The University of the West Indies, Mona
Department of Mathematics
Introduction to Formal Mathematics
MATH1152
Semester 2 - 2024
Lecturers: AA and KM
Problem Paper 2
Due date: February 23, 2024
1
Question 1
Let E(n) represent/denote the statement n is even and
O(n) denote the statement n is odd.
(a) Express the English statements in symbolic form:
(i) There is an integer n that is not even.
(ii) Every integer n that is not odd is even.
(b) Express the English statements in symbolic form:
(i) Given any two rational numbers a and b, it follows
that ab is rational.
(ii) There is an integer n for which n2 is equal to two.
Question 2
Write the following statements that are in symbolic form to
English form:
(i) ∀ x ∈ R, ∃ y ∈ R, y 2 = x.
2
√
(ii) ∀ a, b ∈ Q, ab ∈ Q.
Question 3
(a) Write the following as English sentences. Say whether
they are true or false.
(i) ∀ x ∈ R, x2 > 0.
(ii) ∃ a ∈ R, ∀ x ∈ R, ax = x.
(iii) ∀ n ∈ Z, ∃ m ∈ Z, m = n + 5.
(b) Determine, by way of an example, whether the following
statement is true or false:
There is a prime number p such that p + 2 and p + 6
are also prime numbers.
3
(c) Given that x, y, z ∈ R . Determine the truth value of
each of the statement below:
(i) ∀ x, ∃ y and ∃ z such that y < x < z.
(ii) ∀ x and ∀ y, ∃ z such that xz = y.
(d) Write down the following statements symbolically using
either ∃ or ∀, or both.
(i) The polynomial x2 + 2 = 0 has no real roots.
(ii) The polynomial x5 − 1 = 0 has at least one
real root.
(iii) For every real number m, there is a real number n
for which n2 = m.
(iv) The set ( a, b ] has no least element but it has a
greatest element b.
4
Question 4
Negate the following statements/sentences below:
(i) The numbers x and y are both odd.
(ii) The square of every real number is non-negative.
(iii) If p is odd then p2 is odd.
(iv) ∀ x ∈ R, ∃ y ∈ R , y 3 = x.
(v) ∀ x ∈ R, ∃ y ∈ R such that if x > y
then 0 ≤ y 2 < x2.
(vi) The number x is positive, but the number y is not
positive.
(vii) You can fool all of the people all of the time.
(viii) If sin x < 0, then it is not the case that 0 ≤ x ≤ π.
(ix) For every positive number , there is a positive
number M for which | f (x) − b | <
whenever x > M.
5
Question 5
Provide a counter example for the following statements:
(i) For every n ∈ Z , the integer f (n) = n2 − n + 11
is prime.
(ii) All Jamaican men can swim.
(iii) All cubic equations ax3 + bx2 + cx + d = 0,
where a, b, c and d are real constants, have three
real solutions.
(iv) There exist natural numbers a, b and c for which
a3 + b3 = c 3 .
Question 6
By using the method of Direct proof, prove the following
statements.
(i) If x is odd then x3 is odd.
(ii) If x and y are positive real numbers, then
√
2 xy ≤ x + y.
6
(iii) If n ∈ N , then 1 + (−1)n ( 2n − 1 )
is a multiple of 4.
Question 7
By using the method of the Contrapositive implication, prove
the following statements.
(i) Suppose x ∈ Z . If 7x + 9 is even, then x is odd.
(ii) If x2 − 6x + 5 is even, then x is odd.
(iii) Suppose x, y ∈ R . If y 3 + yx2 ≤ x3 + xy 2,
then y ≤ x.
Question 8
By using the method of Contradiction, prove the following
statements.
(i) Suppose a ∈ Z . If a2 is even, then a is even.
(ii) If a, b ∈ Z , then a2 − 4b 6= 2.
7
√
(iii) 5 is irrational.
π
(iv) For every real number x ∈ [ 0, 2 ], we have
sin x + cos x ≥ 1.
Question 9
Prove using
(i) the direct method;
(ii) its contrapositive;
(iii) contradiction
that if n is odd then 5n + 11 is even.
END OF PROBLEM PAPER
