DISCRETE MATHEMATICS

PROBLEM SETS

1. SETS
1.1 U = {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10}, P = {2,4,6,8,10}, Q = {1,2,3,4,5}. Find (a) P and (b) Q.
1.2 If a = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5} and b = { 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}, find a ∪ b.
1.3 Let the universal set U = (0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8}.
Let X = {1,4,7}, B = {3,4,8}.
(A) Find X ∪ B
(B) Find X ∩ B
(C) Find X – B
(D) Find B – X
1.4 (1) Find set S = A ∪ (B ∩ C) where U = {2,4,6,8,10,x,y,z}, A = {2,4,x,y}, B = {2,4,6,8,10}, and C =
{6,8,z}.
(2) Draw the Venn Diagram of the set A ∪ (B ∩ C).
1.5 In a survey carried out in a school snack shop, the following results were obtained. Of 100 boys
questioned, 78 liked sweets, 74 ice-cream, 53 cake, 57 liked both sweets and ice-cream. 46 liked
both sweets and cake while only 31 boys liked all three. If all the boys interviewed liked at least one
item, draw a Venn diagram to illustrate the results. How many boys liked both ice-cream and cake?
1.6 A survey of 100 people was conducted to determine the popularity of three local radio stations;
V.P.H.K, B.A.P.C and W.P.Q.W. The results were as follows:
42 people liked VPHK
48 people liked BAPC
41 people liked WPQW
15 people liked both VPHK and BAPC
17 people liked both VPHK and WPQW
18 people liked both BAPC and WPQW
10 people liked all the three radio
Find the number of people who liked none of the three stations.
1.7 Of 37 men and 33 women, 36 are teetotalers. Nine of the women are non-smokers and 18 of the
men smoke but do not drink. 13 of the men and seven of the women drink but do not smoke. How
many, at most, both drink and smoke.

2. RELATIONS
2.1 Find the relation defined by y2 = 25 – x2, where x belongs to D = {0, 3, 4, 5}.
2.2 Find the set of ordered pairs {(x, y)} if y = x2 – 2x – 3 and D = { x | x is an integer and 1 ≤ x ≤ 4}.
2.3 Draw the graphs of the following relations:
(1) R1: x2 + y2 = 4
(2) R2: (x2/4) – (y2/4) = 1
2.4 Given A = {9,10,11} and R is a relation in A × A, defined as R = {(a,b) | a = b}
(1) Find R, and the complementary relation to R;
(2) Draw the graphs of A × A, R, and R'.
2.5 Given the relation R = {(9,8),(10,9),(11,10)} in the set S × S, where S = {8, 9, 10, 11}
(1) Find the inverse of R and the complementary relation to R;
(2) Find the domains and the ranges of R and R−1;
(3) Sketch R, R−1, and R'.
2.6 Given: A = {1,2,3,4,5,6,7) and relations:
R1 = {(1,1),(2,2),(1,2),(2,3),(3,2),(3,3),(4,4),(5,5),(7,6),(6.7),(6,6),(2,1),(7,7)}
R2 = {(1,2),(2,3),(1,3),(1,4),(2,4)}
R3 = {(1,4),(2,5),(3,7),(6,6)}
R4 = {(2,4),(4,2),(4,6),(2,6),(6,4),(6,2),(2,2),(4,4),(6,6)}
Determine which of the given relations from set A to itself are:
(1) Reflexive (2) Symmetric
(3) Transitive (4) Anti-symmetric
2.7 Given a relation R on a set S and a relation R0, R0 = {(a, b) | (a, b) ε S × S and a = b}
Prove: (1) R is reflexive if and only if R0 ⊂ R.
(2) R is transitive if and only if (RoR) ⊂ R.
(3) R is symmetric if and only if R = R−1,
(4) R is anti-symmetric if and only if (or iff) R∩R−1⊂R0.

