Does Proving a Contradiction Imply a Logical Relationship?

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Homework Statement



Prove or disprove:

"If you can prove [tex]( y \wedge \neg c ) \rightarrow Contradiction[/tex], then
[tex]y \rightarrow c[/tex] must be right."

Homework Equations



My teacher used the sign [tex]\wedge[/tex], instead of [tex]\vee[/tex], like:

"If [tex]( a \wedge b \wedge \neg c ) \rightarrow Contradiction[/tex], then [tex]a \wedge b \rightarrow c[/tex] must be right."

I feel it is not right.

The Attempt at a Solution



I proved in my replies:

"If you can prove [tex]( a \wedge b \vee \neg c ) \rightarrow Contradiction[/tex], then
[tex]a \wedge b \rightarrow c[/tex] must be right."

I used the facts in my proof:

[tex]a \wedge \neg b = \neg ( a \rightarrow b ) = ( a \not \rightarrow b ) \not = \neg b \rightarrow \neg a \not = \neg a \not \rightarrow \neg b[/tex]
 
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I'm pretty sure you're either missing something or else you have mistyped it. (*) does not follow from the two contradictions given.
 
hatsoff said:
I'm pretty sure you're either missing something or else you have mistyped it. (*) does not follow from the two contradictions given.

Let's simplify. I know for sure:[tex]\neg ( a \rightarrow b ) = a \wedge \neg b[/tex]

So

[tex]( a \rightarrow b ) = \neg a \vee b[/tex]

If I want to prove [tex]( a \rightarrow b )[/tex], then the finding [tex]a \wedge \neg b \rightarrow Contradiction[/tex] will prove it. Please, notice that [tex]\neg ( a \rightarrow b ) \rightarrow Contradiction[/tex] because the two statements are equivalent. As [tex]\neg ( a \rightarrow b )[/tex] and [tex]( a \rightarrow b )[/tex] cannot be true at the same time, the conclusion must be valid.Let's compare its logic to the logic in the case:
Horse said:
The Argument:

[tex]a \wedge b \rightarrow c[/tex] (*)

Its contradictions:

[tex]\neg a \wedge b \wedge \neg c \rightarrow Contradiction[/tex]

[tex]a \wedge \neg b \wedge \neg c \rightarrow Contradiction[/tex]

We notice that the argument is:
[tex]a \wedge b \rightarrow c = \neg ( a \rightarrow \neg b ) \rightarrow c[/tex]

So [tex]\neg ( \neg ( a \rightarrow \neg b ) \rightarrow c ) \rightarrow Contradiction[/tex] must prove it, by the logic above this reply.

Let's write its part differently:

[tex]\neg ( \neg ( a \rightarrow \neg b ) \rightarrow c ) = \neg ( a \rightarrow \neg b ) \not \rightarrow c = a \wedge b \not \rightarrow c[/tex]

So I need to find that:

[tex]( a \wedge b \not \rightarrow c ) \rightarrow Contradiction = ( \neg a \vee \neg b \rightarrow \neg c ) \rightarrow Contradiction[/tex]

Let's call [tex]d = \neg a \vee \neg b[/tex]. So

[tex]( d \rightarrow \neg c ) \rightarrow Contradiction[/tex]

Let's use again:

[tex]( a \rightarrow b ) = \neg a \vee b[/tex]

So it becomes:
[tex]( d \rightarrow \neg c ) \rightarrow Contradiction = ( \neg d \vee \neg c ) \rightarrow Contradiction[/tex]

It is equivalent to:

[tex]( a \wedge b \vee \neg c ) \rightarrow Contradiction[/tex]

Conclusion

My teacher probably had something wrong. It should be right:

[tex]( a \wedge b \vee \neg c ) \rightarrow Contradiction[/tex]
 
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New Problem

Prove [tex]a \vee b \rightarrow c[/tex]

Conjecture, according to my last proof:

"If you can prove [tex]( a \vee b \vee \neg c ) \rightarrow Contradiction[/tex], then
[tex]a \vee b \rightarrow c[/tex] must be right."

It is similar to the last proof by contradiction:

"If you can prove [tex]( a \wedge b \vee \neg c ) \rightarrow Contradiction[/tex], then
[tex]a \wedge b \rightarrow c[/tex] must be right."
 
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Horse said:
Prove [tex]a \vee b \rightarrow c[/tex]

Conjecture, according to my last proof:

"If you can prove [tex]( a \vee b \vee \neg c ) \rightarrow Contradiction[/tex], then
[tex]a \vee b \rightarrow c[/tex] must be right."

It is similar to the last proof by contradiction:

"If you can prove [tex]( a \wedge b \vee \neg c ) \rightarrow Contradiction[/tex], then
[tex]a \wedge b \rightarrow c[/tex] must be right."

Let's analyse them. Let [tex]p = a \vee b[/tex] and [tex]y = a \wedge b[/tex]. So the problems become:

"If you can prove [tex]( p \vee \neg c ) \rightarrow Contradiction[/tex], then
[tex]p \rightarrow c[/tex] must be right."

"If you can prove [tex]( y \vee \neg c ) \rightarrow Contradiction[/tex], then
[tex]y \rightarrow c[/tex] must be right."

I think the problem is now solved, because you can see it is basically of the same form.
 


Horse said:
"If you can prove [tex]( y \vee \neg c ) \rightarrow Contradiction[/tex], then
[tex]y \rightarrow c[/tex] must be right."

Does the following method work?

"If you can prove [tex]( y \wedge \neg c ) \rightarrow Contradiction[/tex], then
[tex]y \rightarrow c[/tex] must be right."
 
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