Propositional Logic

Content

1. Mathematical proof (what and why)

2. Logic, basic operators

3. Using simple operators to construct any operator

4. Logical equivalence, DeMorgan’s law

5. Conditional statement (if, if and only if)

6. Arguments
Pythagorean theorem

b c

a
a b c
2 2 2

Familiar?
Obvious?
 Good Proof

b c
b-a
a b-a
We will show that these five pieces can be rearranged into:

(i) a cc square, and then

(ii) an aa & a bb square

And then we can conclude that

 Good Proof

The five pieces can be rearranged into:

(i) a cc square

b- a
c c

a b
c
 Good Proof

How to rearrange them into an axa square and a bxb square?

b c
b-a
a b-a
 Good Proof

a
b b
a b-a a

74 proofs in http://www.cut-the-knot.org/pythagoras/index.shtml
 Bad Proof
A similar rearrangement technique shows that 65=64…

What’s wrong with the proof?

 Mathematical Proof

To prove mathematical theorems, we need a more rigorous system.

The standard procedure for proving mathematical theorems is invented by

Euclid in 300BC. First he started with five axioms (the truth of these
statements are taken for granted). Then he uses logic to deduce the truth
of other statements.

1.It is possible to draw a straight line from any point to any other point.
2.It is possible to produce a finite straight line continuously in a straight line.
3.It is possible to describe a circle with any center and any radius.
4.It is true that all right angles are equal to one another.
5.("Parallel postulate") It is true that, if a straight line falling on two straight lines make the interior angles on the same side less than two right angles,
the two straight lines, if produced indefinitely, intersect on that side on which are the angles less than the two right angles.

Euclid’s proof of Pythagorean’s theorem http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_theorem

(Optional) See page 18 of the notes for the ZFC axioms that we now use.
 Content

1. Mathematical proof (what and why)

2. Logic, basic operators

3. Using simple operators to construct any operator

4. Logical equivalence, DeMorgan’s law

5. Conditional statement (if, if and only if)

6. Arguments

Now, we have seen the need of a rigorous proof system.

We will proceed to define the basic logic system.

 Statement (Proposition)

A Statement is a sentence that is either True or False

Examples: 2+2=4 True

3x3=8 False

787009911 is a prime

Today is Tuesday.

Non-examples: x+y>0

x2+y2=z2

They are true for some values of x and y

but are false for some other values of x and y.
 Logic Operators

Logic operators are used to construct new statements from old statements.

There are three main logic operators, NOT, AND, OR.

 :: NOT ¬ P is true if and only if P is false

P ¬P
T F
F T
 Logic Operators

Logic operators are used to construct new statements from old statements.

There are three main logic operators, NOT, AND, OR.

 :: AND  :: OR

P Q P Q P Q P Q
T T T T T T
T F F T F T
F T F F T T
F F F F F F
 Compound Statement

p = “it is hot” q = “it is sunny”

It is hot and sunny

It is not hot but sunny

It is neither hot nor sunny

We can also define logic operators on three or more statements, e.g. OR(P,Q,R)
 More Logical Operators

We can define more logical operators as we need.

coffee “or” tea majority

exclusive-or
 P Q R M(P,Q,R)
T T T T
p q pq T T F T
T T F T F T T
T F F F
T F T
F T T T
F T T F T F F
F F F F F T F
F F F F
 Content

1. Mathematical proof (what and why)

2. Logic, basic operators

3. Using simple operators to construct any operator

4. Logical equivalence, DeMorgan’s law

5. Conditional statement (if, if and only if)

6. Arguments

We can define as many new operators as we like.

But we will see how to construct any operator from AND, OR, NOT.
 Formula for Exclusive-Or

Idea 0: Guess and check

p q
T T F T F F
T F T T T T
F T T T T T
F F F F T F

Logical equivalence: Two statements have the same truth table

As you will see, there are many different ways to write the same logical formula.
One can always use a truth table to check whether two statements are equivalent.
 Exclusive-Or

Is there a more systematic way to construct such a formula?

