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Logical Expressions and Proof Techniques in Discrete Mathematics

snhu MAT 230 EXAM ONE This document is proprietary to Southern New Hampshire University. It and the problems within may not be posted on any non-SNHU website. Enter your name here 1 snhu Directions: Type your solutions into this document and be sure to show all steps for arriving at your solution. Just giving a final number may not receive full credit. PROBLEM 1 (a) The domain for all variables in the expressions below is the set of real numbers. Determine whether each statement is true or false. (i) Vx By (x + y > 0) This statement says that for every number x there is a number y such that the sum of x and y is more than or equal to zero. This statement is true. even if the number x is negative, as long as the absolute value of y is greater than the absolute value of x, their sum will be greater than 0. (ii) Ex Vy (x . y > 0) This statement says that for a specific number x and every number y, the product of x and y is more than zero. This is false because if y is 0, the product of x and y is 0. (b) Translate each of the following English statements into logical expressions. (i) There are two numbers whose ratio is less than 1. Axây ( < 1) (ii) The reciprocal of every positive number is also positive. Vx (x > > > 0) snhu PROBLEM 2 Prove the following using the specified technique: (a) Let x and y be two real numbers such that x + y is rational. Prove by contrapositive that if x is irrational, then x - y is irrational. Proof: Assume x - y is rational. We will be proving that x is rational. Since x + y is also rational, the sum of the two expressions is also rational: (x-y)+(x+y) = 2x Therefore, 2x is rational since it is the sum of the two rational expressions. Since 2 is a rational number, x must be a rational number because their product is rational. Therefore, by contrapositive, we have proven that if x is irrational, x - y is irrational. END OF PROOF. (b) Prove by contradiction that for any positive two real numbers, x and y, if x . y ? 50, then either x < 8 or y < 8. Proof: Suppose that for any positive two real numbers x and y, if x . y ? 50, then x ? 8 and y ? 8. Assume x = 8 and y = 8. When the numbers are plugged into x · y ? 50: 8.8 ?50 64?50 This shows an inconsistency, which proves that if x . y ? 50, then either x < 8 or y < 8. END OF PROOF.