10.2: Reasoning and Logic
- Page ID
- 72366
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Logic is a tool to solve problems. In mathematical logic, a PROPOSITION (or STATEMENT) is a sentence that is either true or false. It cannot be both. One way to think about it is that in order for it to be true, it must be always be true. There can be no qualifiers.
The following are NOT statements in mathematical logic:
- He has black hair. (This depends on who “he” is, so we can’t tell if it is true or false.)
- x + 3y = 6 (This depends on the values of x and y.)
- 7 + 16 (This is not even a sentence.)
- Go to the store. (This has nothing to do with being true or false.)
- Are you a woman? (This is a question.)
- Napoleon was short. (This depends on how someone defines short.)