Chapter 1.

6, Problem 9E

Problem

For each of these collections of premises, what relevant conclusion or conclusions can be
drawn? Explain the rules of inference used to obtain each conclusion from the premises.

a) “If I take the day off, it either rains or snows.” “I took Tuesday oil or I look Thursday off.” “It
was sunny on Tuesday.” “It did not snow on Thursday.”

b) “If I eat spicy foods, then I have strange dreams.” “I have strange dreams if there is thunder
while I sleep.” “I did not have strange dreams.”

c) “I am either clever or lucky.” “I am not lucky.” “If I am lucky, then I will win the lottery.”

d) “Every computer science major has a personal computer.” “Ralph does not have a personal
computer.” “Ann has a personal computer.”

e) “What is good for corporations is good for the United States.” “What is good for the United
States is good for you.” “What is good for corporations is for you to buy lots of stuff.”

f) “All rodents gnaw their food.” “Mice are rodents.” “Rabbits do not gnaw their food.” “Bats are
not rodents.”

Step-by-step solution

Step 1 of 19
Statement: A statement is a sentence that is either true or false but cannot be both.

Step 2 of 19

(a)

Consider the collection of premises,

If I take the day off it either rains or snows.

I took Tuesday off or I took Thursday off.

On Tuesday, it was sunny.

On Thursday, it did not snow.

The objective is to write the relevant conclusions.

Step 3 of 19
Consider the propositions is defined as I took the day x off. R: It rains. S: It snows.

Consider the statements:

First, if I take the day off, it either rains or snows:

Second, I took Tuesday off or I took Thursday Off:

Third, it was sunny on Tuesday. It may be interpreted as: It did not rain and did not snow on
Tuesday.

Fourth, it did not snow on Thursday.

Step 4 of 19

Use the Rules of Inference; give the conclusion for these premises.

So valid conclusions are:

I did not take Tuesday off:

I took Thursday off:

It rained on Thursday.

Because, if Tuesday was chosen then it would neither rain nor snow contradicting the premise

Step 5 of 19
Hence, the valid conclusion is,

On Thursday, it is rained. So, I took Thursday off.

And on Tuesday, it was sunny. So, i did not take Tuesday off.

Hence, the valid conclusion is: “I took Thursday off”.

Step 6 of 19

(b)

Consider the collection of premises:

If I eat spicy food then I have strange dreams.

If there is thunder while I sleep, I have strange dreams.

I did not have strange dreams.

The objective is to write the relevant conclusions.

Step 7 of 19
Let the propositions be defined as,

F: I eat spicy foods.

D: I have strange dreams.

T: There is thunder.

S: I sleep.

Use the Rules of Inference; give the conclusion for these premises.

Now, the statements:

First, if I eat spicy foods, then I have strange dreams:

Second, I have strange dreams if there is thunder while I sleep:

Third, I did not have strange dreams:

Step 8 of 19

Use the contrapositive form of (1) and (3) and apply the Modus Pones,

Use the contrapositive form of (2),

Hence,

Also by hypothetical syllogism,

Valid conclusions are: “I did not eat spicy foods and it did not thunder”.

Step 9 of 19
(c)

Consider the collection of premises,

I am either clever or lucky.

I am not lucky.

If I am lucky then I will win the lottery.

The objective is to write the relevant conclusions.

Step 10 of 19

Let the propositions be defined as,

C: I am clever.

L: I am lucky.

W: I will win the lottery.

Use the Rules of Inference; give the conclusion for these premises.

Now, the statements:

First, I am either clever or lucky:

Second, I am not lucky:

Third, if I am lucky, then I will win the lottery:

Step 11 of 19
So, the valid conclusion is: “I am clever”.

From disjunctive syllogism inference rule,

By disjunctive syllogism inference rule, the valid conclusion is “I am clever”.

Step 12 of 19

(d)

Consider the collection of premises,

Every computer science major has a personal computer.

Ralph does not have a personal computer.

Ann has a personal computer.

The objective is to write the relevant conclusion.

Step 13 of 19
Consider the propositions be defined as,

A computer science major x has a personal computer.

R : Ralph has a personal computer.

A: Ann has a personal computer.

Use the Rules of Inference; give the conclusion for these premises.

Now, the statements:

First, every computer science major has a personal computer:

Second, Ralph does not have a personal computer:

Third, Ann has a personal computer: A

Step 14 of 19

By Hypothetical syllogism inference rule,

Every computer science major has a personal computer.

Ralph does not have a personal computer.

So, Ralph is not a computer science major.

The valid conclusion is: “Ralph is not a computer science major”.

Step 15 of 19
(e)

Consider the collection of premises,

What is good for corporations is good for the United States.

What is good for United States is good for you.

What is good for corporations is for you to buy lots of stuff.

The objective is to write the relevant conclusion.

Step 16 of 19

Consider the propositions be defined as,

C: Buy lots of stuff are good for the corporations.

U: Buy lots of stuff are good for the United States.

S: Buy lots of stuff are good for you.

Use the Rules of Inference; give the conclusion for these premises.

Now, the statements:

First, what is good for corporations is good for the United States:

Second, what is good for the United States is good for you:

Third, what is good for corporations is for you to buy lots of stuff:

Step 17 of 19
By Hypothetical syllogism inference rule,

The valid conclusion is: “You buy lots of stuff is good for the United States and is good for
you”.

Step 18 of 19

(f)

Consider the collection of premises.

All rodents gnaw their food.

Mice are rodents.

Rabbits do not gnaw their food.

Bats are not rodents.

The objective is to write the relevant conclusion.

Step 19 of 19
Consider the propositions be defined as,

R: All rodents gnaw their food.

M: Mice are rodents.

F: Rabbits gnaw their food.

B: Bats are not rodents.

Use the Rules of Inference; give the conclusion for these premises.

Now, the statements:

First, all rodents gnaw their food: R

Second, Mice are rodents: M

Third, Rabbits do not gnaw their food:

Fourth, Bats are not rodents:

By conjunction inference rule,

The valid conclusions are: “Mice gnaw their food” and “Rabbits are not rodents”.