The Existential Quantifier
• “x P (x)” is true when an instance can be found
which when plugged in for x, makes P (x) true.

• Like taking disjunction over entire universe


x P (x )  P (x1)  P (x2)  P (x3)  … P(xn)

16
The Existential Quantifier
• Example 14 (page 36):Let P(x) denote the statement “x>3”.
What is the truth value of the quantification x P (x)” , where
the domain consists of all real numbers?

• Solution: Because “x>3” is sometimes true –for instance,


when x=4, the existential quantification of P(x) ,
which is x P (x), is true.

17
The Existential Quantifier
• Example 16(page 37): What is the truth value of
x P(x), where P(x) is the statement “x2>10” and the universe
of discourse consists of the positive integers not exceeding 4?

• Solution: Because the domain is { 1, 2, 3, 4}, the proposition


x P(x) is the same as the disjunction
P(1) P(2)  P(3) P(4) .
Because P(4), which is the statement “42>10” , is true, it
follows that x P(x) is true.

18
The Existential Quantifier
• Example 15(page 36):Let Q(x) denote the statement
“x=x+1”. What is the truth value of the quantification
x Q(x), where the domain consists of all real
numbers?
• Solution: Because Q(x) is false for every real number
x, the existential quantification of Q(x), which is
x Q(x), is false.

19
Universal & Existential Quantifiers:
When True? When False?

20
Class Work
1. Let P(x) denote the statement “x>0”. What is the truth value
of the quantification x P (x)” , where the domain consists of
integers?
2. Let P(x) denote the statement “x>0”. What is the truth value
of the quantification x P (x)” , where the domain consists of
positive integers?
3. Let P(x) denote the statement “x>0”. What is the truth value
of the quantification x P (x)” , where the domain consists of
negative integers?
4. Let P(x) denote the statement “x<2”. What is the truth value
of the quantification x P (x)” , where the domain consists of
all prime numbers?

21

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