Solving Quantifiers Problems: Use of Quantifiers

  • Thread starter roadrunner
  • Start date
In summary, the converse of the statement is that if AxP(x)\/AxQ(x) is true then Ax[P(x)\/Q(x)] is false.
  • #1
roadrunner
103
0
use of quantifiers

Homework Statement




a) Let P(x), Q(x) be open statements in the variable x with a given universe. prove that

AxP(x)\/AxQ(x)=>Ax[P(x)\/Q(x)]
[that is, prove that if the statement AxP(x)\/AxQ(x) is true then Ax[P(x)\/Q(x)] is true.

b) find a counter example for the converse in part a, that is, find an open statement for P(x) and Q(x) and a universe such that Ax[P(x)\/Q(x)] is true while AxP(x)\/AxQ(x) is false



Homework Equations



(i will use \/ for "or", /\ for "and", Ax for "all x in a universe", Ex for (some x in a universe) )


The Attempt at a Solution





no idea how to start rreally...

for a i thought maybe

AxP(x)\/AxQ(x)
P(c)\/Q(c)
therefore Ax[P(x)\/Q(x)]

but i totaly think that is a lame wrong asnwer haha

and even if that's correct i have NO idea how to do b...as far as I am concerned they are the same?!
 
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  • #2
any1?
 
  • #3
1. Homework Statement


a) Let P(x), Q(x) be open statements in the variable x with a given universe. prove that

AxP(x)\/AxQ(x)=>Ax[P(x)\/Q(x)]
[that is, prove that if the statement AxP(x)\/AxQ(x) is true then Ax[P(x)\/Q(x)] is true.

b) find a counter example for the converse in part a, that is, find an open statement for P(x) and Q(x) and a universe such that Ax[P(x)\/Q(x)] is true while AxP(x)\/AxQ(x) is false



2. Homework Equations

(i will use \/ for "or", /\ for "and", Ax for "all x in a universe", Ex for (some x in a universe) )


3. The Attempt at a Solution



no idea how to start rreally...

for a i thought maybe

AxP(x)\/AxQ(x)
P(c)\/Q(c)
therefore Ax[P(x)\/Q(x)]

but i totaly think that is a lame wrong asnwer haha

and even if that's correct i have NO idea how to do b...as far as I am concerned they are the same?!
 
  • #4
roadrunner said:

Homework Statement




a) Let P(x), Q(x) be open statements in the variable x with a given universe. prove that

AxP(x)\/AxQ(x)=>Ax[P(x)\/Q(x)]
[that is, prove that if the statement AxP(x)\/AxQ(x) is true then Ax[P(x)\/Q(x)] is true.

b) find a counter example for the converse in part a, that is, find an open statement for P(x) and Q(x) and a universe such that Ax[P(x)\/Q(x)] is true while AxP(x)\/AxQ(x) is false



Homework Equations



(i will use \/ for "or", /\ for "and", Ax for "all x in a universe", Ex for (some x in a universe) )


The Attempt at a Solution





no idea how to start rreally...

for a i thought maybe

AxP(x)\/AxQ(x)
P(c)\/Q(c)therefore Ax[P(x)\/Q(x)]
but i totaly think that is a lame wrong asnwer haha
?? What is "c"? You haven't mentioned it before or defined it!
Think about what AXP(x) means. If that's true what does it tell you about Ax(Px\/Q(x)).
What does AxQ(x) mean? If that's true, what does it tell you about Ax(Px\/Q(x))?

and even if that's correct i have NO idea how to do b...as far as I am concerned they are the same?!
First, AxP(x)\/AxQ(x) is NOT the same as Ax(P(x)\/Q(x)). If you don't understand exactly what each side means, you have no hope of doing this problem! Second, what is the "converse" of this statement? What is the "converse" of any statement?

For both (a) and (b) consider this example: the "universe" is the set of all people. P(x) is "x is a female" and Q(x) is "x is a male". Now what do both sides of your statement mean?
 
  • #5
HallsofIvy said:
?? What is "c"? You haven't mentioned it before or defined it!
C was from the rule of generalization (i forgot exact name)
it states that if Axg(x) is true there exists a G(c) that is true, that's just how were supposed to start it whenevr it has Ax(of a function)

Think about what AXP(x) means. If that's true what does it tell you about Ax(Px\/Q(x)).
What does AxQ(x) mean? If that's true, what does it tell you about Ax(Px\/Q(x))?


For both (a) and (b) consider this example: the "universe" is the set of all people. P(x) is "x is a female" and Q(x) is "x is a male". Now what do both sides of your statement mean?



