Logic – allows us to determine the validity of

arguments in and out of mathematics

– illustrates the importance of precision and
conciseness of the language of math
Statement of Proposition
§ must express a complete thought
§ a declarative statement that is true or false but not
both
1. All multiples of seven are odd numbers.
(Proposition)
2. Let x be a real number.
(Not a Proposition)
3. Sketch the graph of f(x) = -2.
(Not a Proposition)
4. ℕ is a subset of ℕ.
(Proposition)
Logical Connectives
- A word or symbol that joins two sentences to produce a new
one.
Conjunction: P ∧ Q, (P and Q)
Disjunction: P ∨ Q, (P or Q)
Implication: P ⟹ Q,
(P implies Q, If P then Q, Q if P, P only if Q)
Biconditional (Bi implication): P ⟺ Q
(P if and only if Q)
Note: P ⟺ Q ≡ (P ⟹ Q) ∧ (Q ⟹ P)
Negation
Symbol: ¬ (means “not’)
¬P is true if and only if P is not true

Example:
What is the negation of the statement
“ 2 is a rational number”?
Possible Answer: 2 is NOT a rational number.
Possible Answer: It is NOT true that 2 is a rational
number.
De Morgan’s Laws
¬ (P ∨ Q) ⟹ ¬P ∧ ¬Q
¬(P ∧ Q) ⟹ ¬P ∨ ¬Q

Other Symbols:
≅
≈
≡
1. If Neal is not a big eater or Lenny has a big
voice, then Dan likes violet.
2. A man should look for what is, and not for
what he thinks should be. (Albert Einstein)
3. If a = b, and b = c, then a = c (Transitive
Property)
1. If Neal is not a big eater or Lenny has a big
voice, then Dan likes violet.
Let N: Neal is a big eater.
L: Lenny has a big voice.
D: Dan likes violet.
Answer: (¬N ∨ L) ⇒ D
2. A man should look for what is, and not for what
he thinks should be. (Albert Einstein)
Let P: A man should look for what is.
Q: A man should look for what he thinks
should be.
Answer: P ∧ ¬Q
3. If a = b, and b = c, then a = c (Transitive
Property)
P: a=b
Q: b = c
R: a=c
Answer: (P ∧ Q) ⇒ R
Example
B. Write the following in symbolic form using P, Q, and R for
statements and the symbols ⋀, ⋁, ¬, ⇒, and ⟺ where
P: Alan is a good class president.
Q: The class is noisy.
R: The teacher is happy.
1. If Alan is a good class president, then the class is not noisy.
2. If the class is not noisy, then the teacher is happy.
3. If Alan is a good class president and the teacher is happy,
then the class is not noisy.
4. Alan is not a good class president if and only if the class is
noisy and the teacher is not happy.
Example
B. Write the following in symbolic form using P, Q, and R for
statements and the symbols ⋀, ⋁, ¬, ⇒, and ⟺.
1. If Alan is a good class president, then the class is not noisy.
Answer: P ⇒¬Q
2. If the class is not noisy, then the teacher is happy.
Answer: ¬Q ⇒ R
3. If Alan is a good class president and the teacher is happy, then
the class is not noisy.
Answer: (P ⋀ R) ⇒ ¬Q
4. Alan is not a good class president if and only if the class is
noisy and the teacher is not happy.
Answer: ¬ P ⟺(Q ⋀ ¬R)
1. The product of two odd integers is an even
integer.
2. Every integer that is not odd is divisible by 2.
3. A function has an inverse if it is one-to-one.
1. The product of two odd integers is an even integer.
Answer:
If m and n are odd integers, then mn is an even integer.
2. Every integer that is not odd is divisible by 2.
Answer:
If an integer m is not odd, then it is divisible by 2.
3. A function has an inverse if it is one-to-one.
Answer:
If a function is one-to-one, then it has an inverse.
IMPLICATION: If P then Q
P is the antecedent or hypothesis.
Q is the consequent or conclusion.

CONVERSE: If Q then P

INVERSE: If not P, then not Q

CONTRAPOSITIVE: If not Q then not P

1. If you are more than 60 years old, then you
are entitled to a Senior Citizen’s card.

2. p is prime only if it is odd.

1. If you are more than 60 years old, then you are
entitled to a Senior Citizen’s card.
§ Converse: If you are entitled to a Senior Citizen’s
card, then you are more than 60 years old.
§ Inverse: If you are not more than 60 years old, then
you are not entitled to a Senior Citizen’s card.
§ Contrapositive: If you are not entitled to a Senior
Citizen’s card, then you are not more than 60 years
old.
2. p is prime only if it is odd.
P ⟹ Q: If p is prime, then it is odd.
§ Converse: If p is odd, then it is prime.
§ Inverse: If p is not prime, then it is not odd.
§ Contrapositive: If p is not odd, then it is not
prime.
Quantifier – is a language element which generates a
quantification

1. Universal Quantification
§ “For all” or For every”
Symbol:∀

2. Existential Quantification
§ “There exists” or “For some”
Symbol: ∃
1. ∀ x ∈ ℤ+ , ∃y ∈ ℝ, y2 = x

2. ∃ x, y ∈ N, x – y = y – x
1. ∀ x ∈ ℤ+ , ∃y ∈ ℝ, y2 = x

- For every positive integer x, there exists a real

number y, such that y squared equals x.
(TRUE)

2. ∃ x, y ∈ N, x – y = y – x

There exist natural numbers x and y such that

x minus y equals y minus x. (TRUE, if x = y)