Predicate Logic Defined
What is a Predicate Logic?
• It is also known as the propositional function or open sentence
• It is a proposition whose TRUTH VALUE depends on the VALUE of the SUBJECT of a statement
• It is expressed as P(x)
Examples:
1. Let P(x) denote the statement “x – 3 > 5”. What are the truth values?
a) P(2) b) P(8) c) P(9)
2. Let a ternary predicate Q(x, y, z) denote the statement “x + y = z”. What are the truth values?
a) Q(2, 3, 5) b) Q(0, 1, 2) c) Q(9, -9, 0)
Practice Exercise:
• Let Q(x) denote the statement “x is an integer”. What are the truth values?
a) Q(-1) d) Q(√−4)
b) Q(0) e) Q(√4)
c) Q(8/2)
What is a Domain/Universe of Discourse?
• It is the set from which the value of the subject x may be chosen for a given P(x)
Universal and Existential Quantifier
What is a Quantification?
• It expresses the extent to which a predicate P is TRUE (or FALSE) for ALL possible values in the universe of discourse
or for SOME value(s) in the universe of discourse
• Two (2) Types of Quantification
o Universal Quantification
▪ It is represented by , which means “FOR ALL”
▪ x P(x) P(n1) P(n2) … P(nk)
▪ Example:
• Let P(x) denote the sentence x + 1 > x. What is the truth value of x P(x), where the
universe of discourse for x is {2, 3, 4, 5}?
o Existential Quantification (x P(x))
▪ It is represented by , which means “THERE EXISTS”
▪ x P(x) P(n1) P(n2) … P(nk)
▪ Example:
−𝑏±√𝑏2−4𝑎𝑐
• Let P(x) denote the sentence 𝑥 = . What is the truth value of x P(x), where the
2𝑎𝑐
universe of discourse for x is the set of all real numbers? Note: a, b, c are fixed constants.
Practice Exercise:
• Determine the truth value of each of these statements if the domain consists of all integers
a) n(n + 1 > n) c) n(2n = 3n)
b) n(n = −n) d) n(3n ≤ 4n)
Counterexample of xP(x)
• It is an element/object for which P(x) is FALSE
Rules of Quantification Denial (QD)
• It states that when a universe of discourse is defined for the variable x, then for any propositional function P(x):
o (x P(x)) ≡ x (P(x))
o (x P(x)) ≡ x (P(x))
Nested Quantifier
Nested Quantifier
• It is a quantifier that appears within the scope of another quantifier
Quantifications of Two (2) Variables
When is it true? Truth Value When is it false?
Statements
xyP(x,y)
P(x, y) is true for every pair x, y There is a pair x, y for which P(x, y) is false
yxP(x,y)
Example
• Let P (x,y) be the statement “x + y = 1”, where the domain for x is {2} and {3} for y. Express the quantification xy
P(x,y) in English sentence and determine its truth value
When is it true? Truth Value When is it false?
Statements
xyP(x,y)
There is a pair x, y for which P(x, y) is true P(x, y) is false for every pair x, y
yxP(x,y)
Example
• Let P (x,y) be the statement “xy = 6” , where the domain of x and y is the set of all integers. Express the
quantification the quantification xy P(x,y) in English sentence
Truth Value
Statements
When is it true? When is it false?
xyP(x,y) For every x, there is a y for which P(x,y) is true There is an x for which P(x,y) is false for every y
Example
• Let P (x,y) be the statement “x + y = 10”, where the domain of all variables consists of all real numbers. Express the
quantification xy P(x,y) in English sentence and determine its truth value
When is it true? Truth Value When is it false?
Statements
There is an x for which P(x,y) is
xyP(x,y) For every x there is a y for which P(x,y) is false
true for every y
Example
• Let P (x,y) be the statement “x + y = 10”, where the domain of all variables consists of all real numbers. Express the
quantification xyP(x,y) in English sentence and determine its truth value
Practice Exercises
• Let P (x,y) be the statement “Student x has taken class y”, where the domain for x consists of all students and y
consists of all computer engineering courses at your school
o Express each of the quantification in English sentences
▪ xyP(x,y)
▪ xyP(x,y)
▪ xyP(x,y)
▪ xyP(x,y)
• Use quantifiers to express the statement below
o Let P(x,y) be the statement “x loves y” where D for both x and y is the set of all people in the world.
Denote the following propositions:
▪ Everyone loves everyone.
▪ For everyone, everyone loves them.
▪ Everyone loves someone.
▪ There is someone who is loved by everyone.
▪ There is someone who loves everyone.
▪ For everyone, there is someone who loves them.
▪ There is someone who loves someone.
▪ There is someone who is loved by someone.
References:
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