3. FUNCTIONS
3.1 Given the following functions state the domain, the range, and the image of each.
(A) f1 : R → R given by f1 (x) = x2
(B) f2 : R+ + {0} → R+ + {0} if f2 (x) = +√x
(C) f3 : R → R if f3(x) = [x] ≡ the greatest integer less than or equal to x.
(D) f4 : R → R if f4(x) = π.
3.2 Given f(x) = x + 10, g(x) = x2 and h(x) = √(𝑥 + 1)
Find: (1) f ° g(x) (3) h ° f ° g(x)
(2) g ° h(x) (4) h ° g ° f(x)
3.3 Given that f : x → y, f(x) = x+4, and Y= {y I 4 ≤ y < 10}: find f−1(Y).
3.4 Show that the Inverse of the function y = x3 + 4x − 5 is not a function.
3.5 Let ɸ(a, b) = a + b2 where a and b are any real numbers.
(A) Give the domain of ɸ. (D) Give the inverse image under ɸ of 0.
(B) Give the co-domain of ɸ. (E) Is ɸ injective?
(C) Give the range of ɸ. (F) Is ɸ surjective?
3.6 Which of following function are injective, surjective or bijective?
 (A) f1 : R → [−1, 1] given by: f1 (x) = sin(x)
(B) f2 : R → R given by: f2(x) = sin(x)
(C) f3 : R → R given by: f3 (x) = x3
(D) f4 : R → R given by: f4 (x) = x2 – x3.
3.7 Define the function ɸ : R → R by ɸ = {(x, y) | y = 2x − 3}. Show that this is an injective map.

4. PROPOSITIONAL LOGIC
4.1 Using elementary mathematics, determine the truth values of the following conjunctions:
(1) Nine is an odd number less than four.
(2) Eight is greater than one but less than fifteen.
(3) A rhombus has four equal sides, two of which are parallel.
(4) Seven and ten are prime numbers.
4.2 Determine which of the following sentences are propositions and give their truth values.
(1) 2 + 3 = 7. (5) x + 5 = 7.
(2) Open the door. (6) x + 5 > 9 for every real number x.
(3) 5 + 7 < 10. (7) Richmond is the capital of Virginia.
(4) The moon is a satellite of the earth.
4.3 Determine whether each of the following implications is true or false.
(1) If 0.5 is an integer, then 1 + 0.5 = 3. (3) If 5 > 2 then pigs can fly.
(2) If cars can fly, then 1 + 1 = 3. (4) If 3*5 = 15 then 1 + 2 = 3.
4.4 State the converse and contrapositive of each of the following implications.
(1) If it snows today, I will stay home. (3) If a positive integer is a prime then it has no
(2) We play the game if it is sunny. divisors other than 1 and itself.
4.5 Write each of the following statements in the form "if p, then q" in English.
(1) The newspaper will not come if there is an inch of snow on the street.
(2) It snows whenever the wind blows from the northeast.
(3) That prices go up implies that supply will be plentiful.
(4) It is necessary to read the textbook to understand the materials of this course.
(5) For a number to be divisible by 3, it is sufficient that it is the sum of three consecutive
integers.
(6) Your guarantee is good only if you bought your TV less than 90 days ago.
4.6 Write each of the following propositions in the form "p if and only if q" in English.
(1) If it is hot outside you drink a lot of water, and if you drink a lot of water it is hot outside.
(2) For a program to be readable it is necessary and sufficient that it is well structured.
(3) I like fruits only if they are fresh, and fruits are fresh only if I like them.
(4) If you eat too much sweets your teeth will decay, and conversely.
(5) The store is closed on exactly those days when I want to shop there.
4.7 Rewrite the following statements in the if-then form:
(1) We'll pay the postage, if you buy our products.
(2) George gets up at 10 a.m. only if he should go to school at 8 a.m.
 (3) A baseball game is a sufficient reason for Philip to miss school.
(4) A grade point average of 4.0 is necessary for a student to receive this scholarship.
(5) The fourth day of July is Independence Day.

