- #1
sparta123
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Hello everyone, I can't seem to understand how to do this question.
Determine whether the formula F: ∃x∀y(P(x) → x = y) is true or false under each of the following interpretations over the domain D = {a, b}.
(i) both P(a) and P(b) are true;
(ii) both P(a) and P(b) are false;
(iii) P(a) is true and P(b) is false.Before I post my solution, please let me know if you think I'm not understanding the question. I think we are asked to write out all the interpretations for the 3 different cases and determine whether they make the formula true or false. If there are no false cases then the formula is true under the given interpretations - otherwise false. Here is my solution:
i) we can immediately see two cases which would make the formula false so it is false under interpretation i) :
P(a) → a=b and P(b) → b=a
ii) No need to check here because the premises would be false so the formula is true in every case.
iii) there are four cases, one of which is false so F is false under interpretation iii) :
1) P(a) → a=a [true] 2) P(a)→ a=b [false] 3) P(b)→ b=b [true] 4) P(b)→ b=a [true]So my final answers would be i) false ii) true iii) false
My answers for i) and ii) are matching with the answers sheet but our lecturer has provided me with the following solution for iii): "Then the formula is true. Indeed, both P(b) → b = a and P(b) → b = b are true."Can somebody please explain to me where I am wrong?
Determine whether the formula F: ∃x∀y(P(x) → x = y) is true or false under each of the following interpretations over the domain D = {a, b}.
(i) both P(a) and P(b) are true;
(ii) both P(a) and P(b) are false;
(iii) P(a) is true and P(b) is false.Before I post my solution, please let me know if you think I'm not understanding the question. I think we are asked to write out all the interpretations for the 3 different cases and determine whether they make the formula true or false. If there are no false cases then the formula is true under the given interpretations - otherwise false. Here is my solution:
i) we can immediately see two cases which would make the formula false so it is false under interpretation i) :
P(a) → a=b and P(b) → b=a
ii) No need to check here because the premises would be false so the formula is true in every case.
iii) there are four cases, one of which is false so F is false under interpretation iii) :
1) P(a) → a=a [true] 2) P(a)→ a=b [false] 3) P(b)→ b=b [true] 4) P(b)→ b=a [true]So my final answers would be i) false ii) true iii) false
My answers for i) and ii) are matching with the answers sheet but our lecturer has provided me with the following solution for iii): "Then the formula is true. Indeed, both P(b) → b = a and P(b) → b = b are true."Can somebody please explain to me where I am wrong?