# Homework Help: Sentential Logic: Is the argument valid?

1. Feb 16, 2012

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

I am going over the first chapter of Velleman's How to Prove It. I have never studied logic before and while I understand most of what is happening, I am not sure that I am understanding how to transform sentences into symbols that can be tested. One of the exercises asks: Identify the premises and conclusion and determine if the following argument a valid one?

Jane and Pete won't both win the math prize. Pete will win either the math prize or the chemistry prize. Jane will win he math prize. Therefore Pete will win the chemistry prize.

2. Relevant equations

A valid argument is one in which the premises cannot all be true without the conclusion being trues as well

3. The attempt at a solution

I have identified the premises to be:
1.) "Jane and Pete won't both win the math prize",
2.) "Pete will win either the math prize or the chemistry prize",
3.) "Jane will win the math prize."

and the conclusion to be:
"Pete will win the chemistry prise."

Are my premises correct? Or should I have not listed (1) and (2) separately? That is, should I have combined them to say:
"Jane and Pete won't both win the math prize AND Pete will win either the math prize or the chemistry prize" ??

In order to test the validity, I need to construct a truth table.

I have translated my premises symbolically as follows:

Define the follwing symbols:

P: Pete will win the math prize
J: Jane will win the math prize
P': Pete will win the chemistry prize

$\lnot(P \land J)\land(P \lor P')$
$J$
$\therefore P'$

Now for the truth table:

$$\begin{array}{l c l} PJP' & [\lnot(P \land J)\land(P \lor P')] & P' \\ ---&------&---\\ TTT & F & T \\ TTF & F & F \\ TFF & T & F \\ \dots & & \end{array}$$

I can already see that I am doing something wrong here. The last row has that my premise is true, but the conclusion is false, however, I know from the solution that the argument is valid. So where am I going wrong?

2. Feb 16, 2012

### Deveno

it seems to me your premise(s) should be:

[~(P&J) & (PvP')] & J

which is all the premises you are given.

3. Feb 16, 2012

Hi Deveno Thank you for your response. Looking back, it seems obvious now that I should have included this. So, in general, if we have a list of premises leading up to some conclusion and we wish to test the validity, we should "string" all of the premises together into a single statement that can be tested. Does this sound like the general approach?

Thanks again.

4. Feb 16, 2012

### Deveno

yes, but...

often, there are ways to "simplify" the premises, before conducting the validity test.

in terms of mathematical proofs, the premises are often "pre-conditions" like so:

suppose p is a prime integer > 2, then p+1 is even.

which has the premises:

A) p is in Z
B) p is in P (the prime numbers...insert favorite definiton here:_____)
C) p > 2

and conclusion:

D) p+1 is even

so the statement is A&B&C → D, but "A" is superfluous, then statement B&C → D is true whenever our original statement is, and vice-versa (because B is a stronger statement than A, that is: B → A).

the entire (mathematical) meaning of p→q is encapsulated in the phrase: "(p→q is valid (i.e.: true) if...) p cannot be true without q also being true".

in ordinary thinking, this means that "p" is a restriction to a perhaps more general concept ("q").

5. Feb 16, 2012