Review: Categorical Logic

Four categorical propositions Venn Diagram

Rules for validity check

- Draw 2 circles at bottom, one on top

- Label 2 classes in conclusion at bottom
- Perform only two actions for 2 premises
- Check validity:
+ Action for conclusion already done: Valid
Stylistic variants + Action for conclusion not yet done: Invalid
All S are P: words of extremes, positive forms
No S are P: words of extremes, negative forms
Some S are P: more than one → nearly all, positive forms
Some S are not P: more than one → nearly all, negative forms
 Question 1

Some people who do rapid antigen self-tests are negative for the Covid.
All people tested negative for the Covid do not carry the virus.
So, not all people who do rapid antigen self-tests carry the virus.

Standardized argument:
Some people who do rapid antigen self-tests (T) are
negative for Covid people (N).
No negative for Covid people are virus carriers (V).
So, some people who do rapid antigen self-tests are
not virus carriers. (V)

Symbolic argument:
Some T are N
No N are V
So, some T are not V
Venn diagram
Conclusion: valid
 Question 1
Some people who do rapid antigen self-tests are negative for the Covid.
All people tested negative for the Covid do not carry the virus.
So, not all people who do rapid antigen self-tests carry the virus.

Standardized argument:

Some people who do rapid antigen self-tests (P) are the covid
negative testers (T).
No the covid negative testers are people who carry the virus
(V).
So, some people who do rapid antigen self-tests are not people
who carry the virus.

Symbolic argument: Venn diagram

Some P are T.
No T are V. Conclusion: This is a valid argument.
So, some P are not V. There is at least one X in the outside area of P.
 Question 2
Whoever has a vaccine passport can travel to other countries.
Not all those who travel to other countries are on vacation.
So, there are people with vaccine passports who do not take a vacation.

Standardized argument:
All citizens with vaccine passports (P) are overseas travellers (T).
Some overseas travellers are not vacationers (V).
So, some people with vaccine passports are not vacationers.

Symbolic argument:
Venn diagram
All P are T
Some T are not V
So, some P are not V.

Conclusion: This is an invalid argument. There may be one

X in the area of P outside V, but not necessarily.
 Question 3
All people who use the iPhone 13 Pro Max are enthusiastic IT fans.
Enthusiastic IT fans normally follow the trend.
So, not all people who use the iPhone 13 Pro Max follow the trend.
Venn diagram
Standardized argument:
All Iphone 13 Pro Max users(A) are enthusiastic IT fans(B).
Some Enthusiastic IT fans are the trend followers(C) .
So, some Iphone 13 Pro Max users are not the trend
followers.

Symbolic argument: Conclusion: This is invalid argument. We

All A are B expect at least an X in the area of A outside
Some B are C C, but X is not in the expected place.
So, some A are not C
 Question 4
Stylistic argument:
All active members in my group love doing teamwork.
Some people are not active members.
So, some people do not love doing teamwork.

• Standardized argument:
• All active members (A) in my
• Ven Diagram
group are teamwork lovers (L).
• Some people (P) are not active
members(A).
• So, some people (P)are not
teamwork lovers(L).

Symbolic argument:
All A are L
Some P are not A Conclusion: Invalid
So, some P are not L
 Question 5
Create a categorical syllogism 1) with the premises containing All & Some and the conclusion containing No, 2) all three statements must be the stylistic variants, and 3) about the
topic of your expectations/predictions for the coming months. Then standardize it and check its validity using Venn Diagram.

Stylistic argument:
Any students who are studying CT are lazy students.
Several lazy students won't pass the upcoming exam.
So, all students who are studying CT won’t pass the
upcoming exam.

Standardized argument:

All students studying CT (S) are lazy students (L).

Some lazy students (L) are not the ones (P) who pass the Venn diagram
upcoming exam.
So, no students who are studying CT are those who pass the
upcoming exam.

