Mathematical
Logic
Part II
Number of Tuples
▪ Number of Tuples(rows)in a truth table depends on the number of
propositions.
If number of propositions = n
Number of Tuples = 𝟐𝒏
Number of Tuples
Example:
If you have 2 propositions p and q
Number of Tuples = 22 = 4
If you have 3 propositions p ,q and r
Number of Tuples = 23 = 8
Truth table with three propositions
▪ We can build a proposition composing three propositions p, q, and r.
The truth table is made-up of 8 Tuples(rows).
Activity : Construct the truth table of compound proposition (p∧∼q) ∧ r
Logical Equivalence
Logical equivalence is one of the features of propositional logic.
Two propositions are said to be logically equivalent if and only if the
columns in the truth table are identical to each other.
Logically equivalent Not logically equivalent
Examples of Logical Equivalence
Draw a truth table and show compound propositions p → q and q ∨ ∼p
are equivalence.
p→q q ∨ ∼p
Equal
Therefore p → q ≡ q ∨ ∼p
Logical Equivalence Laws
Logical Equivalence Laws
Precedence of Connectives
▪ There is a precedence order for propositional connectors or logical
operators, like arithmetic operators. This order should be followed
while evaluating a propositional problem.
Exercise
Draw truth tables and show the following statement forms are logically
equivalence or not.
a) ∼ p ∨ q and p ∧ ∼ q
b) p → ∼q and ∼ q → ∼p
c) p ∨ q and ∼ p → q
d) p → ∼q and ∼ p ∨ ∼ q
e) (p ∨ q) ∨ r and p ∨ (q ∨ r)
f) (p → ∼r) ∨ q and p → (q ∨ r)
Tautologies and Contradiction
Tautologies
A proposition P is a tautology if it is true under all circumstances. It means it
contains the only T in the final column of its truth table.
Eg: (p⟶q) (∼q⟶∼p)
Tautology
Contradiction
A statement that is always false is known as a contradiction.
Eg: p ∧∼p
Contradiction
Exercise
Show that each of the following propositions is a tautology or a contradiction.
a) p → (p ∧ q )
b) (p ∨ q ) → p
c) (p ↔ q ) ∨ (p ∧ ∼ q)
d) (p → r) → (q → r)