The University of the West Indies, Mona

Department of Mathematics

Introduction to Formal Mathematics

MATH1152

Semester 2 - 2024

Lecturers: AA and KM

Problem Paper 2

Due date: February 23, 2024

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Question 1

Let E(n) represent/denote the statement n is even and

O(n) denote the statement n is odd.

(a) Express the English statements in symbolic form:

(i) There is an integer n that is not even.

(ii) Every integer n that is not odd is even.

(b) Express the English statements in symbolic form:

(i) Given any two rational numbers a and b, it follows

that ab is rational.

(ii) There is an integer n for which n2 is equal to two.

Question 2

Write the following statements that are in symbolic form to

English form:

(i) ∀ x ∈ R, ∃ y ∈ R, y 2 = x.

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 √
(ii) ∀ a, b ∈ Q, ab ∈ Q.

Question 3

(a) Write the following as English sentences. Say whether

they are true or false.

(i) ∀ x ∈ R, x2 > 0.

(ii) ∃ a ∈ R, ∀ x ∈ R, ax = x.

(iii) ∀ n ∈ Z, ∃ m ∈ Z, m = n + 5.

(b) Determine, by way of an example, whether the following

statement is true or false:

There is a prime number p such that p + 2 and p + 6

are also prime numbers.

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(c) Given that x, y, z ∈ R . Determine the truth value of
each of the statement below:

(i) ∀ x, ∃ y and ∃ z such that y < x < z.

(ii) ∀ x and ∀ y, ∃ z such that xz = y.

(d) Write down the following statements symbolically using

either ∃ or ∀, or both.

(i) The polynomial x2 + 2 = 0 has no real roots.

(ii) The polynomial x5 − 1 = 0 has at least one

real root.

(iii) For every real number m, there is a real number n

for which n2 = m.

(iv) The set ( a, b ] has no least element but it has a

greatest element b.

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Question 4

Negate the following statements/sentences below:

(i) The numbers x and y are both odd.

(ii) The square of every real number is non-negative.

(iii) If p is odd then p2 is odd.

(iv) ∀ x ∈ R, ∃ y ∈ R , y 3 = x.

(v) ∀ x ∈ R, ∃ y ∈ R such that if x > y

then 0 ≤ y 2 < x2.

(vi) The number x is positive, but the number y is not

positive.

(vii) You can fool all of the people all of the time.

(viii) If sin x < 0, then it is not the case that 0 ≤ x ≤ π.

(ix) For every positive number , there is a positive

number M for which | f (x) − b | < 
whenever x > M.

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Question 5

Provide a counter example for the following statements:

(i) For every n ∈ Z , the integer f (n) = n2 − n + 11

is prime.

(ii) All Jamaican men can swim.

(iii) All cubic equations ax3 + bx2 + cx + d = 0,

where a, b, c and d are real constants, have three
real solutions.

(iv) There exist natural numbers a, b and c for which

a3 + b3 = c 3 .

Question 6

By using the method of Direct proof, prove the following

statements.

(i) If x is odd then x3 is odd.

(ii) If x and y are positive real numbers, then

√
2 xy ≤ x + y.

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 (iii) If n ∈ N , then 1 + (−1)n ( 2n − 1 )
is a multiple of 4.

Question 7

By using the method of the Contrapositive implication, prove

the following statements.

(i) Suppose x ∈ Z . If 7x + 9 is even, then x is odd.

(ii) If x2 − 6x + 5 is even, then x is odd.

(iii) Suppose x, y ∈ R . If y 3 + yx2 ≤ x3 + xy 2,

then y ≤ x.

Question 8

By using the method of Contradiction, prove the following

statements.

(i) Suppose a ∈ Z . If a2 is even, then a is even.

(ii) If a, b ∈ Z , then a2 − 4b 6= 2.

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(iii) 5 is irrational.

π
(iv) For every real number x ∈ [ 0, 2 ], we have
sin x + cos x ≥ 1.

Question 9

Prove using

(i) the direct method;

(ii) its contrapositive;

(iii) contradiction

that if n is odd then 5n + 11 is even.

END OF PROBLEM PAPER