CONJUNCTION

In logic, a conjunction is a compound sentence formed by combining

two sentences (or facts) using the word "and."
A conjunction is true only when BOTH sentences
(or facts) are true.

Examples:
1. "Blue is a color and 7 + 3 = 10." (T and T = T)
Since both facts are true, the entire sentence is true.

2. "One hour = exactly 55 minutes and one minute = exactly 60 seconds."

(F and T = F) Since the first fact is false, the entire sentence is false.

3. "3 + 4 = 6 and all dogs meow." (F and F = F)

Since both facts are false, the entire sentence is false.

Mathematicians often use symbols and tables to represent concepts in logic. The use
of these variables, symbols and tables creates a shorthand method for discussing
logical sentences.

Truth table for conjunction (and):

(notice the symbol used for "and" in the table below)

A truth table is a pictorial representation of all

of the possible outcomes of the truth value of a
compound sentence. Letters such as and
T T T
are used to represent the facts (or sentences)
within the compound sentence.
T F F
F T F
F F F
Examples of Conjunction

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Below are the examples on conjunction:

Solved Examples
Question 1: Let p : 5 is rational and q : 15 is a prime number. Is it a conjunction?
Solution:

p : 5 is rational. This proposition is true.

q : 15 is a prime number. This proposition is false. (Because 15 is a composite number)

Therefore, as per the truth table, p q is a false statement.

So p q = F (not a conjunction)

Question 2:

Write the conjunction for the statements:

p : Ram eats mango.

q : Amar eats grape.

Solution:

p : Ram eats mango.

q : Amar eats grape.

Therefore the conjunction p q, can be written as:

Ram eats mango and Amar eats grapes.

Conjunction Practice Problems
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Given below are some of the practice problems on conjunction:

Practice Problems
Question 1: Check whether the given propositions are conjunction or not.

p : 7 3 = 21

q : 8 - 5 = 5.
(Answer: It is not a conjunction.)

Question 2: Write a compound statement of conjunction for the following:

p : The climate is fine

q : We go picnic.
(Answer: p q is given by The climate is fine and we go picnic.)

DISJUNCTIONS

In logic, a disjunction is a compound sentence formed by combining two sentences

(or facts) using the word "or."
A disjunction is true when EITHER or BOTH
sentences (or facts) are true.

Examples:
1. "Blue is a color or 7 + 3 = 10."
(T or T = T) Since both facts are true, the entire sentence is true.
 2. "One hour = exactly 55 minutes or one minute = exactly 60 seconds."
(F or T = T) Since the second fact is true, the entire sentence is true.

3. "3 + 4 = 6 or all dogs meow."

(F or F = F) Since both facts are false, the entire sentence is false.

4.
"The word cat has 3 letters or the word dog has four letters."
(T or F = T) Since the first fact is true, the entire sentence is true.

Mathematicians often use symbols and tables to represent concepts in logic. The use of these
variables, symbols and tables creates a shorthand method for discussing logical sentences.

Truth table for disjunction (or):

(notice the symbol used for "or" in the table below)

A truth table is a pictorial representation of all

of the possible outcomes of the truth value of
a compound sentence. Letters such as
T T T
and are used to represent the facts (or
sentences) within the compound sentence.
T F T
F T T
F F F

Disjunctio Unit
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 Lesso
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11
Example 1:
Given: p: Ann is on the softball team.
q: Paul is on the football team.
Problem: What does p q represent?

Solution:
In Example 1, statement p represents, "Ann is on the softball team" and statement q
represents, "Paul is on the football team." The symbol is a logical connector which means
"or." Thus, the compound statement p q represents the sentence, "Ann is on the softball
team or Paul is on the football team." The statement p q is a disjunction.
Definition: A disjunction is a compound statement formed by joining two statements with
the connector OR. The disjunction "p or q" is symbolized by p q. A disjunction is
false if and only if both statements are false; otherwise it is true. The truth values
of p q are listed in the truth table below.

p q p q
T T T
T F T
F T T
F F F

Example 2:

Given: a: A square is a quadrilateral.

b: Harrison Ford is an American actor.
Problem: Construct a truth table for the disjunction "a or b."
Solution:
a b a b
T T T
T F T
F T T
F F F

Example 3:
Given: r: x is divisible by 2.
s: x is divisible by 3.
Problem: What are the truth values of r s?
Solution: Each statement given in this example represents an open sentence, so the truth
value of r s will depend on the replacement values of x as shown below.

