Solving Logic Problem: Pizza & Students

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around translating English sentences into symbolic logic, specifically focusing on predicates related to students and pizza. The original poster is grappling with the interpretation of the phrase "only students eat pizza" and seeks clarity on how to represent this concept symbolically.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to express the statement "only students eat pizza" in symbolic form but finds the wording confusing. Some participants suggest rephrasing the statement to clarify its meaning, proposing alternatives like "anybody who eats pizza must be a student."

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different interpretations of the phrase in question. Suggestions have been made to rephrase the original statement for better understanding, but no consensus has been reached on the symbolic representation.

Contextual Notes

The original poster has defined specific predicates and quantifiers for the problem, which may influence the interpretation of the statements being discussed.

ur5pointos2sl
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I have a problem that states:

Write each english sentence in symbolic form using the following predicates:
m = Melissa
p = Pizza

S(x) = ' x is a student '
L(x, y) = ' x likes y '
E(x, y) = ' x eats y '

Take A as the universal quantifier in this problem and M as the existential quantifier since E is already being used.

I know that when:
a) All students eat pizza. I get this Ax (S(x) -> E(x, p) )

but when
b) Only students eat pizza.

I get confused when the word only is used. Is there a better way to view this sentence that would make it more obvious what the answer would be?
 
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Maybe try to say "anybody who eats pizza must be a student"...
 


"If a person eats pizza, that person is a student".
 


micromass said:
Maybe try to say "anybody who eats pizza must be a student"...

HallsofIvy said:
"If a person eats pizza, that person is a student".


Thanks!
 

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