ICT 215 SEM 1 2015/2016 1

Mzumbe University
Faculty of Science and Technology
Ict 215:Discrete Mathematics Tutorial sheet 1

Propositional Logic

1. Translate this proposition into English sentence (p ^ :q) _ q, where p denotes the statement \My program
runs "and q denotes the statement \My program contains bugs ".

2. Express this proposition in symbolic form and hence construct its truth table to show whether it is a tautology
or contradiction or contingency. \If Brian and Angela are not happy, then either Brian is not happy or Angela
is not happy ".

3. Express this proposition into symbolic form and hence construct its truth table to show whether it is a tautology
or contradiction or contingency. \It is raining and windy, and it is not raining ".
4. Show whether the following propositions are logically equivalent or not. \P1 : It is not the case that both the
input le and the output le are not on the disk ", and \P2 : Either the input le or the output le is on the disk ".

5. Write down the English sentence for the converse, inverse and contrapositive of \If 250 is divisible by 4, then
250 is an even number ".

6. Use the laws of logic to simplify the following expression. p _ :(:p ! q).
7. An algorithm contains the following line.
\If not (x > 5 and x  10) then..."
How could this be written more simply?
8. Use the laws of logic to show that [(p ! q) ^ :q] ! :p is a tautology.
9. Determine whether the following argument is valid.
\The le is either a binary or a text le. If it is a binary le, then my program won't accept it. My program will
accept the le. Therefore the le is a text le."

10. Let p and q be the proposition \Swimming at New Jersey shores is allowed "and \Sharks have been spotted near
the shore ", respectively. Express each of these compound propositions as an English sentence.

a) :q (b) p ^ q (c) :p _ q (d) p ! :q (e) :q ! p

f) :p ! :q (g) p $ :q (h) :p ^ (p _ :q).
11. Let p and q be the propositions, p:You drive over 65 miles per hour and q:You get a speeding ticket. Write these
propositions using p and q and logical connectives.
a) You do not drive over 65 miles per hour.
b) You drive over 65 miles per hour, but you do not get a speeding ticket.
c) You will get a speeding ticket if you drive over 65 miles per hour.
d) If you do not drive over 65 miles per hour , then you will not get a speeding ticket.
e) Driving over 65 miles per hour is sucient for getting a speeding ticket.
f) You get a speeding ticket, but you do not drive over 65 miles per hour.
g) Whenever you get a speeding ticket, you are driving over 65 miles per hour.