Idea 1: Look at the true rows

p q pq
T T F Want the formula to be true
exactly when the input belongs
T F T
to a “true” row.
F T T
F F F
The input is the second row exactly if this sub-formula is satisfied

And the formula is true exactly when the input is the second row or the third row.
 Exclusive-Or

Is there a more systematic way to construct such a formula?

Idea 2: Look at the false rows

p q pq
T T F Want the formula to be true
exactly when the input does
T F T
not belong to a “false” row.
F T T
F F F
The input is the first row exactly if this sub-formula is satisfied

And the formula is true exactly when the input is not in the 1st row and the 4th row.
 Writing Logical Formula for a Truth Table

Digital logic:

Given a digital circuit, we can construct the truth table.

Now, suppose we are given only the truth table (i.e. the specification,
e.g. the specification of the majority function), how can we construct a
digital circuit (i.e. formula) using only simple gates (such as AND, OR, NOT)
that has the same function?
 Writing Logical Formula for a Truth Table

Use idea 1 or idea 2. Idea 1: Look at the true rows

and take the “or”.

p q r output
T T T F
T T F T
T F T T
T F F F
F T T T
F T F T
F F T T
F F F F

The formula is true exactly when the input is one of the true rows.
 Writing Logical Formula for a Truth Table

Idea 2: Look at the false rows,

negate and take the “and”.

p q r output
T T T F
T T F T
T F T T
T F F F
F T T T
F T F T
F F T T
F F F F

The formula is true exactly when the input is not one of the false row.
 Content

1. Mathematical proof (what and why)

2. Logic, basic operators

3. Using simple operators to construct any operator

4. Logical equivalence, DeMorgan’s law

5. Conditional statement (if, if and only if)

6. Arguments

There are many different ways to write the same logical formula.

As we have seen, one can always write a formula using only AND, OR, NOT.
 DeMorgan’s Laws

Logical equivalence: Two statements have the same truth table

Statement: Tom is in the football team and the basketball team.

Negation: Tom is not in the football team or not in the basketball team.

De Morgan’s Law

Why the negation of the above statement is not the following

“Tom is not in the football team and not in the basketball team”?

The definition of the negation is that exactly one of P or ¬P is true, but it

could be the case that both the above statement and the original statement
are false (e.g. Tom is in the football team but not in the basketball team).
 DeMorgan’s Laws

Logical equivalence: Two statements have the same truth table

Statement: The number 783477841 is divisible by 7 or 11.

Negation: The number 783477841 is not divisible by 7 and not divisible by 11.

De Morgan’s Law

Again, the negation of the above statement is not

“The number 783477841 is not divisible by 7 or not divisible by 11”.

In either case, we “flip” the inside operator from OR to AND or from AND to OR.
 DeMorgan’s Laws

Logical equivalence: Two statements have the same truth table

De Morgan’s Law

T T F F
T F T T
F T T T
F F T T

De Morgan’s Law
 Simplifying Statement

We can use logical rules to simplify a logical formula.

DeMorgan

Distributive law

The DeMorgan’s Law allows us to always “move the NOT inside”.

(Optional) See textbook for more identities.

 Tautology, Contradiction
A tautology is a statement that is always true.

A contradiction is a statement that is always false. (negation of a tautology)

In general it is “difficult” to tell whether a statement is a contradiction.

It is one of the most important problems in CS – the satisfiability problem.
 Checkpoint

Key points to know.

1. Write a logical formula from a truth table.

2. Check logical equivalence of two logical formulas.

3. DeMorgan’s rule and other simple logical rules (e.g. distributive).

4. Use simple logical rules to simplify a logical formula.

 Content

1. Mathematical proof (what and why)

2. Logic, basic operators

3. Using simple operators to construct any operator

4. Logical equivalence, DeMorgan’s law

5. Conditional statement (if, if and only if)

6. Arguments
 Conditional Statement

If p then q p implies q

p is called the hypothesis; q is called the conclusion

The department says: “If your GPA is 4.0, then you will have full scholarship.”

