Math Problem Statement

Prove that R→S is a valid conclusion from the premises ~PVQ, ~QVR, and R→S.

Solution

We are tasked with proving that RSR \rightarrow S is a valid conclusion from the premises:

  1. ¬PQ\neg P \vee Q (Premise 1)
  2. ¬QR\neg Q \vee R (Premise 2)
  3. RSR \rightarrow S (Premise 3)

Step-by-Step Proof

Let's break down the logic step by step.

1. Premise: ¬PQ\neg P \vee Q

This is equivalent to saying, "If PP is false, then QQ must be true."

2. Premise: ¬QR\neg Q \vee R

This means, "If QQ is false, then RR must be true."

3. Premise: RSR \rightarrow S

This means, "If RR is true, then SS must be true."

We need to show that RSR \rightarrow S is a valid conclusion from the first two premises. The conclusion essentially states that if RR is true, then SS will follow.

Step-by-Step Proof by Contradiction

We can assume RR is true and show that SS must follow using the premises.

Assume RR is true:

  • From Premise 3, if RR is true, then SS must be true (direct conclusion from RSR \rightarrow S).

If RR is false:

We want to show what happens if RR were false.

  1. From Premise 2: ¬QR\neg Q \vee R, if RR is false, then ¬Q\neg Q must be true, meaning QQ is false.
  2. If QQ is false, we can go back to Premise 1: ¬PQ\neg P \vee Q. Since QQ is false, ¬P\neg P must be true, meaning PP is false.

At this point, we have PP false, QQ false, and RR false, which contradicts the premise that RSR \rightarrow S.

Therefore, RR must be true.

Once we have shown that RR is true, RSR \rightarrow S directly leads to the conclusion that SS is true, which proves that RSR \rightarrow S is a valid conclusion.

Conclusion

Thus, we have shown that RSR \rightarrow S logically follows from the premises ¬PQ\neg P \vee Q, ¬QR\neg Q \vee R, and RSR \rightarrow S. Therefore, RSR \rightarrow S is a valid conclusion.


Would you like any further clarification on any part of the proof? Here are some related questions to explore:

  1. What is the significance of proof by contradiction in logic?
  2. How does disjunction (\vee) interact with implications?
  3. Can you explain how the truth table for RSR \rightarrow S looks?
  4. What happens if PP is true in this scenario?
  5. How can these logical principles apply to real-world situations?

Tip: When proving logical conclusions, looking for contradictions can be a powerful technique to show the necessity of a statement.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Propositional Logic
Implication
Disjunction
Proof by Contradiction

Formulas

Implication: A → B
Disjunction: A ∨ B
Negation: ¬A

Theorems

Modus Ponens
Modus Tollens
Proof by Contradiction

Suitable Grade Level

Undergraduate