Mathematical Logic

Logic is commonly known as the science of reasoning. This chapter covers modern mathematical
logic such as truth table.

Truth Table
A truth table displays the relationships between the truth values of propositions. Next, we display
the truth tables of p q and p q.

Let p and q be two propositions. The exclusive or (or exclusive disjunction) of p and q, denoted p
q, is the proposition that is true when exactly one of p and q is true and is false otherwise. The
truth table of the exclusive or is displayed below

Example 1.1
(a) Construct a truth table for (p q) r.
(b) Construct a truth table for p p.
The nal operation on a proposition p that we discuss is the negation of p. The negation of p,
denoted p, is the proposition not p. The truth table of p is displayed below:

Example 1.2
Consider the following propositions:
p: Today is Thursday.
q: 2 + 1 = 3.
r: There is no pollution in New Jersey.

Construct the truth table of [ (p q)] r.

Example 1.3
Find the negation of the proposition p: 5 < x 0.
Example 1.4
(a) Construct the truth table of the proposition (p q) ( p q). Determine if this
proposition is a tautology.
(b) Show that p p is a tautology.
Example 1.5
(a) Show that (p q) p q.
(b) Show that (p q) p q.
(c) Show that ( p) p.
Parts (a) and (b) are known as DeMorgans laws.
Example 1.6
(a) Show that p q q p and p q q p.
(b) Show that (p q) r p (q r) and (p q) r p (q r).
Example 1.7
Show that (p q) p q
A compound proposition that has the value F for all possible values of the propositions in it is
called a contradiction.
Example 1.8
Show that the proposition p p is a contradiction.