THE UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX

5059

BA and BS EXAMINATIONS 2001

INTRODUCTION TO LOGIC
June, 2001

{
3 Questions

Introdu tion to Logi

Candidates should answer TWO questions.

The time allowed is ONE

AND A HALF hours. Ea h question is worth 20 marks.

1. (a) For ea h of the following statements of the Propositional Cal ulus, use the
method of truth tables to determine whether it is ontingent, tautologous or in onsistent:
i. p ! :p
ii. (p _ q ) ! q
iii. (p _ :q ) $ (q ! p)
iv. r ! :((p ^ q ) _ r)
[4 marks
(b) Using the Propositional Cal ulus, provide a formal representation of the
following argument. Using the method of truth tables, determine whether
or not the argument is sound.
Either the solution is a id or it is alkaline. If the solution is a id,
then the litmus paper will be red. It follows that if the litmus paper
is not red, then the solution is alkaline.

[4 marks
( ) Using the formal laws of logi al equivalen e, simplify the following statements of the Propositional Cal ulus as far as possible:
i. p ! (p ^ q )
ii. (p ! q ) ^ (p ! :q )
iii. ((p ! r) ! ((r ^ p) ^ q ))
[4 marks
1

Turn over/

5059

Introdu tion to Logi

(d) Justify the following proposition about the semanti entailment relation
(where G is a set of statements and A and B are statements).
if G j= A and

[ fAg j= B , then

j= B

[4 marks
(e) What does it mean to say that a system of formal logi is;
i. sound
ii. omplete
iii. de idable
[4 marks
2. (a) Use the method of semanti tableaux to determine whether the following
sets of senten es are onsistent or in onsistent:
i. f(p ! q ); :q; (r ^ :p)g
ii. f(p $ (q _ r)); (:p _ :q )g
iii. f((p _ q ) ^ (p _ :q )); :pg
[4 marks
(b) Let be a logi al operator with the following truth fun tion:
t

f
t t t
f f t

Devise suitable tableaux derivation rules for senten es of the form (A B )

and :(A B )
[4 marks
( ) Using the method of natural dedu tion, show that the following statements
are theorems
i. (p ^ q ) ! (q ^ p)
ii. ((p ! q ) ^ p) ! q
iii. ((:p ! q ) ^ :q ) ! p
[4 marks
(d) Present an argument to show that the natural dedu tion proof rule of
redu tio ad absurdum (proof by ontradi tion) is sound.
[4 marks
(e) With referen e to the First Order Predi ate Cal ulus, explain what is
meant by the following terms:
i. a rst order theory
ii. an interpretation
iii. a model
2

Introdu tion to Logi

5059

3. (a) Is the language of the Propositional Cal ulus appropriate as a means of

representing the following argument? Give reasons for your answer.
All men are mortal. So rates is a man. So, So rates is mortal.
[4 marks
(b) Express the following English senten es as statements of the First Order
Predi ate Cal ulus, providing informal interpretations for any symbols that
you introdu e.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.

Every integer is either even or odd.

No integer is both even and odd.
The sum of two odd integers is an even integer.
Every integer is smaller than some other integer.
Negative integers are smaller than positive integers.

[4 marks
( ) Explain why the method of truth tables annot generally be used to determine the status (i.e. ontingent, tautologous, in onsistent) of statements of the First Order Predi ate Cal ulus.
[4 marks
(d) Let C1 and C2 be two lauses, as shown below. Show that C1 and C2
resolve and display their resolvent.

C1
C2

= f:P (a; x); :Q(x; a)g

= fQ(b; y ); R(y )g
[4 marks

(e) In resolution theorem proving what, is meant by

i. a literal
ii. a denite lause
iii. a goal lause
[4 marks

Turn over/