DISCTRU (S17, S21)

Homework # 1
2. Which of these are propositions? What are the truth values of those that are propositions?
a) Do not pass go.
b) What time is it?
c) There are no black flies in Maine.
d) 4 + x = 5.
e) The moon is made of green cheese.
f) 2n ≥ 100.
4. Let p and q be the propositions
p: I bought a lottery ticket this week.
q: I won the million dollar jackpot on Friday.
Express each of the following propositions as an English sentence.
a) ¬p
b) p⋁q
c) p→q
d) p⋀q
e) p↔q
f) ¬p → ¬q
g) ¬p ⋀ ¬q
h) ¬p ⋁ (p ⋀ q)
8. Let p, q and r be the propositions
p: You have the flu.
q: You miss the final examination.
r: You pass the course.
Express each of these propositions as an English sentence.
a) p→q
b) ¬q ↔ r
c) q → ¬r
d) p⋁q⋁r
e) (p → ¬r) ⋁ (q → ¬r)
f) (p ⋀ q) ⋁ (¬q⋀ r)
10. Let p, q and r be the propositions
p: You get an A on the final exam.
q: You do every exercise in the book.
r: You get an A in this class.
Write these propositions using p, q, and r, and logical connectives.
 a) You get an A in this class, but you do not do every exercise in the book.
b) You get an A on the final exam, you do every exercise in the book, and you get an A
in this class.
c) To get an A in this class, it is necessary for you to get an A on the final exam.
d) You get an A on the final exam, but you don’t do every exercise in the book;
nevertheless, you get an A in this class.
e) Getting an A on the final and doing every exercise in the book is sufficient for getting
an A in this class.
f) You will get an A in this class if and only if you either do every exercise in the book
or you get an A on the final exam.
14. Determine whether each of these conditional statements is true or false.
a) If 1 + 1 = 3, then unicorns exist.
b) If 1 + 1 = 3, then dogs can fly.
c) If 1 + 1 = 2, then dogs can fly.
d) If 2 + 2 = 4, then 1 + 2 = 3.
16. For each of these sentences, determine whether an inclusive or or an exclusive or is intended.
Explain your answer.
a) Experience with C++ or Java is required.
b) Lunch includes soup or salad.
c) To enter the country you need a passport or a voter registration card.
d) Publish or perish.
20. Write each of these statements in the form “if p, then q” in English.
a) I will remember to send you the address only if you send me an e-mail message.
b) To be a citizen of this country, it is sufficient that you were born in the United States.
c) If you keep your textbook, it will be a useful reference in your future courses.
d) The Red Wings will win the Stanley Cup if their goalie plays well.
e) That you get the job implies that you had the best credentials.
f) The beach erodes whenever there is a storm.
g) It is necessary to have a valid password to log on to the server.
h) You will reach the summit unless you begin your climb late.
22. Write each of these propositions in the form “p if and only if q” in English.
a) For you to get an A in this course, it is necessary and sufficient that you learn how to
solve discrete mathematics problems.
b) If you read the newspaper every day, you will be informed, and conversely.
c) It rains if it is a weekend day, and it is a weekend day if it rains.
d) You can see the wizard only if the wizard is not in, and the wizard is not in only if
you can see him.
24. State the converse, contrapositive, and inverse of each of these conditional statements.
a) If it snows tonight, then I will stay at home.
b) I go to the beach whenever it is a sunny summer day.
c) When I stay up late, it is necessary that I sleep until noon.
34. Construct a truth table for ((p → q) → r) → s.
FOR MORE POINTS:
36. What is the value of x after each of these statements is encountered in a computer program, if x = 1
before the statement is reached?
a) if 1 + 2 = 3 then x := x + 1
b) if (1 + 1 = 3) OR (2 + 2 = 3) then x := x + 1
c) if (2 + 3 = 5) AND (3 + 4 = 7) then x := x + 1
d) if (1 + 1 = 2) XOR (1 + 2 = 3) then x := x + 1
e) if x < 2 then x := x + 1
42. Is the assertion “This statement is false” a proposition? (Explain why to get full points)
46. An explorer is captured by a group of cannibals. There are two types of cannibals – those who
always tell the truth and those who always lie. The cannibals will barbecue the explorer unless he
can determine whether a particular cannibal always lies or always tells the truth. He is allowed to ask
the cannibal exactly one question.
a) Explain why the question “Are you a liar?” does not work.
b) Find a question that the explorer can use to determine whether the cannibal always
lies or always tells the truth.
62. Five friends have access to a chat room. Is it possible to determine who is chatting if the following
information is known?
a) Either Kevin or Heather, or both, are chatting.
b) Either Randy or Vijay, but not both, are chatting.
c) If Abby is chatting, so is Randy.
d) Vijay and Kevin are either both chatting or neither is.
e) If Heather is chatting, then so are Abby and Kevin.
Explain your reasoning.