Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning (MATH 1800 B) Winter 2014

Midterm Examination: Solution

1. Let P , Q and R be statements. Show that the statements [( P ) ( Q)] R and (P Q) R
are equivalent:
(a) by using truth tables;
(b) without using truth tables.
Solution
(a) The following shows that both statements have the same truth values, and hence are equivalent:
P

( P ) ( Q)

[( P ) ( Q)] R

P Q

(P Q) R

T
T
T
T
F
F
F
F

T
T
F
F
T
T
F
F

T
F
T
F
T
F
T
F

F
F
F
F
T
T
T
T

F
F
T
T
F
F
T
T

F
F
F
F
F
F
T
T

T
T
T
T
T
T
T
F

T
T
T
T
T
T
F
F

T
T
T
T
T
T
T
F

(b) By using known equivalences, we obtain:

[ (( P ) ( Q)) R ] [ ( (( P ) ( Q))) R ] [ (P Q) R ] .
2. Let be the universe of discourse. For any x , let P (x) and Q(x) be sentences. Write the
negation of the following statement, and simplify your answer:
x y , [( P (x)) Q(y)] .
Solution
The negation of the given statement is the following statement, which we then simplify:
[ x y , [( P (x)) Q(y)] ]

x y , [( P (x)) Q(y)]

x y , P (x) ( Q(y)) .

3. Write the converse and the contrapositive of the following statement: If the sun is shining, then it
is not raining.
Solution
The converse is the statement: If it is not raining, then the sun is shining.
The contrapositive is the statement: If it is raining, then the sun is not shining.
4. For the following statement, determine the universe of discourse, and express it using quantifiers:
Every integer is the sum of two integers.
Solution
The universe of discourse is = Z. The statement is expressed as follows:
a Z b Z c Z, a = b + c .
1

5. Let be a set, and A, B and C subsets of . Show that A \ (B C) = A (B c C c ).

Solution
Using known set equalities, we have: A \ (B C) = A (B C)c = A (B c C c ) .
6. Prove the following statement: If m and n are both even integers, then m2 + n2 is even.
Solution
Let m and n be even integers. So there exists k Z such that m = 2k, and there exists ` Z such
that n = 2`. Hence we have:
m2 + n2 = 4k 2 + 4`2 = 2(2k 2 + 2`2 )
| {z }
Z

which shows that m2 + n2 is even.