Phil 230

September 21, 2016

Professor Kristina Meshelski

EXAM 1 ANSWERS 41 points total

Make up a first order language with predicate symbols and names. Provide the interpretation of
your predicates and names. Then use your language to express the following claims:
2 points for each sentence.
Interpretation:
s=Sally
e=Enzo
f(x)=father of x
would also accept defining this as a name f=father of Sally’s child
a=Sally’s child
would also accept defining this as a function
W(x)=x went for a walk
Would also accept making this a two place predicate meaning two people went on a walk
Loves (x,y)= x loves y
M(x)= x wants to get married
C(x)= x has a child

1. Sally and Enzo went for a walk. W(s)  W(e)

2. Sally loves Enzo but Enzo doesn’t love Sally. Loves(s,e)  Loves(e,s)
3. Neither Sally nor Enzo wants to get married. (M(s) M(e)) or M(s)M(e)
4. Either Sally has a child or Enzo has a child, but not both. (C(s) C(e))  (C(s) C(e))
5. The father of Sally’s child does not love Enzo. Loves(f(a),e)

Use truth tables to answer the following questions: 5 points each

6. Is sentence number 4 above a tautology? NO

C(s) C(e) (C(s) C(e))   (C(s) C(e))
T T T F F T
T F T T T F
F T T T T F
F F F F T F

7. Is (AB)B a tautological consequence of BB ? No. There are three instances in

which BB is true but (AB)B is false.
A B B B (AB)  B
T T T F T F F
T F T T T T T
F T T F T F F
F F T T F F T
Determine whether the following arguments are valid. If they are valid, determine whether they
are sound, and explain briefly why you think they are sound or unsound. If they are invalid,
briefly explain why (give a counterexample). 5 points each

8. Premise: Sitting down for long periods of time is unhealthy.

Conclusion: In five years, everyone will have a standing desk.

The argument is invalid. Counterexample: It is possible for the premise to be true, and
yet people do now want to do what is healthy for them, so they do not all buy standing
desks.

9. Premise: Most humans have two legs.

Premise: Most humans have three legs.
Conclusion: Most humans have one leg.

The argument is valid. It is impossible for the premises to be true. However, the
argument is not sound, because the second premise is false.

Provide a formal proof of the following argument: 3 points

10. 1. Cube(a) v Cube(b)

2. a=c
3. Cube(c) v Cube(b) =Elim 1, 2

True or False: 2 points each

11. Every sound argument is valid. TRUE

12. Every valid argument contains a tautology. FALSE
13. Any true sentence is a tautology. FALSE
14. Every valid argument is sound. FALSE