Existential Quantification Example - 9.5.1 | 9. Rules of Inferences in Predicate Logic - part A | Discrete Mathematics - Vol 1
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Understanding Predicates

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Teacher
Teacher

Today, we will talk about how to represent statements in predicate logic using predicates. Let's start with the example: 'Every student in course CS201 has studied calculus.' What could we use as predicates here?

Student 1
Student 1

Maybe we can use S(x) for students in CS201?

Teacher
Teacher

Correct! We can define S(x) as 'student x has enrolled in CS201.' And what about studying calculus?

Student 2
Student 2

We could use C(x) to mean that student x has studied calculus.

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! Now, how would we represent the statement using these predicates?

Student 3
Student 3

I think it would be 'for all x, S(x) → C(x).'

Teacher
Teacher

Well done! Remember, this means that if a student is enrolled in CS201, then that student has studied calculus. This is an example of universal quantification.

Student 4
Student 4

What if we just said 'for all x, S(x) ∧ C(x)'?

Teacher
Teacher

Good question! That would imply every student not only enrolled but also studied calculus. It's a common mistake. We want to focus only on students enrolled in CS201.

Teacher
Teacher

Let's summarize. For statement verification, focus on the correct predicates and implications. The right representation is crucial!

Existential Quantification

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Teacher
Teacher

Let's now shift gears to existential quantification. How would we express the statement: 'Some student in CS201 has studied calculus'?

Student 1
Student 1

Is it 'there exists some x such that S(x) ∧ C(x)'?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! This means there is at least one student who is in CS201 and has studied calculus. Can anyone tell me why we need the conjunction here?

Student 2
Student 2

Because we are saying that both conditions must hold true for the same student.

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly right! Now, what about 'there exists x such that S(x) → C(x)'? Why is that incorrect?

Student 3
Student 3

That one would be true even if someone isn’t in CS201 at all, right? Because a false S(x) makes the implication true.

Teacher
Teacher

Correct! Implications can be tricky. Always check your predicates carefully.

Teacher
Teacher

Now, let's recap: When using 'some,' identify the right predicates and ensure you express both conditions for the same entity!

Clarifying Logical Expressions

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Teacher
Teacher

We’ve covered several concepts now. Let’s dive deeper into how we distinguish between universal and existential statements.

Student 1
Student 1

So, universal is about 'every' and existential is about 'some,' right?

Teacher
Teacher

Correct! And how does this influence the logical expressions we choose?

Student 2
Student 2

It helps clarify what we mean when we say a statement.

Teacher
Teacher

Right! Also, consider how we structure predicates: Order of operations matters, especially with quantifiers. What about this example?

Student 3
Student 3

'Some student studied calculus' should directly express both S(x) and C(x).

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! Now, if I said 'for all x, S(x) and C(x) are true,' what does that imply?

Student 4
Student 4

It says every student has studied calculus, which is broader than we want.

Teacher
Teacher

Correct! Always clarify the scope of your statements before converting. Let's summarize our key points before we conclude.

Introduction & Overview

Read a summary of the section's main ideas. Choose from Basic, Medium, or Detailed.

Quick Overview

This section discusses the representation of existential quantification in predicate logic through illustrative examples.

Standard

The section elaborates on how to represent statements in predicate logic, particularly focusing on existential quantification, using examples related to students and courses. It highlights the importance of understanding the logical implications of these representations.

Detailed

Detailed Summary

In this section, we delve into the concept of existential quantification in predicate logic with clear examples. We begin by discussing the representation of the statement "every student in course CS201 has studied calculus" using predicates. We introduce two key predicates: S(x), which indicates enrollment in CS201, and C(x), which signifies having studied calculus.

We analyze two logical expressions:
1. For all x, S(x) → C(x)
2. For all x, S(x) ∧ C(x)

We illustrate why the first expression accurately captures the assertion that every student in CS201 has studied calculus, outlining common misconceptions that the second expression might convey.

Next, we explore a similar example: representing the statement "some student in CS201 has studied calculus." We clarify that this involves existential quantification, leading to the expression:
- There exists some x such that S(x) ∧ C(x).

By comparing this to an incorrect expression, we emphasize the need to understand the correct use of conjunction and existential quantification clearly. The discussions in this section ultimately equip students to translate English statements into predicates accurately, which is vital for logical reasoning in mathematics.

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Audio Book

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Understanding the Statement

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I want to represent a statement that every student in course number CS201 has studied calculus. If you are wondering what is this CS201 well at my institute IIIT, Bangalore the course number for discrete maths course is CS201 and say my domain is the set of all students in a college. So since I am considering for instance IIIT, Bangalore, my domain is the set of all students in IIIT, Bangalore but it could be any domain.

Detailed Explanation

In this chunk, the professor is setting the context by defining the statement to be represented: 'Every student in course CS201 has studied calculus.' The domain here refers to the group of individuals we're discussing, which is the set of all students at the professor's college. By mentioning the course number 'CS201', the professor illustrates the specific context where this statement is applicable.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine a school where all the students taking a math class, known as Math 101, are required to pass a prerequisite course in algebra. If we say, 'Every student in Math 101 has passed algebra,' we are making a similar assertion about a specific group of students.

Logical Interpretation and Predicates

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So when I am saying that every student in my domain who is enrolled for CS201 has studied calculus the interpretation of that is that I am making a universal statement, a universally quantified statement where I am saying that all for every student x in my domain, if student x has enrolled for CS201, then student x has studied calculus.