5. LOGICAL CONNECTIVES
5.1 Let p and q be the propositions: p - Your car is out of gas.
Q - You can't drive your car.
Write the following propositions using p and q and logical connectives.
(1) Your car is not out of gas.
(2) You can't drive your car if it is out of gas.
(3) Your car is not out of gas if you can drive it.
(4) If you can't drive your car then it is out of gas.

5.2 Represent the following statements using logical connectives.

(1) P or not Q. (4) Not P and not Q.
(2) If P and R, then Q. (5) It is not the case that if P, then Q.
(3) P if and only if (Q and R). (6) If P and Q, then R or S.

5.3 Translate the following statements into logical notation, using the following symbols:
S = "The stromboli is hot."
L = "The lasagne is cold."
P = "The pizza will be delivered."
(1) "The stromboli is hot and the pizza will not be delivered."
(2) "If the lasagne is cold, then the pizza will be delivered."
(3) "Either the lasagne is cold or the pizza won't be delivered."
(4) "If the pizza won't be delivered, then both the stromboli is hot and the lasagne is cold."
(5) "The lasagne isn't cold if and only if the stromboli isn't hot."
(6) "The pizza will be delivered only if the lasagne is cold."
(7) "The stromboli is hot and the lasagne isn't cold, but the pizza will be delivered."
5.4 Suppose that: C = "The cheesesteak is good."
F = "The french fries are greasy."
W = "The wings are spicy."
Translate the following logical statements into words (with no logical symbols):
(1) (∼C ∧ F) → W (3) ∼(∼W ∧ C)
(2) ∼(C ∨ W) (4) ∼(∼F)

5.5 Considering the following: P = “Paola is happy”,

Q = “Paola paints a picture”,
R = “Renzo is happy”.
 Formalize the following sentences:
(1) “if Paola is happy and paints a picture then Renzo isn’t happy”
(2) “if Paola is happy, then she paints a picture”
(3) “Paola is happy only if she paints a picture”
5.6 Let A = “Aldo is Italian” and B = “Bob is English”. Formalize the following sentences:
(1) “Aldo isn’t Italian”
(2) “Aldo is Italian while Bob is English”
(3) “If Aldo is Italian then Bob is not English”
(4) “Aldo is Italian or if Aldo isn’t Italian then Bob is English”
(5) “Either Aldo is Italian and Bob is English, or neither Aldo is Italian nor Bob is English”
5.7 Considering a propositional language where:
A = “Angelo comes to the party”,
B = “Bruno comes to the party”,
C = “Carlo comes to the party”,
D = “Davide comes to the party”.
Formalize the following sentences:
(1) “If Davide comes to the party then Bruno and Carlo come too”
(2) “Carlo comes to the party only if Angelo and Bruno do not come”
(3) “Davide comes to the party if and only if Carlo comes and Angelo doesn’t come”
(4) “If Davide comes to the party, then, if Carlo doesn’t come then Angelo comes”
(5) “Carlo comes to the party provided that Davide doesn’t come, but, if Davide comes, then
Bruno doesn’t come”
(6) “A necessary condition for Angelo coming to the party, is that, if Bruno and Carlo aren’t
coming, Davide comes”
(7) “Angelo, Bruno and Carlo come to the party if and only if Davide doesn’t come, but, if neither
Angelo nor Bruno come, then Davide comes only if Carlo comes”

6. TRUTH TABLES
6.1 Construct a truth table for the following statements.
(1) (x ∨ ∼y) ∧ ∼x
(2) ∼[(x ∧ y) ∨ (∼x ∧ ∼y)]
6.2 Find the truth tables of the following propositions:
(1) (A ∧ B) ∨ (A ∧ C)
(2) (A → B) ∧ (B → C)
6.3 Construct a truth table for each of the following compound propositions.
(1) p p
(2) (p q) q
(3) (p q) ( q p)
6.4 Show that (P → Q) ∨ (Q → P) is a tautology.
[[Question also falls under VALIDITY chapter]]
6.5 Use the truth tables method to determine whether (¬p∨q)∧(q → ¬r∧¬p)∧(p∨r) (denoted with ϕ)
is satisfiable.
6.6 Use the truth tables method to determine whether p → (q ∧ ¬q) and ¬p are logically equivalent.
6.7 Use the truth tables method to determine whether (p → q) ∨ (p → ¬q) is valid.
 [[Question also falls under VALIDITY chapter]]

