Elementary Logic

According to David W. Kueker (2009), logic is simply defined as the analysis of

methods of reasoning. Mathematical reasoning is deductive – that is, it consists of
drawing (correct) conclusions from given hypotheses.
Proposition or statement in logic is a sentence that is either true or false but not both.
- In this module, lower case letters such as p, q, r, s or other lower case letters
will be used to represent propositions. Instead of writing the statement over
and over again, we use lower case letters.
- The truth value (based on facts) of a proposition is true, denoted by T, if it is
a true statement. The truth value of a false statement is F.
Example:
p: Five is less than ten. (T) All these statements are propositions because you
q: Dogs can fly. (F) can determine the truth or falsity of each. Consider
r: Santiago City is in Isabela. (T) the next three statements.

What is the value of x? These are not propositions because the first one is a
Liza is beautiful. question, the second is an opinion, and the third is a
Read page 30 of your book. command. You cannot determine the truth value of the three

One operation used involving a proposition is negating a statement.

- Changing the truth value of a proposition.
- The negation of a true statement is a false statement, and the negation of a
false statement is a true statement.
- We use the symbol ~ to negate a statement like ~p (read as NOT p) or ~q (read
as NOT q).

Example: convert the following symbolic statements using the statements

below.
p: Five is less than ten.
q: Today is not Tuesday.
a. ~p b. ~q
Solution: Solution:
Five is not less than ten. Today is Tuesday.

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 Simple and Compound Propositions
Simple
- Convey one idea with no
connecting words.
Compound
- Statements which combine two
or more simple propositions
using connectives.

Example: Example of connectives:

Five is less than ten. And/but/yet/while
Birds can fly. Or
A square is a If … then
quadrilateral. If and only if

Logical Connectives or Operators Used to Form a Compound Proposition

1. Conjunction (and, but, yet, while)
- Symbolized as “p ^ q” (read as p and q)
Example: Consider the two simple propositions below.
p: Today is Sunday
q: They are working.

a. Form a compound proposition using the symbolic statement p ^ q.

p q
^
Solution: Today is Sunday and they are working.

b. Identify the symbolic statement of the compound proposition: “Today

is Sunday and they are not working”.
p q
^ ~
Solution: Today is Sunday and they are not working

Therefore, the symbolic statement of the given compound statement

is p ^ ~ q.

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UPLOADING, OR POSTING ONLINE IN ANY FORM OR BY ANY MEANS WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE UNIVERSITY IS
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 2. Disjunction (or)
- Symbolized as “p ˅ q” (read as p or q)
Example: Consider the two simple propositions below.
p: A square has four equal sides.
q: A rectangle is a quadrilateral.

a. Form a compound proposition using the symbolic statement p ˅ q.

p q
˅
Solution: A square has four equal sides or a rectangle is a
quadrilateral.

b. Identify the symbolic statement of the compound proposition: “Today

is Sunday and they are not working”.
~p ~q
˅
Solution: A square does not have four equal sides or a rectangle is
not a quadrilateral.

Therefore, the symbolic statement of the given compound statement is

~(p˅q).

3. Conditional statement (if …then)

- Symbolized as “p → q” (read as If p, then q.”)
Example: Consider the two simple propositions below.
p: A woman has a son or daughter. (antecedent)
q: A woman is a mother. (consequent)

a. Form a compound proposition using the symbolic statement p → q.

p q
→
Solution: If a woman has a son or daughter, then a woman is a mother.

b. Identify the symbolic statement of the compound proposition: If a

woman has a son or daughter, then a woman is not a mother.
p ~q
→
Solution: If a woman has a son or daughter, then a woman is not a
mother.

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 Therefore, the symbolic statement of the given compound statement is
p → ~ q.

4. Biconditional Statement (if and only if)

- Biconditional statements are combination of conditional statements
that are true if the statement is still true when the antecedent and
consequent are reversed.
- Symbolized as “p ↔ q” (read as p if and only if q)

Example: Consider the conditional statement and its reverse below.

p → q: If two line segments are congruent, then they are of equal length.
q → p: If two line segments are of equal length, then they are congruent.
a. Write a biconditional statement using the symbolic statement p ↔ q.
p q
↔
Solution: Two line segments are congruent is if and only if they are of
equal length.

Note that the statement is still true even when the antecedent and
consequent are reversed.

THIS MODULE IS FOR THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF LA SALETTE, INC. ANY FORM OF REPRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION,
UPLOADING, OR POSTING ONLINE IN ANY FORM OR BY ANY MEANS WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE UNIVERSITY IS
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 REFERENCES
Romeo M. Daligdig, EdD (2019). Mathematics in the Modern World. Mathematical

Language and Symbols. Lorimar Publishing,Inc. 24 - 36

Earnhart, R T., and Adina E M. (2018). Mathematics in the Modern World. Basic Concepts

of Mathematical Language. C & E Publishing,Inc. 45 - 59

Calingasan R, Martin M, Yambao E (2018). Mathematics in the Modern World. The

Language of Mathematics and The Nature of Logic: Mathematics as a Science of

Patterns. C & E Publishing, Inc. 15, 27 - 32

Dr. Esperanza (Jan 24, 2019). How to translate compound statements to symbolic form. From

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LojjlWfPY8o

Dr. Esperanza (Jan 24, 2019). Statement and Negations in set logic. From
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWXDzlq35ZQ

THIS MODULE IS FOR THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF LA SALETTE, INC. ANY FORM OF REPRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION,
UPLOADING, OR POSTING ONLINE IN ANY FORM OR BY ANY MEANS WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE UNIVERSITY IS
STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
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