First, AxP(x)\/AxQ(x) is NOT the same as Ax(P(x)\/Q(x)). If you don't understand exactly what each side means, you have no hope of doing this problem! Second, what is the "converse" of this statement? What is the "converse" of any statement?

i don't know the difference, that's half of what i was asking
does AxP(x)\/AxQ(x) mean all of P(x) OR all of q(x) but not both...aka...all boys OR all girls..

and then Ax(P(x)\/Q(x)) would be all the boys and girls combined

or compare it to a set...lets P(x) be {1,2,3} Q(x) be {4,5,6}

Ax(P(x)\/Q(x)). is {1,2,3,4,5,6} and AxP(x)\/AxQ(x) is {1,2,3} OR {4,5,6}

is that the differencE?

converse? don't know?
 
  • #6
Hah, I'm taking a similar class.

I have no clue on how to do (a). But (b) is really easy. I'll give you a hint and say that the universe is the natural numbers or even the integers if you wish. Find two properties of numbers such that if one is true, then the other isn't. (take advantage of the "for all")

edit: BTW, you may or maynot find this useful: http://www.cs.umd.edu/class/fall2007/cmsc250/hw/cheatsheet.pdf
The username and password is 250 ;)
 
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  • #7
roadrunner said:
C was from the rule of generalization (i forgot exact name)
it states that if Axg(x) is true there exists a G(c) that is true, that's just how were supposed to start it whenevr it has Ax(of a function)







i don't know the difference, that's half of what i was asking
does AxP(x)\/AxQ(x) mean all of P(x) OR all of q(x) but not both...aka...all boys OR all girls..

and then Ax(P(x)\/Q(x)) would be all the boys and girls combined

or compare it to a set...lets P(x) be {1,2,3} Q(x) be {4,5,6}

Ax(P(x)\/Q(x)). is {1,2,3,4,5,6} and AxP(x)\/AxQ(x) is {1,2,3} OR {4,5,6}

is that the differencE?

converse? don't know?

I think c is some specialization constant...
I posted in the other thread you created.
 
  • #8
wow that formual sheet is like a god! haha
we get to bring a double sided formula sheet in so that is like heaven sent!
!
thanks
 
  • #9
roadrunner said:
C was from the rule of generalization (i forgot exact name)
it states that if Axg(x) is true there exists a G(c) that is true, that's just how were supposed to start it whenevr it has Ax(of a function)







i don't know the difference, that's half of what i was asking
does AxP(x)\/AxQ(x) mean all of P(x) OR all of q(x) but not both...aka...all boys OR all girls..

and then Ax(P(x)\/Q(x)) would be all the boys and girls combined

or compare it to a set...lets P(x) be {1,2,3} Q(x) be {4,5,6}

Ax(P(x)\/Q(x)). is {1,2,3,4,5,6} and AxP(x)\/AxQ(x) is {1,2,3} OR {4,5,6}

is that the differencE?

converse? don't know?
There's something seriously wrong here! You apparently are asked to do problems in which you say you have no idea what the symbols or the words mean! I see three possiblities: (1)You are in a course with pre-requisites you have not mastered. (2) Your teacher is a sadist who enjoys giving students problems they can't possibly do! (3) You are simply not reading the textbook carefully enough and/or are not listening carefully enough to the lectures. If the first is true, you should withdraw from the course. If the second is true you should withdraw from the course and complain to the dept. chair (I would recommend you check with other students to make sure you are right before doing that!). If the third is true, you need to work on your study skills!

In your original post you quoted the question as "b) find a counter example for the converse in part a, that is, find an open statement for P(x) and Q(x) and a universe such that Ax[P(x)\/Q(x)] is true while AxP(x)\/AxQ(x) is false". The word "converse is used in that question. Since your problem asked you about the converse, I'm surprised you didn't immediately look up "converse". How can you expect to answer a question in which you don't know the meaning of some of the words?
(If a statement is "If P then Q" then its "converse" is "If Q then P".)

The words "that is" imply that the rest of the sentence is explaining the first part. You are asked to find an example that shows Ax[P(x)\/Q(x)] can be true while AxP(x)\/AxQ(x). Look at the "grouping" in Ax[P(x)\/Q(x)] the "Ax" ("for all x") is outside the braces while P(x)\/Q(x) is inside: "for all x" applies to everything inside the braces: that says "for all x, either P(x) is true or Q(x) is true". Now consider my example: P(x) means "x is a male", Q(x) means "x is a female". Ax[P(x)\/Q(x)] means "for every person x, either x is a male or x is a female". Is that true or false?

On the other hand, AxP(x)\/AxQ(x) has two different "Ax"s. AxP(x) means "for every x, P(x) is true" or, in terms of my example, "for every person x, x is a male". AxQ(x) means "for every x, Q(x) is true" or, in terms of my example, "for every person x, x is a female". AxP(x)\/Ax Q(x) means "either, for every person x, x is a male, or, for every person x, x is a female". Is that true or false.
 
