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Peculiar proof


triclino

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In proving : [math] x+y\leq 2[/math] given that : [math]0\leq x\leq 1[/math] and y=1,the following proof is pursued:

 

Since [math]0\leq x\leq 1[/math] ,then (x>0 or x=0)and (x<1 or x=1) ,which according to logic is equivalent to:

 

(x>0 and x<1) or (x>0 and x=1) or (x=0 and x<1) or ( x=0 and x=1).

 

And in examining the three cases ( except the 4th one : x=0 and x=1) we end up with :

 

[math] x+y\leq 2[/math].

 

The question now is : how do we examine the 4th case so to end up with [math] x+y\leq 2[/math]??

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It seems a rather convoluted way to go about it.

 

( (x>0) and (x<1) )

 

=>

 

(x < 1)

 

=>

 

(x < 1 ) or ( x = 1)

 

Only those two cases need to be looked at, neither of them being degenerate as in your example.

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Roughly:

 

Taking not(x=0 and x=1) as given,

 

( (x>0 and x=1) or ( x=0 and x=1) ) and not(x=0 and x=1)

=>

(x>0 and x=1)

 

by disjunctive syllogism.

 

On the other hand i could use disjunctive syllogism and end up with : 2>2

 

Since x=0 and x=1 => 0=1 => (0=1) or |x+y|>2 and not (0=1) => |x+y|>2.

 

But since [math]|x+y|\leq 2[/math] ,then : [math]2<|x+y|\leq 2[/math] .Which of course results in 2>2

Edited by triclino
correction
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No you can't, triclino. x=0 and x=1 implies absolutely nothing. x=0 and x=1 is a contradiction. The only conclusion that can drawn from (1) P -> Q and (2) ~P is that P is false.

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No you can't, triclino. x=0 and x=1 implies absolutely nothing. .

 

On the contrary D.H contradiction can imply everything.

 

Thru disjunction syllogism as Tree pointed out you can imply everything.

 

Learn disjunction syllogism.

 

The contradiction here is: (x=0 and x=1) and not( x=0 and x=1)

Edited by triclino
correction
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The contradiction here is x=0 and x=1. Think about it.

 

 

Contradiction is: [math]q\wedge\neg q[/math]

 

q here is 1=0 and not q is [math]1\neq 0[/math]

 

You thing twice about it

 

[math]1\neq 0[/math] is a field axiom

 

(x=0 and x=1) is equivalent to 1=0 ,and not(x=0 and x=1) is equivalent to:[math]1\neq 0[/math]

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Contradiction is: [math]q\wedge\neg q[/math]

No. While you are correct that [math]q\wedge\neg q[/math] is a contradiction, it is not the only thing that qualifies as a contradiction. A contradiction is any statement that is unsatisfiable.

 

x=0 and x=1 is unsatisfiable. It is a contradiction.

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A contradiction is any statement that is unsatisfiable.

 

x=0 and x=1 is unsatisfiable. It is a contradiction.

 

 

You are entangling False with contradiction .

 

x=0 and x=1 is simply a false statement.

 

This is basic stuff in Symbolic Logic, you better learn about it .

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