Really a Question about Notation

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the logical formulation of a statement involving prime numbers and the negation of that statement. The subject area includes mathematical logic and number theory, specifically focusing on the properties of prime numbers and quantifiers.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the notation used in the statement, questioning the roles of the variables x and y. There is discussion about the validity of expressing the statement in different ways and the implications of using dummy variables in set definitions.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided clarifications regarding the notation and the interpretation of the variables involved. There appears to be a productive exploration of the definitions and the logical structure of the statement, though no consensus has been reached on the preferred notation.

Contextual Notes

The original problem involves forming a negation and proving a statement related to prime numbers, with specific constraints on the variables and their definitions. There is an ongoing examination of how to properly express these mathematical concepts.

Atomised
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Homework Statement



Form negation and then either prove statement or negation:

[itex]\forall[/itex]y [itex]\in[/itex] {[itex]x | x \in Z, x>=1[/itex]}, [itex]5y^2+5y+1[/itex] is a prime number.

The Attempt at a Solution



Answer given:

[itex]\exists[/itex]y [itex]\in[/itex] {[itex]x | x \in Z, x>=1[/itex]} such that [itex]5y^2+5y+1[/itex] is not prime.

The negation is true, counterexample follows.

My question is why are [itex]x,y[/itex] mixed up?
 
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What do you mean why are [itex]x, y[/itex] mixed up?
 
Well, there exists y belonging to a set where the elements are defined by x...

Would it be valid to express it as there exists x belonging to a set where the elements are defined by x... or the above the preferred way of doing it?
 
The way I interpret it is like this:

Let [itex]X[/itex] be defined as the set of numbers [itex]\{x|x\in\mathbb{Z}, x\geq1\}[/itex].

Then:

[itex]\exists y \in X \text{ such that } 5y^2+5y+1 \text{ is not prime}[/itex]

This might make it clearer that the set is being defined by the dummy variable [itex]x[/itex]. It has no real purpose besides just being a dummy variable from what I can see.
 
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Very helpful thank you.
 
Atomised said:

Homework Statement



Form negation and then either prove statement or negation:

[itex]\forall[/itex]y [itex]\in[/itex] {[itex]x | x \in Z, x>=1[/itex]}, [itex]5y^2+5y+1[/itex] is a prime number.

The Attempt at a Solution



Answer given:

[itex]\exists[/itex]y [itex]\in[/itex] {[itex]x | x \in Z, x>=1[/itex]} such that [itex]5y^2+5y+1[/itex] is not prime.

The negation is true, counterexample follows.

My question is why are [itex]x,y[/itex] mixed up?

In plain English, the statement is: ##5 y^2 + 5y+1## is prime for any positive integer ##y##. Of course, as you have shown, the statement is false.
 
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