  • #10
Since this has been posted in both "Precalculus" and "Calculus and beyond", I am merging the two threads.
 
  • #11
There's something seriously wrong here! You apparently are asked to do problems in which you say you have no idea what the symbols or the words mean! I see three possiblities: (1)You are in a course with pre-requisites you have not mastered. (2) Your teacher is a sadist who enjoys giving students problems they can't possibly do! (3) You are simply not reading the textbook carefully enough and/or are not listening carefully enough to the lectures. If the first is true, you should withdraw from the course. If the second is true you should withdraw from the course and complain to the dept. chair (I would recommend you check with other students to make sure you are right before doing that!). If the third is true, you need to work on your study skills!


i was super sick with an ear infection for 2.5 weeks and missed just as many lectures and I am trying desperatly to catch up, but my ta/teacher had no office hours over the weekend, so i came here for help. I've bene attempting tocatch up in 6 hard courses and this just happens to tbe the last one I am catching up in ( how it went)


Now consider my example: P(x) means "x is a male", Q(x) means "x is a female". Ax[P(x)\/Q(x)] means "for every person x, either x is a male or x is a female". Is that true or false?

true i think? because if your male your not female, and visa versa, there are no other choices.
On the other hand, AxP(x)\/AxQ(x) has two different "Ax"s. AxP(x) means "for every x, P(x) is true" or, in terms of my example, "for every person x, x is a male". AxQ(x) means "for every x, Q(x) is true" or, in terms of my example, "for every person x, x is a female". AxP(x)\/Ax Q(x) means "either, for every person x, x is a male, or, for every person x, x is a female". Is that true or false.

false? i think this one states that everyonein he world is male, OR every one in the world is female, but if there exists a female there is no males. which is false.

b) find a counter example for the converse in part a, that is, find an open statement for P(x) and Q(x) and a universe such that Ax[P(x)\/Q(x)] is true while AxP(x)\/AxQ(x) is false". The word "converse is used in that question. Since your problem asked you about the converse, I'm surprised you didn't immediately look up "converse". How can you expect to answer a question in which you don't know the meaning of some of the words?

it said "that is..blah blah...so i assumed that was an example, or the converse, and so i didnt look it up
 
  • #12
Formally, let [tex] I = (A, \beta)[/tex] be an interpretation under arbitrary assignment mapping [tex]\beta[/tex]. Assume that [tex] I \vDash (\forall x P(x) \vee \forall x Q(x) ) [/tex]. This is true if and only if

for all [tex] a \in A , \; I^{\frac{a}{x}}\vDash P(x)[/tex] or for all [tex] b \in A, \; I^{\frac{b}{x}}\vDash Q(x) [/tex]

If it is the case that for all [tex]a\in A, \; I^{\frac{a}{x}}\vDash P(x) [/tex] then certainly [tex]I\vDash \forall x (P(x) \vee Q(x)) [/tex]

Similarily, if for all [tex] b \in A, \; I^{\frac{b}{x}}\vDash Q(x) [/tex] then [tex]I\vDash \forall x ( P(x) \vee Q(x) )[/tex].

Thus in either case we have [tex] I\vDash (\forall x P(x) \vee \forall x Q(x) ) \rightarrow \forall x ( P(x) \vee Q(x) ) \[/tex]

Thus [tex] (\forall x P(x) \vee \forall x Q(x) ) \vDash \forall x ( P(x) \vee Q(x) ) [/tex] and the result follows.
 
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1. What are quantifiers in mathematics?

Quantifiers are symbols used in mathematical logic to indicate the quantity of elements in a set, such as "for all" (∀) and "there exists" (∃). They are used to make statements about all or some elements in a set.

2. How do quantifiers help solve problems?

Quantifiers help to clarify and formalize statements in mathematics by specifying the scope and extent of a statement. They allow for precise and concise communication, especially when dealing with large sets of elements.

3. When should I use "for all" and "there exists" quantifiers?

"For all" (∀) quantifiers should be used when a statement applies to all elements in a set, while "there exists" (∃) quantifiers should be used when a statement applies to at least one element in a set. It is important to choose the correct quantifier in order to accurately express a statement.

4. Can quantifiers be used in other fields besides mathematics?

Yes, quantifiers can be used in other fields such as computer science, linguistics, and philosophy. In these fields, quantifiers are used to express statements about sets of data, language, and concepts, respectively.

5. How can I improve my skills in solving quantifiers problems?

The best way to improve your skills in solving quantifiers problems is to practice regularly. Familiarize yourself with the different types of quantifiers and their uses, and work through a variety of problems to gain a better understanding of how to apply them. Additionally, seeking guidance from a tutor or attending workshops can also be helpful in improving your skills.

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