document.write( "Question 1150010: Is (p v q) → (~q → p) a tautology? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #771393 by jim_thompson5910(35256)![]() ![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! \n" ); document.write( "p and q are any truth value statements. In other words, they are a variable that holds T or F \n" ); document.write( "T = true \n" ); document.write( "F = false\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Start with a table showing off the various truth value combinations of p and q \n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Then add on a ~q column which is the complete opposite of what the q column shows (true flips to false, and vice versa) \n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "We'll use this column later, but for now we'll add on a p v q column next.\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The logical disjunction of two truth values is only false when both pieces are false. In other words, p v q = F when both p = F and q = F at the same time. Otherwise, p v q = T \n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Next we'll have a column for ~q --> p. This conditional is only false when ~q = T and p = F. So if we had T --> F, then that whole thing is false. Otherwise, the statement is true. \n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Finally, the last step is to combine the columns p v q and ~q --> p \n" ); document.write( "Let A = p v q and B = ~q --> p. The format we want is A --> B \n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "which is what the full completed truth table looks like\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Note the last column has nothing but T. Each possible outcome leads to (p v q) --> (~q --> p) being a true statement. \r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Answer: Yes it is a tautology\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " |