Proofs Class Problems

1. Assume that A⊆B. Show that if x∉B, then x∉A.

Proof by contrapositive that is, we want to prove x∈A implies x∈B

1
.
x∈A (Contrapositive assumption)
2
.
A⊆B (Problem Assumption)
3
.
x∈Ax∈B (definition of set containment)
4
.
x∈B (Inference from 3 and 1)

2. Show by induction that 1 + 3 + ... + (2n +1) =
2
(n+1)
for all n∈.

We will proceed by induction on n:

Let P(x) = 1 + 3 + ... + (2x +1) =
2
(x+1)
1
.
0 = 0
2
.
0+1 = 0+1
3
.
2*0 +1 =
2
(0+1)
4
.
P(0)
At this point we need to prove P(k)->P(k+1). We do this by direct proof method.
5
.
P(k)
6
.
1 + 3 + ... + (2k +1) =
2
(k+1)
.
7
.
1 + 3 + ... + (2k +1) + (2(k+1) +1) =
2
(k+1)
+ (2(k+1) +1)
8
.
1 + ...+ (2(k+1) +1) =
(
2
k
+2k+1)
+(2k+2+1)
9
.
1 + ...+ (2(k+1) +1) =
2
k
+4k+4
10
.
1 + ...+ (2(k+1) +1) =
2
(k+2)
11
.
1 + ...+ (2(k+1) +1) = ((k+1)
2
+1)
12
.
P(k+1)
13
.
P(k)P(k+1)
14
.
∀nP(n) (by Induction)
15
.
1 + 3 + ... + (2n +1) =
2
(n+1)
for all n∈

3. Let a∈. Consider the following statement: ∀e∃d ∀x(|x-a|<d |f(x)-f(a)|<e) What would be the approach to start proving the statement?

We would have to start by using an arbitrary number e.
1
.
Let e∈.
We then proceed by constructing a number d (potentially)depending on e
2
.
Let d = function(e).
we then take an arbitrary number x
3
.
let x∈

4. Prove the following using propositional logic axioms:

1
.
p(qp)
1
.
1
.
p→(¬q∨p)
1
.
2
.
p(qp)
2
.
pp
2
.
1
.
p→(¬(pp)∨p)
2
.
2
.
p→((pp)p)
2
.
3
.
{p →((p → p) → p)} → {(p → (p → p))→ (p →p)}
2
.
4
.
(p → (p → p))→ (p →p)
2
.
5
.
p→(¬p∨p)
2
.
6
.
p → (p → p)
2
.
7
.
p →p

5. Symbolize the following using First order Logic.

1
.
No dog has gone to heaven.
Let H(x) = “x has gone to heaven”
¬ ∃ xH (x)
2
.
Not all integers are odd.
Let O (x) = “x is odd”
¬ ∀ x O (x)
3
.
There are no numbers greater than 7.
¬ ∃ x x > 7

6. Negate the following statements. Arrive at a statement in which all quantifiers are at the start of it.

1
.
∀x∃y x<y
1
.
1
.
¬∀x∃y x<y
1
.
2
.
∃x¬∃y x<y
1
.
3
.
∃x∀y¬( x<y)
2
.
∃x∀y y≤x
2
.
1
.
∀x∃y¬( y≤x)
3
.
∀x ∃y∀z (z > x z ≥ y)
3
.
1
.
∃x ∀y∃z ¬ (z > x z ≥ y)

7. Prove the following statements:

1
.
A ⊆ A⋃B
Proving the statement above is equivalent to proving that ∀x ( x∈A x∈A⋃B).
We proceed by direct proof
1
.
1
.
Let x∈A.
1
.
2
.
then x∈A or x∈B
1
.
3
.
x∈A⋃B
Since x was arbitrary, this shows ∀x ( x∈A x∈A⋃B) which means that A ⊆ A⋃B.
2
.
A⋂B ⊆ A
We note that by definition the above is equivalent to proving ∀x ( x∈A⋂B x∈A)
We prove the statement by direct proof
2
.
1
.
Let x∈A⋂B
2
.
2
.
x∈A and x∈B
2
.
3
.
x∈A
Since x was arbitrary we have ∀x ( x∈A⋂B x∈A) which means that A⋂B ⊆ A.