I Intro to Symbolic Logic: Replacement Rules

Mikaelochi
Messages
40
Reaction score
1
TL;DR Summary
In Virginia Klenk's book Understanding Symbolic Logic (5th edition), I am having trouble with problem 7b in Unit 8 which deals with the replacement rules.
Basically the problem starts with these given premises:
1. ~ (A ∨ (B⊃T))
2. (A ⋅ C) ∨ (W ⊃ ~D)
3. ~(P ∨ T) ⊃ D
4. ~P ≡ ~(T ⋅ S)
And from these premises, I must prove ∴ ~W. This is what I have done so far:
5. (~P ⊃ ~(T ⋅ S)) ⋅ (~(T ⋅ S) ⊃ ~P) B.E. 4
6. ~P ⊃ ~(T ⋅ S) Simp. 5
7. ~(T ⋅ S) ⊃ ~P Simp. 5
8. ~P ⊃ (~T ∨ ~S) DeM. 6
9. (~T ∨ ~S) ⊃ ~P DeM. 7
10. (~P ⋅ ~T) ⊃ D DeM. 3
11. (~A ⋅ ~(B ⊃ T)) DeM. 1
12. ~A Simp. 11
13. ~A ∨ ~C Add. 12
14. ~(A ⋅ C) DeM. 13
15. W ⊃ ~D D.S. 2, 14
To get ~W, all I need is D which I can restate as ~~D. But to get D, I need to get ~(P ∨ T). And the only way I know how to get ~(P ∨ T) is to get (~P ⋅ ~T). So, I would need ~P and ~T alone. I have no idea how to do that. Perhaps this approach is wrong. So, any help would be greatly appreciated. This problem feels borderline impossible.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Not familiar with the book and don't have it at hand. Are you given any leeway in the method you use to prove this? What you could do is show
<br /> 1. \land 2. \land 3 \land 4. \Rightarrow \neg W<br />
is a tautology. If it's not a tautology, then ##\neg W ## doesn't follow from the premises.
 
Mikaelochi said:
1. ~ (A ∨ (B⊃T))

Is "T" used to denote a proposition with an unspecified truth value? or does it denote a proposition that has the truth value "True"?
 
Does the ##\cdot## stand for 'and'?
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Likes nuuskur
You’ve done DeMorgan’s on premise 1. What happens if you convert the conditional to a conjunction?
 
  • Like
Likes Mikaelochi and Stephen Tashi
Mikaelochi said:


Basically the problem starts with these given premises:
1. ~ (A ∨ (B⊃T))
2. (A ⋅ C) ∨ (W ⊃ ~D)
3. ~(P ∨ T) ⊃ D
4. ~P ≡ ~(T ⋅ S)
So, I would need ~P and ~T alone.

Take @TeethWhitener suggestion and get ##(\sim A) \cdot B \cdot( \sim T)## from 1.
Then use 4. to get ##\sim P##.
 
  • Like
Likes Mikaelochi
Stephen Tashi said:
Is "T" used to denote a proposition with an unspecified truth value? or does it denote a proposition that has the truth value "True"?
No, T is just a symbol representing a claim like A & B.
 
WWGD said:
Does the ##\cdot## stand for 'and'?
Yeah, it stands for "and."
 
TeethWhitener said:
You’ve done DeMorgan’s on premise 1. What happens if you convert the conditional to a conjunction?
I've pieced it together now. Thank you!
 

Similar threads

Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
5
Views
2K
Replies
15
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
3
Views
1K
Back
Top