Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the equivalence of set expressions involving intersections and complements, specifically whether $$A\cap B^c\cap C^c= A\cap C^c$$ can be equivalent to $$A\cap B\cap C= A\cap B$$. Participants explore this question through logical reasoning, set theory principles, and propositional logic.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory
- Technical explanation
- Debate/contested
- Mathematical reasoning
Main Points Raised
- Some participants assert that the equivalence holds for all sets $A$, $B$, and $C$, while others express skepticism about determining this without a counterexample.
- There is a discussion about the nature of set theory, with some noting that it is not a decidable theory, while others suggest that certain problems can be encoded in propositional logic, which is decidable.
- Participants propose a propositional formula to represent the equivalence and discuss its validity, with one participant claiming it is a tautology.
- Some participants inquire about the difficulty of finding a solution in Boolean algebra compared to propositional logic, and there are requests for hints on proving the equivalence using Boolean algebra axioms.
- One participant suggests that the two equations hold if $$A \cap B \cap C^c = \emptyset$$, indicating a specific condition under which the equivalence may be true.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
There is no consensus on the equivalence of the two set expressions. Some participants believe it holds universally, while others question this and seek further clarification or proof.
Contextual Notes
Participants mention the limitations of set theory and the challenges in deriving equivalences using Boolean algebra, indicating that the discussion may depend on specific definitions and assumptions about the sets involved.