VALID AND

INVALID
ARGUMENTS
IN SENTENCE
FORM
Show that the argument is valid.
If Delight publishes a dissertation with original results, then she will earn a
Ph.D. She did not publish a dissertation with original results. Therefore, she
did not earn a Ph.D.

• Answer: Let p: “Delight publishes a dissertation with

original results”, q: “Delight earn a Ph.D.”. In proposition
form[(𝑝 → 𝑞) ∧ (~𝑞)] → (~𝑝). Hence, the argument is
valid by virtue of the “Modus Tollens”.
Show that the argument is invalid:
If Jason has a Ph.D. and has done a considerable amount of research, then he is qualified
for the research professor position. He was informed that he is qualified for the research
professor position. Therefore, Jason has a Ph.D. and has done a considerable amount of
research.

• Answer: Let p: “Jason has a Ph.D. and has done a

considerable amount of research” and p: “Jason is
qualified for the research professor position. In
proposition form [(𝑝 → 𝑞) ∧ 𝑞] → 𝑝. Hence, the
argument is invalid as exhibits the “Fallacy of the
Converse”.