Jemarie C.

Lagado N323 – Monday, 2:00-4:00 PM

Mathematics in the Modern World

Lesson 4.1
Learning Tasks/Activities & Assessment

Learning Tasks/Activities

1. Determine which of the given sentences is a proposition. For each proposition,

determine its truth value.
a. 0 divided by 0 is 1. Proposition Truth Value: False
b. Are we there yet? Not a proposition
c. Turf off the light when no one is using it. Not a proposition
d. There are three primary colors. Proposition Truth Value: True

2. Determine the truth value of the following propositions and provide reasons for your
answer.
1
a. ∀ x in the set of real numbers, is a real number.
x
1
For all values of x in the set of real numbers, is a real number is true,
x
since the reciprocal of all real numbers x as are real numbers.

b. ∃x in the set of integers for which 2x – 3 = - 3.

There exist a number x in the set of integers for which 2 x−3=−3 is true
since 0 is an integer and 2(0)−3=−3 .

3. Construct a truth table of the following propositions and determine whether it is a

tautology, a contradiction, or neither.
a. ( p →q ) V ( q → p )

p q p →q q→ p ( p →q ) ∨ ( q → p )
T T T T T
T F F T T
F T T F T
F F T T T

The proposition is a tautology.

 b. ( p ∧ p ) ∧ q

p q p∧ p p ( p ∧ p) ∧ q
T T T F F
T F F F F
F T F T F
F F F T F

The proposition is a contradiction.

4. Show that ( p →q ≡ q → p ).

p q p →q q p q→ p
T T T F F T
T F F T F F
F T T F T T
F F T T T T

It can be seen that the third and sixth column have the same truth values.
Hence, p →q ≡ q → p .

5. Determine the validity of the following argument:

If two sides of a triangle are equal, then the angles opposite to these sides are
equal.
Two sides of a triangle are not equal.
Therefore, the angles opposite to these sides are not equal.

Let p to denote “Two sides of a triangle are equal”

And q denote “The angles opposite to these sides are equal”
The given argument:
p →q
p
∴ q

[ ( p →q ) ∧ p ]→ q
p q p →q p ( p →q ) ∧ p q [ ( p →q ) ∧ p ] → q
T T T F F F T
T F F F F T T
F T T T T F F
F F T T T T T
[ ( p →q ) ∧ p ] → q is not a tautology. Therefore, the given argument is a fallacy.
Assessment

1. Determine the truth values of the following propositions.

a. It is not the case that 2 is the only even prime number.
 This proposition is true since 2 is not the only prime number.
b. The number π is an irrational number and its value is less than 3.
 This proposition is false. Even if π is an irrational number, but its
value is not lesson than 3.
c. 13 is a composite number or 13 is an odd number.
 This proposition is true. Even if 13 is not a composite number, still, 13 is
an odd number. Thus, it has one disjunct that is true.
d. If 2 divides all even numbers, then 22 is divisible by 2.
 This proposition is true, since both the hypothesis and conclusion
are true.

2. Given the following proportions,

p : Dyroth is a prince.
q : Odette is beautiful.
r : Cyclops has one eye.

i) Express the following propositions symbolically.

a. Cyclops has two eyes and Odette is beautiful.
r ∧q
b. Either Odette is beautiful or Dyroth is a prince.
q∨ p
c. Either Odette is beautiful or Cyclops has one eye, but not both.
( q → r ) ∨(r → q)

ii) Express the following prepositions in words.

a. p ∨∼ q
Dyroth is a prince or Odette is not beautiful.
b. ∼ q → p
If Odette is not beautiful, then Dyroth is not a prince.

3. Establish the validity of the following argument using truth table.

Roger is either a human or a werewolf.

Roger is not human.
Therefore, he is werewolf.
Solution:

p ∨q : Roger is either a human or a werewolf.

p : Roger is not a human.
→ q : Therefore, he is a werewolf.

p q ~p p ∨q p →q ( pq ) →( p→ q)
T T F T T T
T F F F T T
F T T T T T
F F T F F T

Clearly, ( pq ) →( p→ q) is a tautology. Thus, the given argument is valid.