Translate the statements into set inclusion

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around translating various statements into set inclusion notation and exploring implications related to drowning, mathematicians, swimmers, and fish. Participants analyze the correctness of their translations and whether certain implications can be drawn from the provided statements.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Participants propose translations of statements into set notation, such as $x\in E\rightarrow x\notin (F\cup S)$ for drowning individuals.
  • Some participants question the translation of "fish are not human," suggesting alternatives like $F\cap H=\varnothing$.
  • There is a discussion about the implications of a drowned mathematician and whether it can be concluded that this individual was not a swimmer.
  • Some participants express uncertainty about the correctness of certain translations and implications, particularly regarding the relationship between fish and humans.
  • Participants explore the logical structure of the statements, debating whether the phrasing accurately reflects the intended meaning.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the translations of most statements but express disagreement and uncertainty regarding the implications of these translations, particularly concerning the drowned mathematician and the relationship between fish and humans. No consensus is reached on whether the drowned mathematician can be definitively said to be a non-swimmer.

Contextual Notes

Some statements may depend on interpretations of set relationships and logical implications that are not fully resolved. The discussion includes various interpretations of the same statements, leading to different conclusions about their implications.

mathmari
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Hey!

I am looking at the following:

translate the following statements into set inclusion.
(i) Those who drown are not a fish or a swimmer.
(ii) Scientists are human.
(iii) A person who is not a swimmer is a non-swimmer.
(iv) Fish are not human.
(v) There was a case of a drowned mathematician.
(vi) Mathematicians are scientists.

Check if from the statements (i)–(vi)
,,There was a mathematician who was not a swimmer”
can be implied.
I have done the following:

We consider the sets:
E =Set of drowning, F = Set of Fish, S = Set of swimmers, N = Scientists, H = Human, M = Mathematiker

We have then the following:
(i) $x\in E\rightarrow x\notin (F\cup S)$
(ii) $N\subseteq H$ i.e. $x\in N\rightarrow x\in H$
(iii) $x\in H : x\notin S \rightarrow x\in S^c$
(iv) $F\not\subseteq H$
(v) $\exists x \in (E\cap M)$
(vi) $M\subseteq N$

Is everything correct so far? Could I improve something?

The statement ,,There was a mathematician who was not a swimmer” could be formulated as followes, or not? $$\exists x\in M : x\in S^c$$
 
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mathmari said:
(iv) $F\not\subseteq H$
Hey mathmari!

There can still be a fish that is a human, can't it? 🤔

Everything else looks correct to me, although I'm used to seeing $\forall$ in front of them.

The statement ,,There was a mathematician who was not a swimmer” could be formulated as followes, or not? $$\exists x\in M : x\in S^c$$
Yes, but that was not the question was it? 🤔
 
Klaas van Aarsen said:
There can still be a fish that is a human, can't it? 🤔

Everything else looks correct to me, although I'm used to seeing $\forall$ in front of them.

So we have the following:
(i) $\forall x\in E\rightarrow x\notin (F\cup S)$
(ii) $N\subseteq H$ i.e. $\forall x\in N\rightarrow x\in H$
(iii) $\forall x\in H : x\notin S \rightarrow x\in S^c$
(iv) What do you mean by "There can still be a fish that is a human" ?
(v) $\exists x \in (E\cap M)$
(vi) $M\subseteq N$

Is everything correct except (iv) ? :unsure:
Klaas van Aarsen said:
Yes, but that was not the question was it? 🤔

Could you give me a hint for that? :unsure:
 
mathmari said:
So we have the following:
(i) $\forall x\in E\rightarrow x\notin (F\cup S)$
(ii) $N\subseteq H$ i.e. $\forall x\in N\rightarrow x\in H$
(iii) $\forall x\in H : x\notin S \rightarrow x\in S^c$
(iv) What do you mean by "There can still be a fish that is a human" ?
(v) $\exists x \in (E\cap M)$
(vi) $M\subseteq N$

I think it should be:
(i) $x\in E\rightarrow x\notin (F\cup S)$
(ii) $N\subseteq H$ i.e. $x\in N\rightarrow x\in H$
(iii) $\forall x\in H : x\notin S \rightarrow x\in S^c$
(iv) --
(v) $\exists x \in (E\cap M)$
(vi) $M\subseteq N$

As for (iv), you had $F\not\subseteq H$ for "fish are not human".
Suppose $F=\{\text{fish}, \text{human}\}$ and $H=\{\text{human}\}$.
Then $F\not\subseteq H$ is satisfied isn't it? But there is a fish that is a human, which contradicts the desired statement. 🤔

Could you give me a hint for that?
We want to deduce that there was a mathematician who was not a swimmer from the given statements.
Perhaps we can begin with (v) that says that there was a case of a drowned mathematician?
Can we apply the other statements to find out that this drowned mathematician was not a swimmer? 🤔
 
Klaas van Aarsen said:
We want to deduce that there was a mathematician who was not a swimmer from the given statements.
Perhaps we can begin with (v) that says that there was a case of a drowned mathematician?
Can we apply the other statements to find out that this drowned mathematician was not a swimmer? 🤔

(v) There was a case of a drowned mathematician.
(i) Those who drown are not a fish or a swimmer.
(vi) Mathematicians are scientists.
(ii) Scientists are human.
In the case of a fish we have from (iv) that fish are not human. Contradiction.
But we cannot conclude that this drowned mathematician was not a swimmer, right? :unsure:
 
I believe (iv) should be $F\cap H=\varnothing$, or $\forall x\in F: x\not\in H$, or $x\in F\to x\not\in H$.

mathmari said:
(v) There was a case of a drowned mathematician.
(i) Those who drown are not a fish or a swimmer.
(vi) Mathematicians are scientists.
(ii) Scientists are human.
In the case of a fish we have from (iv) that fish are not human. Contradiction.
But we cannot conclude that this drowned mathematician was not a swimmer, right?

Let's try to split up "Those who drown are not a fish or a swimmer."
It is the same as:
"Those who drown are NOT (a fish OR a swimmer)."
"(Those who drown are NOT a fish) AND (Those who drawn are NOT a swimmer)."
"Those who drown are NOT a fish" and "Those who drawn are NOT a swimmer."

Since there was a mathematician who drowned, we can conclude that they were not a swimmer, can't we? 🤔
 

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