CSC 248 Spring 2023 SOLUTIONS Page 1 of 2

Quiz 1
1. Let p, q, and r be the propositions
p: Grizzly bears have been seen in the area
q: Hiking is safe on the trail
r: Berries are ripe along the trail
Write these propositions using p, q, and r and logical connectives (including negations).
(a) For hiking on the trail to be safe, it is necessary but not sufficient that berries not be ripe along the
trail and for grizzly bears not to have been seen in the area.

Solution: h i
q → (¬r ∧ ¬p) ∧ ¬ (¬r ∧ ¬p) → q
| {z } |
it is necessary
{z }
it is not sufficient

2. Write each of these statements in the form “if p, then q” in English.

(a) Winds from the south imply a spring thaw.

Solution: If there are winds from the south, then there will be a spring thaw.

(b) You can access the website only if you pay a subscription fee.

Solution: If you can access the website, then you paid a subscription fee.

3. Construct a truth table for each of these propositions.

(a) p ⊕ (p ∨ q)

Solution:
p q (p ⊕ (p ∨ q))
T T F T
T F F T
F T T T
F F F F

4. Show that each of these conditional statements is a tautology by using truth tables.
(a) [p ∧ (p → q)] → q

Solution:
p q [p ∧ (p → q)] → q
T T T T T
T F F F T
F T F T T
F F F T T
CSC 248 Spring 2023 Quiz 1 SOLUTIONS Page 2 of 2

5. Show that the following pair of statements are equivalent without using a truth table.

p↔q and (p ∧ q) ∨ (¬p ∧ ¬q)

Solution:
Proof. Sequence of logical equivalences, left to right.

p ↔ q ≡ (p → q) ∧ (q → p)
≡ (¬p ∨ q) ∧ (¬q ∨ p)
≡ (¬p ∧ ¬q) ∨ (¬p ∧ p) ∨ (q ∧ ¬q) ∨ (q ∧ p)
≡ (¬p ∧ ¬q) ∨ F ∨ F ∨ (q ∧ p)
≡ (¬p ∧ ¬q) ∨ (q ∧ p)

Or possibly
Proof. Sequence of logical equivalences, right to left.

(p ∧ q) ∨ (¬p ∧ ¬q) ≡ (p ∨ ¬p) ∧ (p ∨ ¬q) ∧ (q ∨ ¬p) ∧ (q ∨ ¬q)

≡ T ∧ (p ∨ ¬q) ∧ (q ∨ ¬p) ∧ T
≡ (p ∨ ¬q) ∧ (q ∨ ¬p)
≡ (q → p) ∧ (p → q)
≡p↔q