Symbolic argument:
Conclusion: This is an invalid argument. We expect the area
All S are L. pointed by the arrow to be deleted. However, it is not deleted.
Some L are not P.
So, no S are P.
8
 Chapter 10

Propositional Logic
A simple language useful for showing key ideas and definitions

10
 Review: Proposition
• The term proposition is sometimes used synonymously
with statement:
- As a simple unit, it expresses a complete idea which
can be evaluated as true or false.
Example: Vietnam is making great efforts in the
Covid-19 battle.
- As a more complex unit, it combines several
statements which can be evaluated as true or false.

Example: Vietnam is making great efforts in the Covid-

19 battle and other countries are struggling hard. 11
 Contents
Four types of propositions

1. Conjunction
2. Negation
3. Disjunction
4. Conditional statements

12
 Symbolic connectives

Statements are combined by connectives:

&/ and Conjunction

˜/ not Negation

 or Disjunction

 if Implication/conditional

13
 Variables and examples of PL statements
Variables: Propositional symbols assigned to different
parts of the argument.

P&Q It is hot and it is humid.

Example:
P & ~Q It is hot but it’s not humid.
P: It is hot.
Q: It is humid. QP If it is humid, then it is hot.
R: It is raining.
PvQ It is hot or it is humid.

(P& Q)  R If it is hot and humid, then it is

raining.
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 1. CONJUNCTION (&/and)
• A statement can be regarded as true or false (truth
values).
• A simple statement: a simple sentence regarded as true
or false.
Example: IU is a university.
• A compound statement: two or more statements
regarded as true or false.
Example: Summer is hot and winter is cold.
It is hot and humid.
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 1. CONJUNCTION – Truth table
Summer is hot and winter is cold.
p q
p q p&q
T T T
T F F
F T F F F
F

Note: ‘and’ can be replaced with but, yet, while,

whereas, although, though, however
16
 EXERCISE

Without knowing what they represent, assume that:

- p, q, r are true
- w, x, y are false
Determine whether each of the following is true or false.

1. p & q 2. p & w
3. x & y 4. r & q
5. r & y 6. y & w
7. x & w 8. q & r
9. p & y 10. r & p
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 1. Conjunction and validity
Rule of validity:
- In a valid argument, it is impossible for all the
premises to be true and the conclusion false.
- If any instance of all true premises is followed by a
false conclusion - an F under the conclusion column -
the argument is invalid.
p q p&q
T T T
T F F
F T F F F F
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 1. CONJUNCTION – Validity
The sky is blue. (p)
The grass is green. (q)
Therefore, the sky is blue and the grass is green.

p q p&q
T T T
T F F
F T F F F
F

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 1. CONJUNCTION – Validity

The sky is blue (p).

The grass is green (q).
Therefore, the sky is blue and the grass is green.

Symbolic argument:
p* q* p&q C
p
q____ T T T
So, p & q T F F
F T F F F
F

* The argument is valid.

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 1. CONJUNCTION – Validity
The grass is green (p).
Therefore, the grass is green (p) and the sky is blue (q).

Symbolic argument:

p p* q p&q C
p&q T T T
T F F
F T F F F
F

* The argument is invalid.

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 1. CONJUNCTION – Validity
Tom is short and fat.
Therefore, Tom is short.

Symbolic argument:

p&q pC q p&q*
p T T T
T F F
F T F F F
F

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 1. CONJUNCTION – Validity
Tom is short and fat.
Therefore, Tom is short.
p q p&q* pC
Symbolic argument:T T T T
p&q T F F T
p F T F F F F F
F

Let’s repeat the p column in the right.

The argument is valid.

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 Exercise – Testing validity

- p&q
.
. .q

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 CONJUNCTION – Testing validity
- p&q
.
. .q

p q p&q* qC
T T T T
T F F F
F T F T F F
F F

The argument is valid. 25

 2. NEGATION
• The use of not to deny a proposition.

Example:

- Tina is tall. (p)

- Tina is not tall. ( ˜p)

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 2. NEGATION

p q ˜p ˜q

T T F F
T F F T
F T T F
F F T T

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 NEGATION: Testing validity
Tina is not tall, but Sarah is tall. So, Tina is not tall.
Symbolic argument: ˜p & q
˜p

p q ˜p ˜p&q* ˜p C

T T F F F
T F F F F
F T T T T
F F T F T
The argument is valid. 28
 2. NEGATION: Testing validity (2)
Frank does not drive a truck.
So, Frank does not drive a truck, and Vinny does not drive a van.
Symbolic argument: ˜p
. ˜q
˜p &

p q ˜p* ˜q ˜p& ˜qC

T T F F F
T F F T F
F T T F F Invalid

F F T T T 29
 3. DISJUNCTION
Two or more statements set apart, usually by the word or.
Example:
- Frank is angry or Hank is tired. (p v q)
- For propositional logic, or has non-exclusive sense.
This means the statement is true if either Frank is angry
or Hank is tired.
p q pvq
T T T
T F T
F T T F F F
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 3. DISJUNCTION – truth table
– Frank is angry or Hank is tired.
– So, Frank is angry.

Symbolic form and the truth table:

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 DISJUNCTION and NEGATION – truth table
– Frank is not angry or Hank is tired.

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 DISJUNCTION and NEGATION – truth table

– Frank is not angry or Hank is not tired.

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 DISJUNCTION and NEGATION – truth table

It’s not the case that Frank is angry or Hank is tired.

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 CONJUNCTION, NEGATION & DISJUNCTION
It’s not the case that Frank is angry or Hank is tired.
So, Frank is not angry and Hank is not tired.
Symbolic argument:

Let’s set up the truth table:

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 CONJUNCTION, NEGATION & DISJUNCTION
It’s not the case that Frank is angry or Hank is tired.
So, Frank is not angry and Hank is not tired.

Symbolic argument form:

36
 CONJUNCTION, NEGATION & DISJUNCTION
Consider an argument with three variables that involves
disjunction, negation, and conjunction:

Frank is angry or Hank is tired.

It’s not the case that Hank is tired and Larry is lonely.
So, Hank is tired.

Symbolic argument:

37
 CONJUNCTION, NEGATION & DISJUNCTION

Frank is angry or Hank is tired.

It’s not the case that Hank is tired and Larry is lonely.
So, Hank is tired.

Invalid

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 4. CONDITIONAL STATEMENTS
• If-then statements consisting of 2 parts:
antecedent and consequent.

Example:
– If it rained, then the ground is wet. (p  q)
p q pq

T T T
T F F
F T T F F T
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 4. CONDITIONAL STATEMENTS

If it rained, then the ground is wet.

It rained.
So, the ground is wet.
Symbolic argument:

Truth table:

Valid

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Summary of conjunction (p & q), negation ~(p&q),
disjunction (p v q) and conditional statement (pq)

p q ~p ~q p & q ~(p&q) pvq p q

T T F F T F T T

T F F T F T T F

F T T F F T T T

F F T T F T F T

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 PRACTICE

Convert each statement into symbolic form

and generate its truth table.

42
1. Our university is calling but we can’t reach it.

Let: Symbolic form:

C: our university is calling
C & ~R
R: we can reach it
C R ~
R C & ~R

T T F F

T F T T

F T F F

F F T F
43
2. If you want a good score but you don’t work hard enough, then
your want is just wishful thinking.

Let: Symbolic form:

G: you want a good score
H: you work hard enough
G & ˜H  W
W: your want is just wishful thinking

G H W ˜H G & ˜H G & ˜H  W
T T T
T T F
T F T
T F F
F T T
F T F
F F T
F F F 44
2. If you want a good score but you don’t make efforts, your want
is just wishful thinking.

Let: Symbolic form:

G: you want a good score
E: you make efforts
G & ˜E  W
W: your want is just wishful thinking
G E W ˜E G & ˜E G & ˜E  W
T T T F F T
T T F F F T
T F T T T T
T F F T T F
F T T F F T
F T F F F T
F F T T F T
F F F T F T 45
3. If we don’t follow the new normal conditions, the government will fail the
Covid-19 control and the country will be out of order.

Let:
C: we follow the new normal conditions Symbolic form:
F: the government will fail the Covid-19 control ˜C  F & O

O: the country will be out of order

C F O ˜C F&O ˜C  F & O

T T T
T T F
T F T
T F F
F T T
F T F
F F T
F F F
46
 3. If we don’t follow the new normal conditions, the government will fail the
Covid-19 control and the country will be out of order.

Let:
Symbolic form:
C: we follow the new normal conditions
˜C  F & O
F: the government will fail the Covid-19 control
O: the country will be out of order

C F O ˜C F&O ˜C  F & O

T T T F T T
T T F F F T
T F T F F T
T F F F F T
F T T T T T
F T F T F F
F F T T F F
F F F T F F

47
 Exercise 4: Test validity of the argument

4A. If the pandemic doesn’t end and we have to study online next
semester, then we will lose considerable knowledge. The
pandemic does not end soon. So, we will study online next
semester and lose the required knowledge.

Let: Symbolic argument:

E: the pandemic ends ˜E & S  L
S: we study online next semester ˜E
L: we lose considerable knowledge S&L

48
4A. If the pandemic doesn’t end and we have to study online next semester,
then we will lose considerable knowledge. The pandemic does not end soon.
So, we will study online next semester and lose considerable knowledge.
Let:
E: the pandemic ends Symbolic argument:
S: we study online next semester ˜E & S  L
L: we lose considerable knowledge ˜E
S&L

E S L ˜E ˜E&S ˜E&S L S&L

T T T
T T F
T F T
T F F
F T T
F T F
F F T
F F F
49
4A. If the pandemic doesn’t end and we have to study online next semester,
then we will lose considerable knowledge. The pandemic does not end soon.
So, we will study online next semester and lose considerable knowledge.
Let:
E: the pandemic ends Symbolic argument form:
S: we study online next semester ˜E & S  L
L: we lose considerable knowledge ˜E
So, S & L

E S L ˜E ˜E&S ˜E&S L S&L

T T T F F T T
T T F F F T F
T F T F F T F
T F F F F T F
F T T T T T T
F T F T T F F
F F T T F T F Invalid
F F F T F T F
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4B. My girlfriend's phone at work is busy. My best friend's phone is also busy. If they are talking
to each other, then both phones are busy. Therefore, my girlfriend and my best friend are talking
to each other over the phone.
Symbolic argument:
G = My girlfriend’s phone at work is busy G
B = My best friend’s phone at work is busy B
T = My girlfriend & best friend talk to each other TG&B
So, T

G* B* T G&B TG&B TC

T T T
T T F
T F T
T F F
F T T
F T F
F F T
F F F
51
4B. My girlfriend's phone at work is busy. My best friend's phone is also busy. If they are talking
to each other, then both phones are busy. Therefore, my girlfriend and my best friend are talking
to each other over the phone.
Symbolic argument:
G = My girlfriend’s phone at work is busy G
B = My best friend’s phone at work is busy B
T = My girlfriend & best friend talk to each other TG&B
So, T

G* B* T G&B T  G & B* TC

T T T T T T

T T F T T F
Invalid
T F T F F T

T F F F T F

F T T F F T

F T F F T F

F F T F F T

F F F F T F

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4C. If Group A doesn’t take the bonus work offer, Group B doesn’t take it, either. If
these groups don’t take it, other groups will get the bonus points. So, if neither of
these groups takes it, other groups will get the bonus points.
Symbolic argument:
A = Group A takes the bonus work offer
B = Group B takes the bonus work offer ~A  ~B
G = other groups get the bonus points
~A & ~B  G
~A v ~B  G
A B G ~A ~B ~A  ~B* ~A & ~B ~A&~ B  ~Av ~ B ~ A v ~ B  GC
G*
T T T
T T F

T F T
T F F
F T T
F T F
F F T
F F F

53
4C. If Group A doesn’t take the bonus work offer, Group B doesn’t take it, either. If
these groups don’t take it, other groups will get the bonus points. So, if neither of
these groups takes it, other groups will get the bonus points.
Symbolic argument:
A = Group A takes the bonus work offer
B = Group B takes the bonus work offer ~A  ~B
G = other groups get the bonus points
~A & ~B  G
~A v ~B  G
A B G ~A ~B ~A  ~B* ~A & ~B ~ A & ~ B  G* ~Av ~ B ~ A v ~ B  GC

T T T F F T F T F T

T T F F F T F F F T

T F T F T T F T T T

T F F F T T F T T F

F T T T F F F T T T

F T F T F F F T T F

F F T T T T T T T T

F F F T F F F T T T

Invalid 54
 4D. If our teacher checks attendance, frequently absent students will be blacklisted
and they will be prohibited from the exam. Our teacher doesn’t check attendance, so
frequently absent students will still take the exam.

