Nested Quantifiers
Section 1.4
CSE 2813 Discrete Structures
Recap Section 1.3
• A predicate is generalization of a proposition.
– It is a proposition that contains variables.
• A predicate becomes a proposition if the
variable(s) contained is(are)
– Assigned specific value(s)
– Quantified
• Universe of discourse : the particular
domain of the variable in a propositional
function
CSE 2813 Discrete Structures
Recap Section 1.3
• Universal quantification
– P(x) is true for ALL the values of x in the universe
of discourse.
x P(x).
– Remember All.
– “for all x, P(x)”
• If the elements in the universe of discourse can be
listed, U = {x1, x2, …, xn}
x P(x) P(x1) P(x2) … P(xn)
CSE 2813 Discrete Structures
Recap Section 1.3
• Existential quantification
– P(x) is true FOR SOME x in the universe of
discourse, i.e. EXIST some x
x P(x)
– Remember, Exist
– “for some x, P(x)”
• If the elements in the universe of discourse
can be listed, U = {x1, x2, …, xn}
x P(x) P(x1) P(x2) … P(xn)
CSE 2813 Discrete Structures
Recap Section 1.3
• Universal quantifiers usually take
implications
• All CS students are smart students.
x [C(x) S(x)]
• Existential quantifiers usually take
conjunctions
• Some CS students are smart students.
x [C(x) S(x)]
CSE 2813 Discrete Structures
Recap Section 1.3
Summary of quantifiers
x P(x)
– True when: P(x) is true for every x
– False when: P(x) is false for at least one x.
x P(x)
– True when: P(x) is true for at least one x
– False when: P(x) is false for every x
• Negation changes a universal to an existential
and vice versa, and negates the predicate
~x P(x) x ~P(x)
~x P(x) x ~P(x)
CSE 2813 Discrete Structures
Recap Section 1.3
Quick examples
• (13b) Determine truth value. U={Z}
n (2n = 3n)
• (16b) Determine truth value U={R}
n (x2 = -1)
• Exercise 17
CSE 2813 Discrete Structures
Nested Quantifiers
• Quantifiers that occur within the scope
of other quantifiers
• Example:
P(x,y): x + y = 0, U={R}
x y P(x,y)
CSE 2813 Discrete Structures
Quantifications of Two
Variables
• For all pair x,y P(x,y).
xy P(x,y) yx P(x,y)
• For every x there is a y such that P(x,y).
xy P(x,y)
• There is an x such that P(x,y) for all y.
xy P(x,y)
• There is a pair x,y such that P(x,y).
xy P(x,y) yx P(x,y)
CSE 2813 Discrete Structures
Translating statements
with nested quantifiers
• U = {all real numbers}
x y (x + y = y + x)
x y (x + y = 0)
x y ( (x > 0) (y < 0) (xy < 0) )
• U = {all students in cs2813}
C(x): x has a computer
F(x,y): x and y are friends
x ( C(x) y (C(y) F(x,y)) )
CSE 2813 Discrete Structures
Translating Sentences
• U = {all people}
– If a person is female and is a parent, then
this person is someone’s mother.
• U = {all integers}
– The sum of two positive integers is
positive.
CSE 2813 Discrete Structures
Is the order of quantifiers
important?
• If the quantifiers are of the same type,
then order does not matter
• If the quantifiers are of different types,
then order is important
CSE 2813 Discrete Structures
Example
• U={R}
• Q(x,y): x+y=0
• What are the truth values for
y x Q(x,y) and x y Q(x,y)
y x Q(x,y): There exist at least one y such that for every
real number x, Q(x,y) is true, i.e. x+y=0.
FALSE (not for every, only when y is –x).
But…
x y Q(x,y): For every real number x, there is a real
number y such that Q(x,y) is true, i.e x+y =0.
TRUE (for every x when y is –x)
CSE 2813 Discrete Structures