9/22/20

Mustafa Jarrar: Lecture Notes in Discrete Mathematics.

Birzeit University, Palestine, 2020

Propositional Logic

2.1. Introduction and Basics

2.2 Conditional Statements
2.3 Inferencing

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mjarrar©2020

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Keywords:
Logic, Propositional Logic, Reasoning, inference, Inference rules, Numeration method, validity of argument, Modus Ponens,
Modus Tollens, Generalization, Specialization, Conjunction, Elimination, Transitivity, Division into Cases, Contradiction
‫ ﻗواﻋد اﻻﺳﺗﻧﺗﺎج‬،‫ اﺳﺗﻧﺗﺎج ﻣﻧطﻘﻲ‬،‫ اﺳﺗﻧﺗﺎج‬،‫ ﻣﻧطق اﻟﻘﺿﺎﯾﺎ‬،‫ﻣﻧطق‬

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Course Page: http://www.jarrar.info/courses/DMath/

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Acknowledgement:
This lecture is based on (but not limited to) to chapter 5 in “Discrete Mathematics with Applications
by Susanna S. Epp (3rd Edition)”.

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Mustafa Jarrar: Lecture Notes in Discrete Mathematics.

Birzeit University, Palestine, 2015

Propositional Logic
2.3 Logical Inferencing

In this lecture:

qPart 1: Numeration Method

qPart 2: Rules of Inference
qPart 3: Example

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Keywords:

Numeration Method
Example 1
If today is Friday then today is holiday
p→q
Today is Friday p
∴today is holiday? ∴q?

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Numeration Method
Example 2
p → q ∨ ∼r
q→p∧r
∴ p→r ?

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Numeration Method

What is wrong with this Numeration Method?

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 9/22/20

Mustafa Jarrar: Lecture Notes in Discrete Mathematics.

Birzeit University, Palestine, 2015

Propositional Logic
2.3 Logical Inferencing

In this lecture:
qPart 1: Numeration Method
qPart 2: Rules of Inference
qPart 3: Example

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Keywords:

Rules of Inference

1. Modus Ponens:

p→q If today is Friday then today is holiday

Today is Friday
p
∴q ∴ Today is holiday

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Rules of Inference

2. Modus Tollens:

p→q If today is Friday then today is holiday

Today is not holiday
~q
∴ ∼p ∴ Today is not Friday

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Rules of Inference

3. Generalization:

p Today is Saturday

∴p∨q ∴ Today is Saturday or today is Sunday

∴p∨q

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Rules of Inference

4. Specialization:

p∧q Today is Friday and today is holiday

∴p ∴ Today is Friday

p∧q

∴q ∴ Today is Holiday

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Rules of Inference

5. Conjunction:

p Today is Friday
Today is Holiday
q
∴ p∧q ∴ Today is Friday and today is holiday

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Rules of Inference

6. Elimination:

p∨q Today is Saturday or today is Sunday

∼p Today is not Saturday

∴q ∴ Today is Sunday

p∨q
∼q
∴p
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Rules of Inference

7. Transitivity:

p→q If today is Friday then Today is holiday

If today is holiday then I am happy
q→r

∴ p→r ∴ If today is Friday then I am happy

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Rules of Inference

8. Division into Cases:

p∨q Today is Friday or today is Sunday

p→r If today is Friday then I am happy
q→r If today is Sunday then I am happy

∴r ∴ I am happy

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Rules of Inference

9. Contradiction Rule:

If “Today is not Friday” is false

∼p → c
∴ Today is Friday
∴p

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Rules of Inference
Summary

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Mustafa Jarrar: Lecture Notes in Discrete Mathematics.

Birzeit University, Palestine, 2015

Propositional Logic
2.3 Logical Inferencing

In this lecture:
qPart 1: Numeration Method
qPart 2: Rules of Inference
qPart 3: Example

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Keywords:

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Inferencing Example
Formalize the following text in propositional logic and use the
inference rules find the glasses.
If I was reading the newspaper in the kitchen, then my RK → GK
glasses are on the kitchen table.
If my glasses are on the kitchen table, then I saw them at GK → SB
breakfast.
I did not see my glasses at breakfast. ∼ SB

I was reading the newspaper in the living room or I was RL ∨ RK

reading the newspaper in the kitchen.
If I was reading the newspaper in the living room then RL → GC
my glasses are on the coffee table.
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Inferencing Example
Let
RK = I was reading the newspaper in the kitchen. RK → GK
GK = My glasses are on the kitchen table. GK → SB
SB = I saw my glasses at breakfast. ∼ SB
RL = I was reading the newspaper in the living room. RL ∨ RK
GC = My glasses are on the coffee table. RL → GC

RK → GK RL ∨ RK
GK → SB ∼ RK
∴ RK → SB by transitivity ∴ RL by elimination

RK → SB RL → GC
∼ SB RL
∴ ∼RK by modus tollens ∴ GC by modus ponenes

Thus the glasses are on the coffee table.

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