When is the above sentence false?

• It is false when your GPA is 4.0 but you don’t receive full scholarship.
• But it is not false if your GPA is below 4.0.

Another example: “If there is typhoon T8 today, then there is no class.”

When is the above sentence false?

 Logic Operator

 :: IMPLIES
P Q P Q
T T T
T F F
F T T
F F T

Convention: if we don’t say anything wrong, then it is not false, and thus true.

Make sure you understand the definition of IF.

The IF operation is very important in mathematical proofs.

 Logical Equivalence

If you see a question in the above form,

there are usually 3 ways to deal with it.
(1) Truth table
(2) Use logical rules
(3) Intuition
 If-Then as Or

P Q P Q Idea 2: Look at the false rows,

T T T negate and take the “and”.

T F F
F T T
F F T

•If you don’t give me all your money, then I will kill you.
•Either you give me all your money or I will kill you (or both).

•If you talk to her, then you can never talk to me.
•Either you don’t talk to her or you can never talk to me (or both).
 Negation of If-Then

•If you eat an apple everyday, then you have no toothache.

•You eat an apple everyday but you have toothache.

•If my computer is not working, then I cannot finish my homework.

•My computer is not working but I can finish my homework.

previous slide

DeMorgan
 Contrapositive

The contrapositive of “if p then q” is “if ~q then ~p”.

Statement: If you are a CS year 1 student,

then you are taking CSC 2110.

Contrapositive: If you are not taking CSC 2110,

then you are not a CS year 1 student.

Statement: If you drive, then you don’t drink.

Contrapositive: If you drink, then you don’t drive.

Fact: A conditional statement is logically equivalent to its contrapositive.

 Proofs

Statement: If P, then Q

Contrapositive: If Q, then P.

T T T F F T
T F F T F F
F T T F T T
F F T T T T

In words, the only way the above statements are false is when P true and Q false.
 Contrapositive

Statement: If P, then Q

Contrapositive: If Q, then P.

Or we can see it using logical rules:

Contrapositive is useful in mathematical proofs, e.g. to prove

Statement: If x2 is an even number, then x is an even number.

You could instead prove:

Contrapositive: If x is an odd number, then x2 is an odd number.

This is equivalent and is easier to prove.

 If, Only-If

•You succeed if you work hand.

•You succeed only if you work hard.

R if S means “if S then R” or equivalently “S implies R”

We also say S is a sufficient condition for R.

R only if S means “if R then S” or equivalently “R implies S”

We also say S is a necessary condition for R.

You will succeed if and only if you work hard.

P if and only if (iff) Q means P and Q are logically equivalent.

That is, P implies Q and Q implies P.

 Necessary AND Sufficient Condition

 :: IFF
P Q P Q
T T T
T F F
F T F
F F T
Note: P Q is equivalent to (P Q) (Q P)

Note: P Q is equivalent to (P Q) ( P Q)

Is the statement “x is an even number if and only if x 2 is an even number” true?

 Math vs English

Parent: if you don’t clean your room, then you can’t watch a DVD.

C D

This sentence says

So
In real life it also means

Mathematician: if a number x greater than 2 is not an odd number,

then x is not a prime number.

This sentence says

But of course it doesn’t mean

 Necessary, Sufficient Condition

Mathematician: if a number x greater than 2 is not an odd number,

then x is not a prime number.

This sentence says

But of course it doesn’t mean

Being an odd number > 2 is a necessary condition for this number to be prime.

Being a prime number > 2 is a sufficient condition for this number to be odd.
 Checkpoint

 Conditional Statements

• The meaning of IF and its logical forms

• Contrapositive

• If, only if, if and only if

 Content

1. Mathematical proof (what and why)

2. Logic, basic operators

3. Using simple operators to construct any operator

4. Logical equivalence, DeMorgan’s law

5. Conditional statement (if, if and only if)

6. Arguments
 Argument

An argument is a sequence of statements.

