MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF APPLIED MATHEMATICS AND

STATISTICS

HMT109: MATHEMATICAL DISCOURSE AND STRUCTURES

SESSIONAL EXAMINATIONS
MAY/JUNE 2018
DURATION: 3 HOURS

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Answer ALL Questions from Section A and any
THREE Questions from Section B.
2. All questions carry marks as indicated.

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL(S)

1. Scientific Calculators
 SECTION A: 40 MARKS.

A1 Define the following terms as used in Mathematical Dis-

course and Structures:

a) Theorem.
b) Predicate.
c) Bijective function.
d) Tautology.
e) Mathematical structure.

[2,2,2,2,2]

A2 a) Let R be a relation on a set A. What conditions does

R have to satisfy if R is an equivalence relation on
A?
b) Let X be the set of all sets. Determine whether
the relation ρ on X given by AρB iff A ⊆ B is an
equivalence relation. If it is not, which properties
hold and which properties fail. Is the relation anti-
symmetric?
[5,5]

A3 Let ∗ be a binary operation on Z defined by:

∀m, n ∈ Z, m ∗ n = (m + n)2 .

a) Verify whether:
i) ∗ is commutative.
ii) ∗ is associative.
b) i) Does Z have an identity with respect to ∗ ?
ii) Which elements of Z are idempotent with re-
spect to ∗?

2
 [(3,3),(2,2)]

A4 a) Determine whether the following composite propo-

sitions are logically equivalent:
i) (p ∧ q) ⇒ r); (p ⇒ r) ∨ (q ⇒ r).
ii) (p ∨ q) ∧ ¬p; q ∧ ¬p.
b) Describe the two basic properties of a set.
[(3,3),4]

3
 SECTION B: 60 MARKS.

B5 a) Let A,B,C and D be sets. Prove the following iden-

tities:
i) A × (B ∩ C) = (A × B) ∩ (A × C).
ii) A ⊆ B iff A − B = A.
iii) (A ∩ B)0 = A0 ∪ B 0 .
b) Let {Ai }i∈I be an indexed family of sets and B be
any set.
T Prove thatS
B − ( i∈I Ai ) = i∈I (B − Ai ).
[(5,5,5),5]

B6 a) Two functions f and g are defined so that

√ x
f (x) = 4 − x2 and g(x) = x2 −3
.
Find the function (f g)(x), the composition of the
functions f and g.
b) Define a bijective function. Hence verify whether
the following function is bijective:
f (x) = x3 − 1.
c) Distinguish the inverse of a function from the inverse
function. Hence determine f −1 (x), where
x+3
f (x) = 2−x
.
d) A relation R is defined so that for x, y ∈ R, xRy iff
xy > 0. Prove that R is an equivalence relation.
[3,6,5,6]

4
B7 a) Symbolize each of the following statements using
quantifiers, predicates and logical connectives. De-
termine the truth value of the statement and negate
it.
i) For every natural number x, there is another
natural number y such that their sum is equal
to 1.
ii) All mathematicians wear glasses.
(Hint:Define a predicate and the domain).
b) Let + and - be binary operations on the set of inte-
gers Z.
i) Show whether + is commutative and/or asso-
ciative.
ii) Let ∗ be a binary operation on the set of inte-
gers Z defined by:

x ∗ y = x + y − (x × y), x, y ∈ Z.
Prove that ∗ is commutative and associative.
[(4,4),(4,8)]
B8 a) i) Define a Boolean Algebra (B, +, ∗).
ii) A zoo has two special cages, each with its own
power source. An alarm will be installed in the
zoo office that will ring if either (or both) of
the special cages is opened, assuming the cages’
power service and the alarm’s power sound are
on. Design an electric circuit for this purpose
using appropriate gates.
b) Define a direct proof and a contra-positive proof.
Hence prove the following using each of the two
methods of proof:

5
 i) If n is an even integer, then 3n + 5 is odd.
ii) Let n be an integer. If n2 + 5 is odd then n is
even.
c) Prove that if R is a relation from A to B then Range
(R−1 ) = Domain (R).
[(4,4),(4,4),4]

END OF QUESTION PAPER