POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

PA R A Ñ A Q U E C I T Y C A M P U S

Discrete Mathematics/Structures 1
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
PA R A Ñ A Q U E C I T Y C A M P U S

Have you heard of these statements?

• Men with tattoos are bad person.
• Men are strong and women are weak.
• Provincial people are unfashionable.
• Americans are rude and racist.
• Muslims are terrorists.
• The government officials are corrupt.
• Older people are viewed having good sense of decision
making.
Discrete Mathematics/Structures 1
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
PA R A Ñ A Q U E C I T Y C A M P U S

LESSON 4: RULES OF
REPLACEMENT FOR
QUANTIFIED STATEMENTS
PROF. KENNETH E. ABAJA

Discrete Mathematics/Structures 1
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
PA R A Ñ A Q U E C I T Y C A M P U S

RULES OF INFERENCE FOR QUANTIFIED

STATEMENTS
1. Universal Instantiation: This rule is used to conclude that P(c) is true when
∀xP(x) is also true.

All men are strong. Michael is a man. Therefore, Michael is strong.

Discrete Mathematics/Structures 1
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
PA R A Ñ A Q U E C I T Y C A M P U S

RULES OF INFERENCE FOR QUANTIFIED

STATEMENTS
2. Universal Generalization: This rule states that ∀xP(x) is true, given the
premise, P(c) is true for an arbitrary c.

All men are strong. All strong people never cry. Therefore, all men never cry.

Discrete Mathematics/Structures 1
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
PA R A Ñ A Q U E C I T Y C A M P U S

RULES OF INFERENCE FOR QUANTIFIED

STATEMENTS
3. Existential Instantiation: This rule allow us to conclude that there is some
element c for which P(c) is true when ∃x P(x) is true.

4. Existential Generalization: This rule states that ∃x P(x) is true when for a
particular element c, P(c) is true. If we know for some element c in the domain,
P(c) is true; we also know that ∃x P(x) is true.

Discrete Mathematics/Structures 1
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
PA R A Ñ A Q U E C I T Y C A M P U S

RULES OF INFERENCE FOR QUANTIFIED

STATEMENTS
Example: A student in Research Class doesn’t look for reliable materials. All
student in Research Class passed the subject. Therefore, someone who passed
Research Class doesn’t look for reliable sources.

Discrete Mathematics/Structures 1