All statements but the final one are called assumptions or hypothesis.
The final statement is called the conclusion.
An argument is valid if:

whenever all the assumptions are true, then the conclusion is true.

If today is Wednesday, then yesterday is Tuesday.

Today is Wednesday.

Yesterday is Tuesday.

Informally, an argument is valid if the conclusion follows from the assumptions.

 Argument

An argument is a sequence of statements.

All statements but the final one are called assumptions or hypothesis.
The final statement is called the conclusion.
An argument is valid if:

whenever all the assumptions are true, then the conclusion is true.

1.It is possible to draw a straight line from any point to any other point.
2.It is possible to produce a finite straight line continuously in a straight line.
3.It is possible to describe a circle with any center and any radius.
4.It is true that all right angles are equal to one another.
5.("Parallel postulate") It is true that, if a straight line falling on two straight lines make the interior angles on the same side less than two right angles,
the two straight lines, if produced indefinitely, intersect on that side on which are the angles less than the two right angles.

Pythagorean’s theorem

This is the formal way to prove theorems from axioms.

 Modus Ponens

Rule: If p then q. If typhoon, then class cancelled.

p Typhoon.
q Class cancelled.

assumptions conclusion

p q p→q p q
T T T T T
T F F T F
F T T F T
F F T F F

Modus ponens is Latin meaning “method of affirming”.

 Modus Tollens

Rule: If p then q. If typhoon, then class cancelled.

~q Class not cancelled.
~p No typhoon.

assumptions conclusion

p q p→q ~q ~p
T T T F F
T F F T F
F T T F T
F F T T T

Modus tollens is Latin meaning “method of denying”.

 Equivalence

A student is trying to prove that propositions P, Q, and R are all true.

She proceeds as follows.
First, she proves three facts:
• P implies Q
• Q implies R
• R implies P.
Then she concludes,
``Thus P, Q, and R are all true.''

Proposed argument: assumption

( P  Q), (Q  R ), ( R  P ) Is it valid?

PQ R
conclusion
 Valid Argument?

( P  Q), (Q  R ), ( R  P ) Is it valid?

PQ R
assumptions conclusion

P Q R OK?
T T T T T T T yes
T T F T F T F yes
T F T F T T F yes
T F F F T T F yes
F T T T T F F yes
F T F T F T F yes
F F T T T F F yes
F F F T T T F no

To prove an argument is not valid, we just need to find a counterexample.

 Valid Arguments?

assumptions conclusion

p q p→q q p
T T T T T
If p then q.
q T F F F T
p
F T T T F
F F T F F

Assumptions are true, but not the conclusion.

If you are a fish, then you drink water.

You drink water.
You are a fish.
 Valid Arguments?

assumptions conclusion

p q p→q ~p ~q
T T T F F
If p then q.
~p T F F F T
~q
F T T T F
F F T T T

If you are a fish, then you drink water.

You are not a fish.
You do not drink water.
Exercises
 More Exercises

Valid argument True conclusion

True conclusion Valid argument

 Contradiction

If you can show that the assumption that the statement

p is false leads logically to a contradiction,
then you can conclude that p is true.

This is similar to the method of denying (modus tollens)

 Truth-tellers and Liers

Truth-tellers always tell the truth.

Liers always lie.

A says: B is a truth-teller.
B says: A and I are of opposite type.

Suppose A is a truth-teller.
Then B is a truth-teller (because what A says is true).
Then A is a lier (because what B says is true)
A contradiction.

So A must be a lier.
So B must be a lier (because what A says is false).
No contradiction.
 Quick Summary

Arguments
• definition of a valid argument
• method of affirming, denying, contradiction

Key points:

(1) Make sure you understand conditional statements and contrapositive.

(2) Make sure you can check whether an argument is valid.

 Which is true?

Which is false?

“The sentence below is false.”

“The sentence above is true.”