Module 2a.
Propositions
Learning Outcome(s): At the end of the lesson, the learner is able to illustrate a
proposition, symbolize propositions, and distinguish between simple (primitive) and
compound propositions
Definition: A proposition is a declarative sentence that is either true or false, but not
both. If a proposition is true, then its truth value is true, which is denoted by T;
otherwise, its truth value is false, which is denoted by F.
Propositions are usually denoted by small letters. For example, the proposition
p: Everyone should study logic
may be read as
p is the proposition “Everyone should study logic.”
If a sequence of propositions is considered, we denote the propositions by p" , p$ , …
Example 1. Determine whether each of the following statements is a proposition or
not. If it is a proposition, give its truth value.
p: Baybay is a municipality in Leyte.
q: Find a number which divides your age.
r: My seatmate gets a perfect score in the logic exam.
s: Welcome to the Philippines!
t: 3 + 2 = 5
-
u: f x = is a rational function.
(-/")
v: What is the domain of the function?
w: I am lying.
p" : It is not the case that 2 is a rational number
p$ : Either logic is fun and interesting, or it is boring.
p1 : If you study hard, then you will get good grades.
p2 : If you are more than 60 years old, then you are entitled to a Senior Citizen’s card,
and if you are entitled to a Senior Citizen’s card, then you are more than 60 years old.
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Solution. Recall that for a statement to be a proposition, it must be a declarative
sentence, and it should have a truth value of either true or false, but not both true and
false at the same time.
p. This is a declarative sentence, and Baybay is one of the coastal
municipalities of the province of Leyte. Hence p is a proposition.
q. This is an imperative sentence, and so it is not a proposition.
r. The statement is a declarative sentence, but its truth value will only be known
after the logic exam. Nonetheless, it can either be true or false, but not both.
Hence r is a proposition.
s. This statement is exclamatory, and hence it is not a proposition.
t. The given equation is a mathematical sentence. Translated into English, the
equation reads “the sum of three and two is five”, which is a declarative
sentence. It is also a true statement. Hence t is a true proposition.
u. This is a declarative statement. Since the numerator of the function is not a
polynomial function, the function f is not rational, so the statement is false. It is
therefore a false proposition.
v. This is an interrogative sentence. Hence it is not a proposition.
w. Although w is a declarative sentence, it is not a proposition because it can
neither be true nor false. Suppose w is true—that is, it is the case that I am
lying. Since I am lying, my statement is not true, and so w must be false. The
same conclusion can be drawn if w is assumed to be false.
p" . While this is a declarative sentence, it can be shown that 2 cannot be
expressed as a quotient of two integers. Thus, p" is a false proposition.
p$ . This is a declarative sentence, which is true, since students may find logic
either fun or boring. Hence p" is a true proposition.
p1 . It is generally accepted as true that studying hard is a sufficient condition
for getting good grades. Therefore p1 is a true proposition.
p2 . We know that it is a true proposition. This is also known as a biconditional
statement, since we can rewrite it as “You are more than 60 years old if and
only if you are entitled to a Senior Citizen’s card.”
Definition. A compound proposition is a proposition formed from simpler
proposition using logical connectors or some combination of logical connectors.
Some logical connectors are expressed as follows:
Not <.> <.> and <.> <.> or <.> If <.>, then <.>
where <.> stands for some proposition. A proposition is simple if it cannot be broken
down any further into other component propositions.
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Example 2. For each of the propositions in Example 1, determine whether it is a simple
or a compound proposition. If it is a compound proposition, identify the simple
components.
Solution. The propositions p, r, t, and u are all simple propositions. On the other hand,
the following are compound propositions:
p" . It is not the case that 2 is a rational number.
p$ . Either logic is fun and interesting, or it is boring.
p1 . If you study hard, then you will get good grades.
p2 . If you are more than 60 years old, then you are entitled to a Senior Citizen’s card,
and if you are entitled to a Senior Citizen’s card, then you are more than 60 years old.
Furthermore, we can determine the simple propositions that make up the propositions
p" , p$ , p1 , and p2 . We do so in the following table
Proposition Primitive Component/s
p" r: 2 is a rational number
p$ f: Logic is fun
i: Logic is interesting
b: Logic is boring
p1 h: You study hard
g: You get good grades
p2 a: You are more than 60 years old
s: You are entitled to a Senior Citizen’s card
The compound propositions can thus be expressed as follows:
p" ; not r
p$ : f and i or b
p1 : if h, then g
p2 : (if a then s) and (if s then a)
Exercises
1. Determine whether the following statements are propositions. If it is a proposition,
determine its truth value if possible.
a: Is the traffic heavy along Katipunan Avenue today?
b: Please close the door.
c: 𝑥 + 2 = 11.
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d: 144 is a perfect square.
e: Keep right while passing through the corridor.
f: 2 ≤ −1.
g: The iPhone 6S comes with 64GB of memory and the Samsung Galaxy S6 has 32GB
of memory.
h: If a triangle has a right angle, then the triangle is called a right triangle.
i: Either a student takes a mathematics elective next semester, or he takes a business
elective next year.
j: What is 5/10 in simplest form?
k: This is a false statement.
2. For each of the following compound propositions, identify the primitive propositions
and the logical connectors used.
a: You went to the rock concert and your ears hurt.
b: It is not the case that it is Monday today.
c: Either today is a rainy day or today is a sunny day.
d: If fewer than 10 persons are in attendance, then the meeting will be cancelled.
e: Carlos will not fail the course if his final exam score exceeds 50%.