7. NORMAL FORMS
7.1 Reduce to Negative Normal Form (NNF) the formula: ¬(¬p ∨ q) ∨ (r → ¬s)
7.2 Reduce to NNF the formula: (¬p → q) → (q → ¬r)
7.3 Reduce to Conjunctive Normal Form (CNF) the formula: ¬(¬p ∨ q) ∨ (r → ¬s)
7.4 Reduce to CNF the formula: (¬p → q) → (q → ¬r)
7.5 Find the DNF and CNF of a ∧ (b ↔ c).

8. VALIDITY
8.1 Symbolize and determine the validity of the following argument:
"The disjunction of x and y is true, and x is true. Therefore, y must be false."
8.2 Verify the following argument, "If he is a college student, then he is intelligent. He is a college
student. Therefore, he is intelligent."
8.3 Is the following a valid argument? "All dogs are animals. A horse is an animal. Therefore, a horse
is a dog."
8.4 Is the following argument valid? "If it is raining, then the streets are wet. Either it is snowing, or
the streets are not wet. It is not snowing. Therefore, it is not raining."
8.5 Determine whether the following argument is valid: "I can graduate only if I have a grade point
average 3.5. Either I am smart or I do not have a G.P.A. of 3.5. I did not graduate. Therefore, I
am not smart."

9. PREDICATE LOGIC
9.1 Let Q(x, y) denote the statement "x is greater than y." What are the truth values of the
following?
a. Q (3, 1) c. Q (6, -6)
b. Q (5, 5) d. Q (28, 256)

9.2 Let P(x) be the statement "x is happy," where the universe of discourse for x is the set of
students. Express each of the following quantifications in English.
a. x P(x) c. x P(x)
b. x P(x) d. x P(x)

9.3 Let P(x) be the statement " x > x2." If the universe of discourse is the set of real numbers, what
are the truth values of the following?
a. P(0) d. P(-1)
b. P(1/2) e. x P(x)
c. P(2) f. x P(x)

9.4 Suppose that the universe of discourse of the atomic formula P(x,y) is {1, 2, 3}. Write out the
following propositions using disjunctions and conjunctions.
a. x P(x, 2) c. x y P(x, y)
b. y P(3, y) d. x y P(x, y)
 e. x y P(x, y) f. y x P(x, y)

9.5 Let L(x, y) be the predicate "x likes y," and let the universe of discourse be the set of all
people. Use quantifiers to express each of the following statements.
a) Everyone likes everyone. e) There is someone whom everyone likes.
b) Everyone likes someone. f) There is no one whom everyone likes.
c) Someone does not like anyone. g) Everyone does not like someone.
d) Everyone likes George.

9.6 Let S(x) be the predicate "x is a student," B(x) the predicate "x is a book, " and H(x,y) the
predicate "x has y, " where the universe of discourse is the universe, that is the set of all
objects. Use quantifiers to express each of the following statements.

a) Every student has a book. d) Not every student has a book.

b) Some student does not have any book. e) There is a book which every student has.
c) Some student has all the books.
9.7 Let B(x), E(x) and G(x) be the statements "x is a book, " "x is expensive, "and "x is good, "
respectively. Express each of the following statements using quantifiers; logical connectives;
and B(x), E(x) and G(x),where the universe of discourse is the set of all objects.
a. No books are expensive.
b. All expensive books are good.
c. No books are good.
d. Does (c) follow from (a) and (b)?