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Algebra · real student question

Suppose the propositional variable p has truth value 1. Determine all truth values of q, r and s for which (p → ((¬p ∨ r) ∧ ¬s)) ∧ (¬s → (¬r ∧ p)) has truth value 1.

Question

Suppose the propositional variable pp has truth value 11. Determine all truth values of qq, rr and ss for which

(p→[(¬p∨r)∧¬s])∧[¬s→(¬r∧p)]\big(p\to[(\neg p\vee r)\wedge\neg s]\big)\wedge\big[\neg s\to(\neg r\wedge p)\big]

takes the truth value 11.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Notice that q never appears. The variable qq occurs nowhere in the formula, so its value is irrelevant — whatever conclusion is reached will hold for both q=0q=0 and q=1q=1. Spotting this first removes half the case work.

  2. Reduce the first conjunct using p = 1. With p=1p=1 we have ¬p=0\neg p=0, so ¬p∨r=r\neg p\vee r=r. And since 1→X≡X1\to X\equiv X,

    p→[(¬p∨r)∧¬s]  ≡  r∧¬sp\to[(\neg p\vee r)\wedge\neg s]\;\equiv\;r\wedge\neg s

    For the whole conjunction to be 11, this forces r=1r=1 and s=0s=0.

  3. Reduce the second conjunct using p = 1. Here ¬r∧p=¬r\neg r\wedge p=\neg r, so

    ¬s→(¬r∧p)  ≡  ¬s→¬r  ≡  s∨¬r\neg s\to(\neg r\wedge p)\;\equiv\;\neg s\to\neg r\;\equiv\;s\vee\neg r

  4. Combine the two demands. The formula is 11 exactly when

    (r∧¬s)∧(s∨¬r)=1(r\wedge\neg s)\wedge(s\vee\neg r)=1

    The left factor requires r=1, s=0r=1,\ s=0; substituting those into the right factor gives s∨¬r=0∨0=0s\vee\neg r=0\vee 0=0. The conjunction is therefore 00.

  5. Conclude that the formula is unsatisfiable at p = 1.

    No values of q,r,s make the formula true when p=1\boxed{\text{No values of }q,r,s\text{ make the formula true when }p=1}

    On a multiple-choice version listing (r,s)=(0,1),(1,1),(1,0),(0,0)(r,s)=(0,1),(1,1),(1,0),(0,0), every option is wrong.

  6. Verify by exhaustive truth table. With p=1p=1, check the four (r,s)(r,s) pairs against (r∧¬s)∧(s∨¬r)(r\wedge\neg s)\wedge(s\vee\neg r): (0,0)→0∧1=0(0,0)\to 0\wedge 1=0; (0,1)→0∧1=0(0,1)\to 0\wedge 1=0; (1,0)→1∧0=0(1,0)\to 1\wedge 0=0; (1,1)→0∧1=0(1,1)\to 0\wedge 1=0. All four give 00, confirming the algebraic reduction. Equivalently, r∧¬sr\wedge\neg s and s∨¬r=¬(r∧¬s)s\vee\neg r=\neg(r\wedge\neg s) are exact negations of each other, so their conjunction is a contradiction for any pp.

Answer

None — the formula is a contradiction once p=1 (indeed r∧¬s and s∨¬r are negations)\text{None — the formula is a contradiction once }p=1\ (\text{indeed }r\wedge\neg s\text{ and }s\vee\neg r\text{ are negations})

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