SE 500 Mathematics for Software Engineering
Fall 2023
HW #8: Predicate Logic: Proofs and Translation from English
Due: 5pm November 17 (Friday)

Part A: Proofs

Exercises identified by number are from the Gries & Schneider text. Of course, in proving a numbered theorem, you may use only lower-numbered theorems.

A1. Do Exercise 9.2, which can be restated as follows:

Take (∀x |: P) ∧ (∀x |: Q) ≡ (∀x |: P∧Q) to be an axiom. Without using Theorem (8.15), and using no theorem numbered higher than (9.2), prove

(∀x | R : P) ∧ (∀x | R : Q) ≡ (∀x | R : P∧Q)


A2. Do Exercise 9.6, which can be restated as follows:

Prove (∀x | R∨Q : P) ≡ (∀x | R : P) ∧ (∀x | Q : P)

without using Axiom (8.18). (You probably will want to use Axiom (8.15), however.)


A3. Do Exercise 9.15, which is to prove

Trading (9.19): (∃x | R : P) ≡ (∃x |: R ∧ P)

Of course, you will need to use Axiom (9.17) and/or Theorem (9.18).


A4. Do Exercise 9.23, which is to prove (∃-quantification) Range weakening/strengthening (9.25):

(∃x | R : P) ⟹ (∃x | Q ∨ R : P)

Of course, you will need to use Axiom (9.17) and/or Theorem (9.18). Other theorems likely to be helpful are (∀-quantification) Range weakening/strengthening (9.10) and (3.61) (Contrapositive).



Part B: Translating between English and Predicate Logic

Let U be some set of persons that we take to be our "universe". Let L : U × U ⟶ Bool be the predicate corresponding to the "likes" relation among those persons. That is, for x,y ∈ U, the value of L.x.y corresponds to the truth value of the statement "x likes y". Let M : U ⟶ Bool be the predicate such that, for x ∈ U, the value of M.x corresponds to the truth value of the statement "x is male". For the sake of simplicity, assume then that ¬M.x corresponds to the statement "x is female".

Translate each of the following (English) statements into the language of predicate logic:

B1. There is a male who is liked by no one but himself.
B2. Every male likes at least two different females.
B3. Every person likes someone who does not like her/him back.
B4. There is no person who is liked by everybody.
B5. There are two females who like the same male but do not like each other.
B6. If there is a person who is liked by everyone, then there is also a person who is liked by no one except her/himself.
B7. Every female likes some male who is disliked by all her female friends. (Note: The statement "x and y are friends" translates to L.x.y ∧ L.y.x.)