TRUTH TABLE

A truth table is composed of one column for each input variable (for example, A and B), and one final
column for all of the possible results of the logical operation that the table is meant to represent (for
example, A XOR B). Each row of the truth table therefore contains one possible configuration of the
input variables (for instance, A=true B=false), and the result of the operation for those values.

EXAMPLES:

1.) a. Construct a table for ~(p^q) v~p

p q p^q (p^q) ~p (p^q)v~p

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

b. Using the truth table from A, determine the truth value of ~ (p^q) v~p, given that p is false
and q is false.
Answer:
The statement ~ (p^q) v ~ p is true when p and q are false.

2.) Construct a truth table for q v(p^~q) using the alternative procedure.

p q q v (p ^ ~ q)
T T T T T F F
T F F T T T T
F T T T F F F
F F F F F F T

EQUIVALENT STATEMENT

Equivalent Statements are statements that are written differently, but hold the same logical
equivalence.

EXAMPLES:

Using the De Morgan’s Law of statements, restate the given statements in an equivalent form:
1.) It is not true that, I am lazy and I got low grades.
Solutions:
Let p: I am lazy
q: I got low grades
The statement is stated in a form ~ (p^q) ~(p^q) ~ p ^~q
 Conclusion: The equivalent statement of the given is “I am not a lazy or I did not get the low
grades.”

2.) Show that (p ~q) ^~p ≡ (p^~p) V (~q^~P)

p Q (p v ~ q) ^ ~ p p Q (p ᴧ ~ p) v (~q ᴧ ~p )
T T T T F F F T T T F F F F F F
T F T T T F F T F T F F F T F F
F T F F F F T F T F F T F F F T
F F F T T T T F F F F T T T T T
Identical truth values

Conclusion:

(p v ~ q) ᴧ ~ p ≡ (p ᴧ ~p) v (~q ᴧ ~p)

TAUTOLOGIES AND SELF CONTRADICTIONS

A tautology is a statement that is true in virtue of its form. In contrast, a contradiction is a

statement that is false in virtue of its form.

EXAMPLES:

1.) Identify if (p v q) v~q is a tautology.

p q (p v q ) v ~ q

T T T T T T F
T F T T F T T
F T F T T T F
F F F F F T T
Conclusion: the table shows that the truth values is always true, so it is a tautology.

2.) Identify if ~(pvq) ᴧ (pvq) is a self-contradiction.

p q ~ ( p v q) ᴧ (p v q)

T T F T T T F T T T

T F F T T F F T T F
F T F F T T F F T T
F F T F F F F F F F
Conclusion: The table shows that the truth values is always false, so it is self-contradictions.

3.) Identify if the given is tautology or self-contradiction.

~p v (p v~q) =

p q ~p v (p v ~ q
T T F T T T F
T F F T T T T
F T T T F F F
F F T T F T T

Conclusion: the table shows that the truth values are always true, so it is tautology.