1. Verifying Logical Arguments with Extensible Truth Tables
David B. Sher Dept. of Math, Computer Science and Information Technology
Nassau Community College
Garden City NY 11530
David.
February 15, 2019

2. Breaking Tradition Traditional Truth Table: Extensible Truth Table:
Mysterious
Memorized
Extensible Truth Table:
Any number of new variables
Process not tradition
Explains rows of truth tables as possibilities
New variable doubles possibilities.
February 15, 2019

3. Logical Arguments Developed by L. Sher based on Sherlock Homes.
“when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth”
Logical arguments apply logic.
Either the Steelers will win or the Packers will win. If the Steelers win I go to Disneyland. If the Packers win I go to Adventureland. I don’t go to Disneyland.
Therefore I go to Adventure land.
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4. Translating to Logic
Legend: s = the Steelers win; p = the Packers win; d = I go to Disneyland; a = I go to Adventureland.
Argument:
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5. Verifying with Extensible Truth Table
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6. Method Premises must be true Extensible Truth Table
Eliminate the impossible: cross off lines with premise false
Pick premises that generate large percentage of falses first.
Extensible Truth Table
New variable only copy possible lines
Crossed off lines don’t copy
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7. Conclusion Breaking tradition Can introduce any number of variables
Cross off the impossible
Creates efficiency
Sometimes statement reason still better
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8. February 15, 2019