Skip to the content | Change text size

Question Database: Formal Logic

Predicate Logic: Translation

Which of the following are well-formed formulas of the langauge of predicate calculus?

I. Fa ∨ (∃x)(Fx & ~Rab)

II. (∀x)xF ⊃ (~Ga & Rab)

III. ~(∀x)(Rab ∨ ~(Fx & Rxc))

IV. (∀x)(Fx ⊃ Gx) ∨ Rxa

A. All of the above

B. I and III

C. III only

D. None of the above

Answer: B

Topic:

Predicate logic, translation

Course Level:

First year formal logic

Notes:


Translate the following sentences:

All kittens with whiskers love fish.

Kx - x is a kitten

Fx - x loves fish

Gx - x has whiskers

A. (∀x)(Kx & Wx) ⊃ (∀x)Fx

B. (∀x)(Kx ⊃ (Wx & Fx))

C. (∃x)((Kx & Wx) & Fx)

D. (∀x)((Kx & Wx) ⊃ Fx)

Answer: D

Topic:

Predicate logic, translation

Course Level:

First year formal logic

Notes:


No kitten that loves fish has green eyes.

Kx - x is a kitten

Fx - x loves fish

Gx - x has green eyes

A. (∀x)((Kx & Fx) ⊃ Gx)

B. ~(∃x)((Kx & Fx) ⊃ Gx)

C. ~(∃x)((Kx & Fx) & Gx)

D. (∃x)((Kx & Fx) & ~Gx)

Answer: C

Topic:

Predicate logic, translation

Course Level:

First year formal logic

Notes:


Some workers will get a raise only if some of the managers are generous.

Wx - x is a worker

Mx - x is a manager

Rx - x will get a raise

Gx - x is generous

A. (∃x)((Wx & Rx) ⊃ (Mx & Gx))

B. (∃x)((Mx & Gx) ⊃ (Wx & Rx))

C. (∃x) (Wx & Rx) ⊃ (∃x)(Mx & Gx)

D. (∃x)(Mx & Gx) ⊃ (∃x)(Wx & Rx)

Answer: C

Topic:

Predicate logic, translation

Course Level:

First year formal logic

Notes:


If anyone passes the exam, then Jill will.

Px - x will pass the exam

j - Jill

A. (∃x)Px ⊃ (∃x)Pj

B. (∃x)(Px ⊃ Pj)

C. (∀x)Px ⊃ Pj

D. (∃x)Px ⊃ Pj

Answer: D

Topic:

Predicate logic, translation

Course Level:

First year formal logic

Notes:

B is consistent with the English sentence being false. Suppose a passes, b fails and Jill fails. Then the English sentence is false: someone has passed, but Jill hasn't. However b (or j) is a witness to the truth of B.


Every student must read a book on the reading list.

Sx - x is a student

Bx - x is a book on the reading list

Rxy - x must read y

A. (∀x)(Sx ⊃ (∃y)(By & Rxy))

B. (∀x)(Sx ⊃ (∃y)(By & Ryx))

C. (∀x)(Sx ⊃ (∀y)(By ⊃ Rxy))

D. (∃x)(Bx & (∀y)(Sy ⊃ Ryx))

Answer: A

Topic:

Predicate logic, translation

Course Level:

First year formal logic

Notes:

Answer could also be D -- the sentence is ambiguous.


Using this dictionary, translate the following formulas:

Px - x is a person

Sx - x is sad

Kx - x is a kitten

Hxy - x is happier than y

Oxy - x owns y

g – George

t - Tracy

Htg ⊃ Sg

A. Either Tracy is happier than George, or George is sad.

B. If George is sad, then Tracy is happier than he is.

C. If Tracy is happier than George, then George is sad.

D. If George is happier than Tracy, then George is sad.

Answer: C

Topic:

Predicate logic, translation

Course Level:

First year formal logic

Notes:


Using this dictionary, translate the following formulas:

Px - x is a person

Sx - x is sad

Kx - x is a kitten

Hxy - x is happier than y

Oxy - x owns y

g – George

t - Tracy

(∀x)(Px ⊃ (∃y)(Ky & Oxy))

A. Someone owns every kitten.

B. No one owns a kitten.

C. Everyone owns a kitten.

D. Someone owns a kitten.

Answer: C

Topic:

Predicate logic, translation

Course Level:

First year formal logic

Notes:


Using this dictionary, translate the following formulas:

Px - x is a person

Sx - x is sad

Kx - x is a kitten

Hxy - x is happier than y

Oxy - x owns y

g – George

t - Tracy

(∀x)(Kx & Otx)

A. Tracy owns every kitten.

B. Everything is a kitten owned by Tracy.

C. Tracy owns a kitten.

D. Everything is a kitten that owns Tracy.

Answer: B

Topic:

Predicate logic, translation

Course Level:

First year formal logic

Notes:


Using this dictionary, translate the following formulas:

Px - x is a person

Sx - x is sad

Kx - x is a kitten

Hxy - x is happier than y

Oxy - x owns y

g – George

t - Tracy

(∀x)((Px & (∃y)(Ky & Oxy)) ⊃ Hx)

A. Everyone who is happy owns a kitten.

B. Someone owns a happy kitten.

C. Everyone who owns a kitten is happy.

D. Eveyone owns a kitten and is happy.

Answer: C

Topic:

Predicate logic, translation

Course Level:

First year formal logic

Notes:


Using this dictionary, translate the following formulas:

Px - x is a person

Sx - x is sad

Kx - x is a kitten

Hxy - x is happier than y

Oxy - x owns y

g – George

t - Tracy

(∃x)((Hx & Kx) & (∀y)(Py ⊃ Oxy))

A. Everyone who owns something owns a happy kitten.

B. Every happy kitten is owned by someone.

C. Each person owns a happy kitten.

D. There is a happy kitten that owns everyone.

Answer: D

Topic:

Predicate logic, translation

Course Level:

First year formal logic

Notes:


Using this dictionary, translate the following formulas:

Px - x is a person

Sx - x is sad

Kx - x is a kitten

Hxy - x is happier than y

Oxy - x owns y

g – George

t - Tracy

Sg & (∀x)((Px & ~(∃y)(Ky & Oxy) ⊃ Hgx)

A. George is sad, but he’s happier than anyone that doesn’t own a kitten.

B. George is sad, and anyone that owns a kitten is happier than him.

C. George is sad, and if anyone owns a kitten, everyone is happier than him.

D. George is sad, but he is happier than everyone who owns some kitten.

Answer: A

Topic:

Predicate logic, translation

Course Level:

First year formal logic

Notes: