lacunary - Mathnotes

Boolean Algebra

Inference Rules

Modus Ponens: PQ,PQ.

Modus Tollens: PQ,¬Q¬P.

Or Introduction: P(PQ).

And Introduction: P,Q(PQ).

And Elimination: (PQ)P,Q.

Material Implication: (PQ)(¬PQ).

De Morgan's Laws

Theorem \@{negation-of-disjunction-is-conjunction-of-negations}

The negation of a disjunction is the conjunction of negations.

Proof \@{proof-of-negation-of-disjunction-is-conjunction-of-negations}

Let A and B be boolean variables. We want to show that

¬(AB)¬A¬B.

First, assume ¬(AB) is true. Then, AB is false. If A were true, then we'd have a contradiction, and similarly with B, so both A and B must be false, that is, ¬A and ¬B most both be true, and ¬(AB)¬A¬B.

Now, assume ¬A¬B. Here, both ¬A and ¬B must be true, so both A and B must be false. Therefore, AB is false, so ¬A¬B¬(AB) and we have shown ¬(AB)¬A¬B.

Theorem \@{negation-of-conjunction-is-disjunction-of-negations}

The negation of a conjunction is the disjunction of negations.

Proof \@{proof-of-negation-of-conjunction-is-disjunction-of-negations}

Let A and B be boolean variables. We want to show that

¬(AB)¬A¬B.

First, assume ¬(AB) is true. Then, both AB must be false, so either A must be false or B must be false, or both must be false. If A is false, then ¬A is true, and so is ¬A¬B. The same is true if B is false, so ¬(AB)¬A¬B.

Now, assume ¬A¬B is true. Then, either ¬A or ¬B must be true, so either A or B or both must be false. Now, if A is false, then AB is false. The same holds if B is false, and thus ¬(AB) is true. Therefore ¬A¬B¬(AB) and we have shown ¬(AB)¬A¬B.