MATHEMATICS IN
THE MODERN WORLD
Properties of propositions
1. Valid. A proposition is valid if it is true
for every interpretation. Also known as
tautology.
Examples: R R, P P, R ( R)
2. Contradictory. A proposition is
contradictory if it is false for every
interpretation. Also known as absurdity.
Examples: R R, R( R)
Discrete Mathematics
Logical Structures copyright © 2006 esnatalio Propositional Logic
Properties of propositions
3. Contingency. A proposition is contingent if
it is true for some interpretation. Also
known as satisfiable.
Examples: P, P Q, P Q
Discrete Mathematics
Logical Structures copyright © 2006 esnatalio Propositional Logic
Truth Table
• A proposition can be easily
determined if valid, contradictory or
contingency by constructing truth
table.
• A truth table for a proposition in n
variables has 2n combinations of truth
values for the propositional variables.
Discrete Mathematics
Logical Structures copyright © 2006 esnatalio Propositional Logic
Truth table for unary operator
P P
true (T) false (F)
false (F) true (T)
Discrete Mathematics
Logical Structures copyright © 2006 esnatalio Propositional Logic
Truth table for binary operators
P Q PQ P Q P Q P Q
T T T T T T
T F F T F F
F T F T T F
F F F F T T
Discrete Mathematics
Logical Structures copyright © 2006 esnatalio Propositional Logic
Illustration
Consider an electric lamp (switching
network) controlled by a mechanical switch.
Let
P the switch p
S the lamp s
1 P is closed; S is on
0 P is open; S is off
Discrete Mathematics
Logical Structures copyright © 2006 esnatalio Propositional Logic
Switch p
PS
+ 1 0
Battery Lamp s
- 0 1
Ground
Switch p Switch q PQS
1 1 1
+
Battery Lamp s 1 0 0
-
0 1 0
0 0 0
Ground
Discrete Mathematics
Logical Structures copyright © 2006 esnatalio Propositional Logic
Switch p PQS
1 1 1
Switch q 1 0 1
Battery
+ Lamp s
0 1 1
-
0 0 0
Ground
Discrete Mathematics
Logical Structures copyright © 2006 esnatalio Propositional Logic
Example
Using truth table show that the statement
(PQ) ( P)( Q) is valid
( P Q ) ( P) ( Q)
F T T T T F F F
T T F F T F T T
T F F T T T T F
T F F F T T T T
Discrete Mathematics
Logical Structures copyright © 2006 esnatalio Propositional Logic
Example
Construct the truth table for the statement below and
determine if it is valid, contradictory or contingency
(p q r) (p q)
T T T T T T F F T
T F T F F F F F T
T F F F T F F F F
T F F F F F F F F
F T T T T T T T T
F T T F F T T T T
F T F F T T T F F
F T F F F T T F F
Discrete Mathematics
Logical Structures copyright © 2006 esnatalio Propositional Logic
Exercise 4
Construct the truth table for the following
statements and determine if it is valid,
contradictory or contingency
1. P (P Q) Q
2. (P Q) ~ (P Q)
3. (A ~A) (~B ~A)
4. (P Q) (Q R) (P R)
5. P(QR)(PQ) (PR)
Discrete Mathematics
Logical Structures copyright © 2006 esnatalio Propositional Logic
