Help with simple logic questions

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around logic questions related to implications and the formalization of statements using predicates. Participants explore the equivalence of logical implications and the use of quantifiers in formalizing statements about smart people and their financial success.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express confusion about the implications of "If P, then Q" and seek clarification on its equivalences.
  • There are differing interpretations of the logical statements involving predicates S(x) and M(x), with some proposing specific formalizations while others challenge those interpretations.
  • One participant suggests that "Only smart people make a lot of money" implies that making money necessitates being smart, while another argues that it does not imply all smart people make money.
  • Quantifiers are emphasized as necessary for formalizing statements, with discussions on the differences between universal and existential quantifiers.
  • Participants provide various formalizations for the statements, with some agreeing on certain interpretations while others remain uncertain or disagree.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally do not reach consensus on the interpretations and formalizations of the logic questions. Multiple competing views remain, particularly regarding the implications and the correct use of quantifiers.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note the importance of distinguishing between different logical forms and the necessity of using quantifiers correctly. There is also mention of common confusions regarding the implications of certain statements.

XodoX
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1. Mark as true or false. The implication "If P, then Q " is equivalent to:

a) P is necessary for Q
b) Q is sufficient for P
c) P is sufficient for Q
d) Q is necessary for P
e) P only if Q
f) Q only if P

It seems like there's missing something..If P is what? I don't get this.



2. Using predicates S(x) for "x is smart" , M(x) for "x makes a lot of money" , formalize the following satements.

a) Some smart people make a lot of money.
b) Not all smart people make a lot of money.
c) People who are smart make a lot of money
d) Only smart people make a lot of money.
e) There are people who are not smart but make a lot of money.


I don't get this one either. How am I supposed to use S(x) and M(x) here?


Thank you!
 
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XodoX said:
1. Mark as true or false. The implication "If P, then Q " is equivalent to:

a) P is necessary for Q
b) Q is sufficient for P
c) P is sufficient for Q
d) Q is necessary for P
e) P only if Q
f) Q only if P

It seems like there's missing something..If P is what? I don't get this.

"If P, then Q" means "If P is true, then Q is true."

Most logic texts list common interpretations of "if P, then Q." Compare these to the sentences in parts (a) through (f) to find those equivalent to "if P, then Q."


2. Using predicates S(x) for "x is smart" , M(x) for "x makes a lot of money" , formalize the following satements.

a) Some smart people make a lot of money.
b) Not all smart people make a lot of money.
c) People who are smart make a lot of money
d) Only smart people make a lot of money.
e) There are people who are not smart but make a lot of money.


I don't get this one either. How am I supposed to use S(x) and M(x) here?


Thank you!

You are expected to use quantifiers and the predicates S(x) and M(x) to form quantified statements.

For example "If no one were smart, then no one would make any money," is formalized as

[tex]\neg \exists x \;S(x) \Rightarrow \neg \exists x \;M(x)[/tex]

--Elucidus
 
Thanks. I got 1. now, but still not sure about 2.

Let's take a).

S(x) is smart people and M(x) is the money. Like the p and q in 1. M(x) never changes. it's always " make a lot of money".
Would a) be "S(x) V M(x)" ?
 
XodoX said:
Thanks. I got 1. now, but still not sure about 2.

Let's take a).

S(x) is smart people and M(x) is the money. Like the p and q in 1. M(x) never changes. it's always " make a lot of money".
Would a) be "S(x) V M(x)" ?

for a given x (a person)
if x is smart, then S(x) is true, otehrwise false
if x makes a lot of money, then M(x) is true, otherwise false

so for the c) which is probably easiest, you have
c) People who are smart make a lot of money
[tex]S(x) \rightarrow M(x)[/tex]

by the way I'd be intersted to see what you got for 1)
 
Xodox:

Your interpretation for part (a) [itex]S(x) \vee M(x)[/itex] is not quantified yet. Also you are using a disjunction (or) which indicates either x is smart or makes a lot of money.

You need to use either [itex]\forall x[/itex] or [itex]\exists x[/itex] for each predicate form.

lanedance:

You also need quantifiers. But keep in mind there is a difference between

[itex]\forall z P(z) \rightarrow \forall z Q(z) \text{ and } \forall z (P(z) \rightarrow Q(z))[/itex].

--Elucidus
 
Hi Ecludius

I'm not sure i understand?

I would take the shorthand
[tex]S(x) \rightarrow M(x)[/tex]

to mean
[tex]\forall x \in X, S(x) \rightarrow M(x)[/tex]

what do you mean by
[tex]\forall z P(z) \rightarrow \forall z Q(z)[/tex] ?
 
I was saying not to mistakingly interpret this as [itex]\forall x, S(x) \rightarrow \forall x, M(x)[/itex] which means something else. I've seen people have this confusion. I was using P and Q in the generic sense as an example.

--Elucidus
 
XodoX said:
1. Mark as true or false. The implication "If P, then Q " is equivalent to:

a) P is necessary for Q
b) Q is sufficient for P
c) P is sufficient for Q
d) Q is necessary for P
e) P only if Q
f) Q only if P

It seems like there's missing something..If P is what? I don't get this.



2. Using predicates S(x) for "x is smart" , M(x) for "x makes a lot of money" , formalize the following satements.

a) Some smart people make a lot of money.
b) Not all smart people make a lot of money.
c) People who are smart make a lot of money
d) Only smart people make a lot of money.
e) There are people who are not smart but make a lot of money.


I don't get this one either. How am I supposed to use S(x) and M(x) here?


Thank you!


For the 1st part we have:

a) false
b) false
c) true
d) true
e)false
f) true

For the 2nd part we have:

a) [tex]\exists x[ S(x)\wedge M(x)][/tex]

b)[tex]\neg\forall x[ S(x)\Longrightarrow M(x)][/tex] which is equivalent to:

[tex]\exists x [ S(x)\wedge\neg M(x)][/tex]

c) [tex]\forall x[ S(x)\Longrightarrow M(x)][/tex]

d)[tex]\forall x[ S(x)\Longleftrightarrow M(x)[/tex]

e)[tex]\exists x[ \neg S(x)\wedge M(x)][/tex]
 
evagelos said:
a) false
b) false
c) true
d) true
e)false
f) true
To me, "P only if Q" means that Q is necessary for P, i.e., if Q is not true, then P is not true, i.e., ~Q --> ~P. What statement is this equivalent to?

a) [tex]\exists x[ S(x)\wedge M(x)][/tex]

b)[tex]\neg\forall x[ S(x)\Longrightarrow M(x)][/tex] which is equivalent to:

[tex]\exists x [ S(x)\wedge\neg M(x)][/tex]

c) [tex]\forall x[ S(x)\Longrightarrow M(x)][/tex]

d)[tex]\forall x[ S(x)\Longleftrightarrow M(x)[/tex]

e)[tex]\exists x[ \neg S(x)\wedge M(x)][/tex]
I take "Only smart people make a lot of money" to mean that if you make a lot of money, then you are smart, but I don't think it implies that if you are smart, then you make a lot of money. I.e., it isn't saying that all smart people make money, just that all people that make money are smart.

I agree with you on the others. Are you the OP or someone else? We aren't supposed to simply give complete answers here.
 
  • #10
"f" is definitely false, that's very straightforward
 
  • #11
(e) and (f) have the same logical form. They should be equally straightforward.
 

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