T = teacher checks attendance Symbolic argument:

A = absent students will be on the list T A& P
P = absent students will be prohibited
~T
~P
T A P
T T T
T T F
T F T
T F F
F T T
F T F
F F T
F F F
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 4D. If our teacher checks attendance, frequently absent students will be blacklisted
and they will be prohibited from the exam. Our teacher doesn’t check attendance, so
frequently absent students will still take the exam.

Symbolic argument:
T = teacher checks attendance
A = absent students will be on the list T A& P
P = absent students will be prohibited ~T
~P
T A P ~T* ~PC A&P T  A & P*

T T T F F T T
T T F F T F F
T F T F F F F
T F F F T F F
F T T T F T T Invalid
F T F T T F T
F F T T F F T
F F F T T F T 56
 Review
1. Propositions/arguments with 2 variables: a true table of 4 lines
2. Propositions/arguments with 3 variables: a true table of 8 lines
3. For propositions, only set up the truth table.

4. For arguments, check validity:

- look for the lines where all premise values are true, then look for the
conclusion values
- If all conclusion values are true: valid
- If at least one conclusion value is false: invalid

57
 ASSIGNMENT

Instructions:
- The question “Who’s the thief?” is optional. Your weekly assignment includes
5 tasks that follow.
- Delete all the lesson slides and keep only the Assignment slides to resubmit.

Link to submit:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1oOlrqPciG11PVp6RmW-
uuBfj60WnxGzXoJYXlQC2z-Q/edit

Deadline: End of Wednesday

Names of your group
 OPTIONAL QUESTION

Who’s the thief?

A theft was committed by one of the 9 people (called One to
Nine) but the police don’t know who did it. Here are their
answers when questioned:
– One: Five is the thief.
– Two: No, it’s not true!
– Three: I did it.
– Four: Either Three or Eight is the thief.
– Five: Two said the wrong thing!
– Six: Three is the thief.
– Seven: No, Three is not the thief.
– Eight: I’m not the thief, and Three is not, either.
– Nine: What Eight says is correct, but Five is not the thief, either.

If only 3 out of 9 statements are true, who could be the thief?

60
Task 1: If you recycle the old exercises (R) but your teacher doesn’t know about it (K),
you will enjoy the whole free week (E). It’s not the case that you teacher knows about
it but you enjoy the whole free week. So, don’t recycle the old exercises.

Let: Symbolic argument:

Truth table Add/Delete columns to suit your argument.

Conclusion:
Task 2: If our teacher gives us challenging tasks (T), we’ll make an excuse of
vaccination (V) for not doing them or we’ll just give her our grinning faces (G). We
don’t make an excuse of vaccination for not doing the tasks. So, if our teacher gives us
challenging tasks, we’ll show our grinning faces to her.
Let: Symbolic argument:

Truth table Add/Delete columns to suit your argument.

Conclusion:
Task 3: If we do group assignments carefully or we do textbook exercises, we’ll be well
prepared for the mid-term exam. We don’t do textbook exercises but we do group
assignments carefully. So, we’ll get ready for the mid-term exam.

Let Symbolic argument

Truth table Add/Delete columns to suit your argument.

Conclusion
Task 4: Create a propositional argument about the topic of technology and young people with two variables including a disjunction and a conditional statement, then turn it into the symbolic argument and evaluate its validity.

Symbolic argument
Your argument

Symbolic argument
Truth table
Add/Delete columns to suit your argument.

Conclusion
 Task 5: Create a propositional argument about the topic of how you enjoy life despite the pandemic with three variables including at least conjunction, disjunction and ‘It’s not the case that…’, then turn it into the symbolic argument and evaluate its
validity using the truth table.

Your argument

Truth table
Let
Add/Delete columns to suit your argument.

Symbolic argument

Conclusion:
Thank you 

66