If x = 6, then r is true, and s is true. The disjunction r s is true.

If x = 8, then r is true, and s is false. The disjunction r s is true.
If x = 15, then r is false, and s is true. The disjunction r s is true.
If x = 11, then r is false, and s is false. The disjunction r s is false.

Example 4:
Given: p: 12 is prime. false
q: 17 is prime. true
r: 19 is composite. false
Problem: Write a sentence for each disjunction below. Then indicate if it is true or false.

1. p q 12 is prime or 17 is prime. true

2. p r 12 is prime or 19 is composite. false
3. q r 17 is prime or 19 is composite. true

Example 5: Complete a truth table for each disjunction below.

1. a or b
2. a or not b
3. not a or b

a b a b a b ~b a ~b a b ~a ~a b
T T T T T F T T T F T
T F T T F T T T F F F
 F T T F T F F F T T T
F F F F F T T F F T T

Students sometimes confuse conjunction and disjunction. Let's look at an example in which we
compare the truth values of both of these compound statements.

Example 6:

Given: x: Jayne played tennis.

y: Chris played softball.
Problem: Construct a truth table for conjunction "x and y" and disjunction
"x or y."

Solution:

x y x y x y
T T T T
T F F T
F T F T
F F F F

With a conjunction, both statements must be true for the conjunction to be true; but with a
disjunction, both statements must be false for the disjunction to be false. One way to
remember this is with the following mnemonic: 'And points up to the sand on top of the beach,
while or points down to the ore deep in the ground.

Summary: A disjunction is a compound statement formed by joining two statements with

the connector OR. The disjunction "p or q" is symbolized by p q. A disjunction is
false if and only if both statements are false; otherwise it is true.

Practice Problems

The practice problems below cover the truth values of conditionals, disjunction, conjunction,
and negation.
Part I.

Let a represent "We go to school on Memorial Day."

Let b represent "Memorial Day is a holiday."
Let c represent "We work on Memorial Day."

Be prepared to express each statement symbolically, then state the truth value of each
mathematical statement.

Problem 1

Statement: We work on Memorial Day or Memorial Day is a holiday.

HIDE ANSWER

Statement in symbols Truth value of parts Truth value of entire statement

cb FT True statement

Problem 2

Statement: Memorial Day is a holiday and we do not work on Memorial Day.

HIDE ANSWER

Statement in symbols Truth value of parts Truth value of entire statement

b ~c T ~F = T T True statement

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Problem 3

Statement: If we go to school on Memorial Day, then we work on Memorial Day.

HIDE ANSWER

Statement in symbols Truth value of parts Truth value of entire statement

a c F F True statement

Explanation: this is a conditional statement, and the 'if' clause is false

because we do not go to school on memorial. Also, the 'then' clause is
false because we do not work on Memorial Day. However, this
statement is a true statement in its entirety. Remember the only way
that aconditional is a false statement is when a true 'if' clause leads to
a false 'then' clause ( ie when T F) (example of false conditional)

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Problem 4

Statement: We do not go to school on Memorial Day implies that we work on Memorial Day.

HIDE ANSWER

Statement in symbols Truth value of parts Truth value of entire statement

~a c ~F F= T F False statement

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Problem 5

Statement: We work on Memorial Day if and only if we go to school on Memorial Day.

HIDE ANSWER

Statement in symbols Truth value of parts Truth value of entire statement

 c a F F True statement

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Problem 6

Statement: If we do not go to school on Memorial Day and Memorial day is a holiday, then
we do not work on Memorial Day.

HIDE ANSWER

Statement in symbols Truth value of parts Truth value of entire statement

(~F T) ~F
(T T) ~F
(~a b) ~c True statement
T ~F
T T