Discrete Mathematics
Logical Equivalences
• Identity laws p∧T≡p p∨F≡p
• Domination laws p∨T≡T p∧F≡F
• Idempotent laws p∨p≡p p∧p≡p
• Commutative laws p∨q ≡q∨p p∧q ≡q∧p
• Double-negation law ¬(¬p) ≡ p
• Associative laws
(p ∨ q) ∨ r ≡ p ∨ (q ∨ r) (p ∧ q) ∧ r ≡ p ∧ (q ∧ r)
• Distributive laws
p ∨ (q ∧ r) ≡ (p ∨ q) ∧ (p ∨ r) p ∧ (q ∨ r) ≡ (p ∧ q) ∨ (p ∧ r)
• De Morgan’s laws
¬(p ∧ q) ≡ ¬p ∨ ¬q ¬(p ∨ q) ≡ ¬p ∧ ¬q
• More logical equivalences
p → q ≡ ¬p ∨ q p → q ≡ ¬q → ¬p p ∨ q ≡ ¬p → q
p ∧ q ≡ ¬(p → ¬q) p ↔ q ≡ (p → q) ∧ (q → p) p ↔ q ≡ ¬p ↔ ¬q
Field Axioms
1. ∀x (x + 0 = x) (Additive Identity)
2. ∀x ∃y (x + y = 0) (Additive Inverse)
3. ∀x ∀y (x + y = y + x) (Addition Commutativity)
4. ∀x ∀y ∀z (x + y) + z = x + (y + z) (Addition Associativity)
5. ∀x (1 · x = x) (Multiplicative Identity)
6. ∀x ∃y (x 6= 0 → x · y = 1) (Multiplicative Inverse)
7. ∀x ∀y (x · y = y · x) (Multiplication Commutativity)
8. ∀x ∀y ∀z (x · y) · z = x · (y · z) (Multiplication Associativity)
9. ∀x ∀y ∀z x · (y + z) = x · y + x · z) (Distributivity)
Discrete Mathematics
Rules of Inference
Modus Ponens Modus Tollens
1. p → q 1. p → q
2. p 2. ¬q
∴ q ∴ ¬p
Hypothetical Syllogism Disjunctive Syllogism
1. p→q 1. p∨q
2. q→r 2. ¬p
∴ p→r ∴ q
Addition Rule Simplification Rule
p p∧q
∴ p∨q ∴ p
Conjunction Rule Resolution Rule
1. p 1. p∨q
2. q 2. ¬p ∨ r
∴ p∧q ∴ q∨r
Universal Instantiation
∀xP (x)
∴ P (c) where c is a particular element of the domain
Universal Generalisation
P (c) for any arbitrary element c
∴ ∀xP (x)
Existential Instantiation
∃xP (x)
∴ P (c) for some element c
Existential Generalisation
P (c) for some particular element c
∴ ∃xP (x)
Discrete Mathematics
Set Identities
Let A, B, C be sets and U be the universal set which contains all objects under consider-
ation. In particular, each of A, B, C is a subset of U .
Identity Laws A∩U =A
A∪∅=A
Domination Laws A∪U =U
A∩∅=∅
Idempotent Laws A∪A=A
A∩A=A
Complementation Laws (A) = A
Commutative Laws A∪B =B∪A
A∩B =B∩A
Associative Laws A ∪ (B ∪ C) = (A ∪ B) ∪ C
A ∩ (B ∩ C) = (A ∩ B) ∩ C
Distributive Laws A ∪ (B ∩ C) = (A ∪ B) ∩ (A ∪ C)
A ∩ (B ∪ C) = (A ∩ B) ∪ (A ∩ C)
Complement Laws A∪A=U
A∩A=∅
De Morgan’s Laws A∩B =A∪B
A∪B =A∩B