Detailed Explanation

This chunk clarifies that the statement regarding students and calculus is interpreted as a universal quantification, meaning it applies to all students within the specified domain. The use of predicates helps structure the assertion logically: for each student 'x', if they are enrolled in 'CS201', then they must have studied calculus.

Examples & Analogies

Think of it like this: if we say, 'All birds can fly,' we are making a universal claim. If we had a specific case where every bird, say sparrows, can indeed fly, then that fits our claim. Similarly, every student in our domain studying for 'CS201' must meet the criteria of having studied calculus.

Introducing Predicates S(x) and C(x)

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So, let me first introduce a predicate here S(x) while you can use any predicate variable but I am using S(x) for my convenience. S(x) will be true if student x has enrolled for CS201 whereas C(x) will be true if student x in your domain has studied calculus else, it will be false.

Detailed Explanation

In this section, the professor introduces two specific predicates: S(x) denotes enrollment in course CS201, and C(x) indicates whether a student has studied calculus. Predicates are foundational in predicate logic as they allow us to represent properties and relationships of elements (in this case, students) within a logical framework. Thus, these predicates help in formulating the logical statements.

Examples & Analogies

Think of predicates like labels. For instance, if 'x' represents a specific car, we might have P(x) labeled as 'is red' and Q(x) as 'is a convertible.' If both labels apply to the same car, that gives us useful information about it, much like how we are determining student's statuses in our logic example.

Representing the Statement Using Logic

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I am writing down here two expressions. One expression is for all x, S(x) → C(x) this represents that for every x in the domain here domain is the set of all students in my college, if student x has enrolled for CS201, then he has studied calculus.

Detailed Explanation

In this chunk, the professor outlines the logical representation of the assertion using logical notation. The expression 'for all x, S(x) → C(x)' translates into: 'For every student 'x', if they are enrolled in CS201, then they have studied calculus.' This expression captures the intended meaning of the original statement.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine a company saying, 'If a person is an employee (E), then they receive a salary (S).' Here, being an employee (E) directly leads to receiving a salary (S), similar to how enrollment in CS201 leads to having studied calculus.

Clarifying Misinterpretations

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Now an interesting question here is whether the statement that I want to represent is represented by the first expression or is it represented by the second expression? Very often students do think that it is the second expression which is representing the statement every student in CS201 has studied calculus but that is not the case.

Detailed Explanation

The discussion in this chunk highlights a common misconception. The professor points out that many may mistakenly believe that the second expression, which states 'for all x, S(x) ∧ C(x)', correctly represents the original statement. However, this expression incorrectly implies that all students have enrolled in CS201 and have studied calculus, which is not what we are asserting. The careful delineation of conditions is critical in logic.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine a scenario where you say, 'All people who have a driver's license drive a car.' The correct interpretation is, if a person has a license, they drive, but it doesn’t mean all people drive. If you say, 'All drivers have licenses', that would be a misinterpretation.

Validating Statements with Examples

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Now, let us consider the two expressions our goal is to identify whether it is the expression number one or expression number two which represents the assertion that every student in CS201 has studied calculus.

Detailed Explanation

In this example, the professor runs through a specific case with students Ram, Shyam, and Balram to validate which logical expression accurately represents the assertion. By checking the truth values of the statements, he illustrates that expression one holds true in the example’s context whereas expression two does not, thereby reinforcing the importance of proper logical representation.

Examples & Analogies

It's like testing a recipe: if you claim 'every chef uses fresh ingredients', you need to show every chef truly uses them. If you find even one chef doesn't, it's clear that claim doesn't hold. Thus, using real examples to validate logical statements helps solidify our understanding.

Definitions & Key Concepts

Learn essential terms and foundational ideas that form the basis of the topic.

Key Concepts

  • Predicate: A statement involving a variable.

  • Universal Quantification: A statement that applies to all in a domain.

  • Existential Quantification: A statement that applies to at least one in a domain.

  • Conjunction: Combination of two logical statements.

  • Implication: A relationship where one statement leads to another.

Examples & Real-Life Applications

See how the concepts apply in real-world scenarios to understand their practical implications.

Examples

  • Every student in CS201 has studied calculus can be represented by ∀x (S(x) → C(x)).

  • Some student in CS201 has studied calculus can be represented by ∃x (S(x) ∧ C(x)).

Memory Aids

Use mnemonics, acronyms, or visual cues to help remember key information more easily.

🎵 Rhymes Time

  • In logic, we take our cue, for some is true, for all is too!

📖 Fascinating Stories

  • Imagine a classroom where every student who comes in also has studied. This makes for an engaging class where conditions depend on class participation! Some students may just wander in, but they have not fulfilled the condition of studying.

🧠 Other Memory Gems

  • Remember: U for Universal means all (like a universe), E for Existential means at least one (like in existence).

🎯 Super Acronyms

Use UQ for Universal Qualifier and EQ for Existential Qualifier.

Flash Cards

Review key concepts with flashcards.

Glossary of Terms

Review the Definitions for terms.

  • Term: Predicate

    Definition:

    A function that expresses a property or relationship involving variables.

  • Term: Universal Quantification

    Definition:

    A type of quantification indicating that a statement applies to all elements within a domain.

  • Term: Existential Quantification

    Definition:

    A type of quantification indicating that a statement applies to at least one element within a domain.

  • Term: Conjunction

    Definition:

    A logical operation that combines two statements into one, true if both statements are true.

  • Term: Implication

    Definition:

    A logical operation denoted by →, indicating that if the first statement is true, then the second statement is also true.