Introduction to Predicates and Quantified Statements II Lecture 8 Section 2.2 Mon, Jan 24, 2005
Negations of Universal Statements The negation of x S, P(x) is the statement x S, P(x). If “x R, x2 > 10” is false, then “x R, x2 10” is true.
Negations of Existential Statements The negation of x S, P(x) is the statement x S, P(x). If “x R, x2 < 0” is false, then “x R, x2 0” is true.
Example: Negation of a Universal Statement p = “Everybody likes me.” Express p as x {all people}, x likes me. p is the statement x {all people}, x does not like me. p = “Somebody does not like me.”
Example: Negation of an Existential Statement p = “Somebody likes me.” Express p as x {all people}, x likes me. p is the statement x {all people}, x does not like me. p = “Everyone does not like me.” p = “Nobody likes me.”
Negation of a Universal Conditional Statement The negation of x S, P(x) Q(x) is the statement x S, (P(x) Q(x)) which is equivalent to x S, P(x) Q(x).
Example Find the error(s) in the following “solution.”
The Operators, , , and Let D = {x1, x2, …, xn}. The statement x D, P(x) is equivalent to P(x1) P(x2) … P(xn). The statement x D, P(x) is equivalent to P(x1) P(x2) … P(xn).
The Operators, , , and That is why x D, P(x) is false if P(x) is false for a single x D. And that is why x D, P(x) is true if P(x) is true for a single x D.
Supporting Universal Statements Consider the statement “All crows are black.” Let C(x) be the predicate “x is a crow.” Let B(x) be the predicate “x is black.” The statement can be written formally as x, C(x) B(x). Question: What would constitute evidence in support of this statement?
Supporting Universal Statements The statement is logically equivalent to x, ~B(x) ~C(x). Question: What would constitute evidence in support of this statement?