Why is my negation of a math statement incorrect?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the correct negation of a mathematical statement involving quantifiers and conditions related to sequences. Participants are examining the nuances of logical negation in the context of mathematical statements, with a focus on the implications of the original statement's structure.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant attempts to derive the negation of the statement but arrives at a different conclusion than expected, suggesting a misunderstanding of the logical structure.
  • Another participant clarifies that the negation of a universally quantified statement leads to an existential quantifier, indicating that the part of the statement regarding positive integers should remain unchanged.
  • Concerns are raised about the clarity of the original statement, particularly regarding the roles of the variables $N$, $n$, and $k$, with questions about whether they are fixed or dependent on other quantifiers.
  • A later reply suggests a possible interpretation of the original statement, proposing that it might imply a condition for all $k$ greater than some integer $N$.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the clarity of the original statement and its implications for negation. There is no consensus on the correct interpretation or negation of the statement, indicating ongoing debate.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the clarity of the original statement, particularly regarding the definitions and roles of the variables involved, which may affect the understanding of the negation process.

tmt1
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I'm trying to get the negation of this statement:

$\forall C \in \Bbb{R}$ , there is no positive integer $N $ such that if $ k > n$, then $ {x}_{k} > C$I get $\exists C \in R$ such that, $\exists $ a positive integer $N$ , such that if $k > n$ then ${x}_{k} \le C$

but apparently the correct answer is

$\exists C \in R$, $\exists $ a positive integer $N$ , such that if $k > n$ then ${x}_{k} > C$

I can't figure out why
 
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The negation of $\forall C\,\neg A$ is $\exists C\,A$, so the part of the statement after "there is no positive integer $N$" is unchanged.

By the way, the original statement is not stated clearly enough.

tmt said:
$\forall C \in \Bbb{R}$ , there is no positive integer $N $ such that if $ k > n$, then $ {x}_{k} > C$
Are $N$ and $n$ the same? Is $k$ some fixed parameter or is it introduced by another quantifier that is omitted?
 
Evgeny.Makarov said:
The negation of $\forall C\,\neg A$ is $\exists C\,A$, so the part of the statement after "there is no positive integer $N$" is unchanged.

By the way, the original statement is not stated clearly enough.

Are $N$ and $n$ the same? Is $k$ some fixed parameter or is it introduced by another quantifier that is omitted?

I guess my professor is trying to confuse us ...
 
Presumably, it means, "… integer $N$ such that for all $k$, if $k>N$, …".
 

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