How to give a proof of tautologies?

  • Context: MHB 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Henry R
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Proof
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on the concept of tautologies in propositional logic, defining a tautology as a proposition that is always true, exemplified by the expression "p v p". In contrast, a contradiction is defined as a proposition that is always false, such as "P ^ P". The discussion emphasizes the importance of logical equivalence, denoted as "p ≡ q", and encourages the use of appropriate rules of logic for proofs rather than relying on truth tables. Participants are prompted to identify tautologies and provide logical proofs or justifications for their answers.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of propositional logic
  • Familiarity with logical equivalence
  • Knowledge of basic logical operators (AND, OR, NOT)
  • Ability to apply rules of logic for proofs
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the rules of inference in propositional logic
  • Learn about logical equivalences and their proofs
  • Explore the differences between tautologies and contradictions
  • Practice constructing logical proofs without using truth tables
USEFUL FOR

Students of logic, mathematics enthusiasts, and anyone interested in understanding logical proofs and tautologies in propositional logic.

Henry R
Messages
25
Reaction score
0
Okay. Hello =) =) I am confuse regarding to this matter.

Now, I'm going to write about tautologies.

A proposition p is always true is called a tautology. A proposition p that is always false is called a contradiction.

Example :
p v p is an example of tautology
P ^ P is an example of contradiction

Suppose that the compound proposition p is made up of
propositions p 1 ... p n and compound proposition q is made up of propositions q 1 ... q n , we say that p and q are logically equivalent and write it as p ≡ q
provided that given any truth values of p 1 ... p n and truth values of q 1 ... q n , either p and q are both true or p and q are both false.

View attachment 3461
_
View attachment 3459

Here's the question : Which of the following are tautologies? If the statement is a tautology, give a proof using the appropriate rules of logic. (Avoid using truth tables if possible.) If it is not a tautology, then justify your answer by giving an appropriate example for the following questions below :

View attachment 3460

Thank you so much for reading my thread. =)
 

Attachments

  • Table.PNG
    Table.PNG
    1.3 KB · Views: 146
  • Tautologies.PNG
    Tautologies.PNG
    3.7 KB · Views: 156
  • entah.PNG
    entah.PNG
    5.4 KB · Views: 150
Physics news on Phys.org
Henry R said:
p v p is an example of tautology
P ^ P is an example of contradiction
These must mean $p\lor\bar{p}$ and $p\land\bar{p}$.

Henry R said:
Here's the question : Which of the following are tautologies?
Have you figured this out using truth tables or common sense? For the first formula, is it true that $p$ always implies $p$ or $q$? For the second one, suppose that if you are free, then you go to the movies, and if you are busy, you also go to the movies. If it is known that you are either free, busy or went to the movies, does it follow that you are watching a movie?

Henry R said:
If the statement is a tautology, give a proof using the appropriate rules of logic.
The set of appropriate rules of logic differs from one textbook or course to the next. It would be nice if you listed them.
 
Evgeny.Makarov said:
These must mean $p\lor\bar{p}$ and $p\land\bar{p}$.

Have you figured this out using truth tables or common sense? For the first formula, is it true that $p$ always implies $p$ or $q$? For the second one, suppose that if you are free, then you go to the movies, and if you are busy, you also go to the movies. If it is known that you are either free, busy or went to the movies, does it follow that you are watching a movie?

The set of appropriate rules of logic differs from one textbook or course to the next. It would be nice if you listed them.

Um just wondering? Can you see the pictures?? the png pictures? It just I can't see it. But, by the way thank you so much.
 
Henry R said:
Um just wondering? Can you see the pictures?? the png pictures?
Do you mean the three images in post #1? Yes, I see them.

Henry R said:
It just I can't see it.
That's strange. Maybe you can start a thread about in the http://mathhelpboards.com/questions-comments-feedback-25/ subforum. You could post a screenshot there of how you see post #1.
 
Evgeny.Makarov said:
Do you mean the three images in post #1? Yes, I see them.

That's strange. Maybe you can start a thread about in the http://mathhelpboards.com/questions-comments-feedback-25/ subforum. You could post a screenshot there of how you see post #1.

Oh ya, now I can see it if I'm online.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K