Bridge to abstract math: what is wrong with following proof

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on a proof attempting to validate the statement "if x^2 = 12 - x, then either x = -1 or (x + 3)/(x + 1) ≥ 12." Participants clarify that the statement is false, as the only solutions to the equation are x = 3 and x = -4, neither of which satisfy the conditions. The proof's flaw lies in misinterpreting the logical structure and incorrectly asserting the truth of the proposition. Tools like Wolfram Alpha are recommended for checking truth tables to verify logical expressions.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of propositional logic and truth tables
  • Familiarity with algebraic equations and their solutions
  • Knowledge of logical equivalences, specifically (P ∨ Q) → R and (P → R) ∧ (Q → R)
  • Experience with mathematical proof techniques
NEXT STEPS
  • Learn how to construct and analyze truth tables using Wolfram Alpha
  • Study logical equivalences in propositional calculus
  • Explore common pitfalls in mathematical proofs and how to avoid them
  • Investigate the implications of conditional statements in algebraic contexts
USEFUL FOR

Mathematics students, educators, and anyone interested in understanding logical proofs and their applications in algebra.

Aziza
Messages
189
Reaction score
1
See attached picture.

The question asks to prove that the statement which I have written on the first line is true. But I somehow proceeded to proving it is false. Basically what I did was simplify the given expression into the form (P or Q) => R and said this is equivalent to (P=>R) ^ (Q=>R). Then just looking at P=>R I arrived at a contradiction, so because F^T if F, the entire initial proposition is false. Where am I going wrong..?
 

Attachments

  • mms_picture22.jpg
    mms_picture22.jpg
    14.2 KB · Views: 476
Physics news on Phys.org
Interesting... (P \lor Q) \rightarrow R
What is the truth table for this? That is one way of showing it. Namely, what is the value of R for various values of P and Q.

Similarly, what are those values in the case of (P \rightarrow R) \wedge (Q \rightarrow R)

Hint: Wolfram Alpha is amazing for checking your truth tables...
 
UNChaneul said:
Interesting... (P \lor Q) \rightarrow R
What is the truth table for this? That is one way of showing it. Namely, what is the value of R for various values of P and Q.

Similarly, what are those values in the case of (P \rightarrow R) \wedge (Q \rightarrow R)

Hint: Wolfram Alpha is amazing for checking your truth tables...

No that's not my question...I know that this part of my proof is right. It is page 35 of my book lol. My question is that something else must be wrong with my proof
 
Your result is correct. The statement you are trying to prove is obviously false for x = 3. I should also add that it does not seem to make much sense in the first place: it starts for "all x", but there are exactly two values of x for which it could possibly be non-trivial. Are you sure you wrote it down properly?
 
It is very hard to read what you have written- it surely would have been less trouble just to type the problem here! It appears to ask you to prove "if x^2= 12- x then either x= -1 or (x+ 3)/(x+1) is greater than or equal to 12".

The only thing wrong is just what you say- this is NOT true. If x^2= 12- x then x is either 3 or -4. Neither of those is -1 so the "x= -1" part is false. If x= 3 then (x+3)/(x+ 1) is (3+3)(3+ 1)= 6/4= 3/2 which is NOT "greater than or equal to 12". If x= -4 then (x+ 3)/(x+ 1) is (-4+ 3)/(-4+1)= -1/(-3)= 1/3 which also is OT "greater than or equal to 12".

Check to see if you haven't copied the problem incorrectly.
 
the professor wrote it wrong i found out today, but thanks anyways!
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
1K
  • · Replies 31 ·
2
Replies
31
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K