MATHEMATICS IN

THE MODERN WORLD

 Section 1.2
Mathematical Language and Symbols

“Like any language,

mathematics has its own
symbols, syntax and rules.”
 Section 1.2
Mathematical Language and Symbols
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

1. Discuss the language, symbols and

conventions of mathematics (K)
2. Explain the nature of mathematics as a
language (K)
3. Perform operations on mathematical
expressions correctly (S)
4. Acknowledge that mathematics is a useful
language (V)
Let’s get started with...

Logic!
 Introduction

• Logic is the art and science of

reasoning
– Science, since it uses principles, laws and
methods in solving problems
– Art, since it requires skill and critical
insight when reasoning

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Logical Structures Introduction
 Uses of logic
• Mathematics, to prove theorems
• Computer science, to develop programs
and to prove that those programs do
what they are expected to do
• Natural and physical sciences, to draw
conclusions from experiments
• Social sciences, to solve multitude of
problems

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Logical Structures Introduction
 Three types of logic

• Propositional logic (PL)

• First order predicate logic (FOPL)

• Fuzzy logic (FL)

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Logical Structures Introduction
 Propositional Logic

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Logical Structures
 Proposition

• Logic is a system based on

propositions.
• A proposition is a declarative
statement that is either true or
false, but not both.
– A declarative statement is a sentence
which conveys information.

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Logical Structures Propositional Logic
 Truth Value

• A propositional logic is a logic which

deals with statements that are
either true or false (but not both).

• We say that the truth value of a

proposition is either true (T) or
false (F).

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Logical Structures Propositional Logic
 Example

“Elephants are bigger than mice.”

Is this a declarative yes

statement?
Is this a proposition? yes

What is the truth value

of the proposition? true

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Logical Structures Propositional Logic
 Example

“520 < 111”

Is this a declarative
yes
statement?
Is this a proposition? yes

What is the truth value

of the proposition? false

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Logical Structures Propositional Logic
 Example
“y > 5”
Is this a declarative
statement? yes
Is this a proposition? no

Its truth value depends on the value of y,

but this value is not specified.
We call this type of statement a
propositional function or open sentence.
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Logical Structures Propositional Logic
 Example

“Please do not fall asleep.”

Is this a declarative no
statement?
It’s a request.
Is this a proposition? no

Only statements can be propositions.

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Logical Structures Propositional Logic
 Building blocks of PL

• Propositions

• Logical connectives (operators)

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Logical Structures Propositional Logic
 Compound Proposition

• A compound proposition is formed

by two or more propositions
combined by logical connectives

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Logical Structures Propositional Logic
 Basic logical connectives
• Not
• And
• Or
• If-then
• If and only if

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Logical Structures Propositional Logic
 Example
“Today is January 27 and 99 < 5.”

Is this a declarative yes

statement?
Is this a proposition? yes

What is the truth value

of the proposition? false

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Logical Structures Propositional Logic
 Example
“If the moon is made of cheese,
then I will be rich.”
Is this a declarative
yes
statement?
Is this a proposition? yes

What is the truth value

of the proposition? probably true

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Logical Structures Propositional Logic
 Example
“If elephants were red,
they could hide in cherry trees.”

Is this a statement? yes

Is this a proposition? yes

What is the truth value

of the proposition? probably false

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Logical Structures Propositional Logic
 Example
“x < y if and only if y > x.”
Is this a declarative yes
statement?
Is this a proposition? yes
… because its truth value
does not depend on
specific values of x and y.
What is the truth value
true
of the proposition?
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Logical Structures Propositional Logic
 Symbols in PL

• Propositions are denoted by letters

such as p, q, r, s, and

• Logical operators by the following:

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Logical Structures Propositional Logic
 Name Equivalent Symbol Form Other keywords
term
not negation
~ ~P The denial of p; it is not
the case that p

and conjunction
 PQ Both P and Q; but; while

or disjunction
 PQ Either P or Q; at least
one of

If-then Implication;
 PQ Q if P; P only if Q; Q
conditional when P; Q provided that
P; P is sufficient condition
for Q; Q is necessary
condition for P
If and equivalence;
 PQ P is equivalent to Q
only if biconditional

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Logical Structures Propositional Logic
 Precedence rules

• Negation NOT *highest priority

• Conjunction AND
• Disjunction OR
• Implication if – then
• Biconditional if and only if *lowest priority

*Unless grouped

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Logical Structures Propositional Logic
 Illustration
last to consider

p  q  r  (p)  s

first to consider

last to consider

(p  q)  [(r  p)  s]
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Logical Structures Propositional Logic
 Example
A. Translate the following compound
propositions into symbolic logic using the
specified letter(s).

• To be or not to be. (p)

p to be
~p not to be
Translation
p  ~p
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Logical Structures Propositional Logic
 Example
• You will pass the course if and only if
you get a “C” in the final exam. (p, c)
p You will pass the course.
c You get a “C” in the final exam.
Translation
pc

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Logical Structures Propositional Logic
 Example
• If it is rainy today then either I stay
home or take a taxi. (r, s, t)
r It is rainy today.
s I stay home.
t I take a taxi.
Translation
r  (s  t)

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Logical Structures Propositional Logic
 Example
• Neither the North nor the South won
the game. (n, s)
n The North won the game.
s The South won the game.
Possible translation:
~ (n  s)
~n~s
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Logical Structures Propositional Logic
 Exercise 3
Translate the following compound propositions
into symbolic logic using the specified letters.

1. It is not raining today. (r)

2. 1 + 1 = 2 and it is not raining today. (p, r)
3. If Makoy killed Ninoy, then it is raining today. (m, r)
4. I will not watch a movie, and I will study discrete
mathematics. (w, s)
5. If I am not in a good mood, then I will not study
discrete mathematics and I will watch a movie. (g, s, w)

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Logical Structures Propositional Logic
 Exercise 3
6. I will watch a movie only if I will not study discrete
mathematics or I am not in a good mood. (w, s, g)
7. I am in a good mood if I will neither study discrete
mathematics nor watch a movie. (s, w, g)
8. To take discrete mathematics, you must have taken
calculus or a course in computer science. (d, c, s)
9. God, the government, and religion will not allow that
day to come. (G, g, r)
10. If either labor or management is stubborn, then the
strike will be settled if and only if the government
obtains an injunction but troops are not sent into the
mills. (l, m, s, g t)

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Logical Structures Propositional Logic