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Inferencing and Proof Methods Explained

The document discusses inferencing and proof methods, defining key terms such as arguments and their validity. It outlines rules of inference for propositional logic and provides examples to illustrate how to construct valid arguments and formal proofs. The instructor, Mr. Nasolwa Edson, emphasizes the importance of using inference rules to derive conclusions from given premises.

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17 views16 pages

Inferencing and Proof Methods Explained

The document discusses inferencing and proof methods, defining key terms such as arguments and their validity. It outlines rules of inference for propositional logic and provides examples to illustrate how to construct valid arguments and formal proofs. The instructor, Mr. Nasolwa Edson, emphasizes the importance of using inference rules to derive conclusions from given premises.

Uploaded by

marubakulwa
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

INFERENCING AND PROOF METHODS

Instructor: Mr Nasolwa Edson


Email: nasolwaedson@[Link]
Office: AB14 (Administration Block)
Introduction
 What is Inferencing?
 Why Inferencing?
 How do we Infer Knowledge?
Introduction
 Inferencing examples using common
sense
Definition of Some Terms
 Argument
An argument is a sequence of statements
that end with a conclusion
Examples of Argument
 "Eden lives either at Block 5 or at Block
2. Eden does not live at town“
 All balls are round.
The Earth is round.
Therefore, the Earth is a ball.
Valid Argument
 an argument is valid if and only if it is
necessary that if all of the premises are
true, then the conclusion is true; if all
the premises are true, then the
conclusion must be true; it is impossible
that all the premises are true and the
conclusion is false.
Invalid Argument
 an argument that is not valid. We can
test for invalidity by assuming that all
the premises are true and seeing
whether it is still possible for the
conclusion to be false. If this is possible,
the argument is invalid
Rules of Inference
 Rules of inference are templates for
building valid arguments
Rules of Inference for
Propositional Logic
 Consider the following:
Rules of Inference for
Propositional Logic
 Continued
Example
Which rule of inference is used in each
argument below?
(1) Alice is a Math major. Therefore, Alice
is either a Math major or a CSI major.
(2) Jerry is a Math major and a CSI major.
Therefore, Jerry is a Math major.
(3) If it is rainy, then the pool will be
closed. It is rainy. Therefore, the pool is
Formal Proof
 is a series of procedures that use a
formal system to show that a statement
is true
Formal Proof Steps
1. Translate the statements into
propositional logic
Formal Proof Steps
2. By starting by writing the given
premises, apply inference rules step by
step till you get the conclusion
Example 1
From the proposition , show that is a
conclusion.
Example 2
 Use the rules of inference to show the
premises “John works hard” “ If John
works hard, then he is not having any
fun” and “If John is not having any fun,
then he won’t make any friends ” imply
the conclusion, “John will not make any
friends”

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