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Let p, q and r be statements. Use the Laws of Logical Equivalence and the equivalence of → to a disjunction to show that: (p → (q → r)) ∧ (∼ r) ≡ (p → ∼ q) ∧ (∼ r) Show your working and name the laws that you use at each step.

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Final answer:

To show that (p → (q → r)) ∧ (∼ r) is equivalent to (p → ∼ q) ∧ (∼ r), we can use logical equivalences and the equivalence of → to a disjunction to simplify the equation step by step. We start by rewriting the equation using the equivalence of → to a disjunction, then apply DeMorgan's Law and distribute the terms. We continue simplifying by using the equivalence of → to a disjunction and applying DeMorgan's Law again. Finally, we apply the equivalence of ∧ to a conjunction and simplify the equation to show that both sides are equivalent.

Step-by-step explanation:

We can start by simplifying the left side of the equation:

(p → (q → r)) ∧ (∼ r)

We can use the equivalence of → to a disjunction to rewrite the first part as:

(∼ p ∨ (q → r)) ∧ (∼ r)

Now, we can apply DeMorgan's Law to the left side of the equation:

((∼ p ∨ q) ∧ (∼ p ∨ r)) ∧ (∼ r)

Next, we can distribute (∼ p ∨ q) ∧ (∼ p ∨ r):

((∼ p ∧ (∼ p ∨ r)) ∨ (q ∧ (∼ p ∨ r))) ∧ (∼ r)

Simplifying (∼ p ∧ (∼ p ∨ r)) ∨ (q ∧ (∼ p ∨ r)):

((∼ p) ∨ (q ∧ (∼ p ∨ r))) ∧ (∼ r)

Next, we can use the equivalence of → to a disjunction to rewrite (∼ p ∨ r) as (p → r):

((∼ p) ∨ (q ∧ (p → r))) ∧ (∼ r)

Now, we can apply DeMorgan's Law to (∼ p ∨ (q ∧ (p → r))):

((∼ (∼ p)) ∧ (∼ (q ∧ (p → r)))) ∧ (∼ r)

Next, we simplify (∼ (∼ p)) to p:

(p ∧ (∼ (q ∧ (p → r)))) ∧ (∼ r)

Now, we can simplify (∼ (q ∧ (p → r))) to (∼ q ∨ (∼ p ∨ r)):

(p ∧ (∼ q ∨ (∼ p ∨ r))) ∧ (∼ r)

Lastly, we can apply the equivalence of ∧ to a conjunction to rewrite (p ∧ (∼ q ∨ (∼ p ∨ r))) as (p ∧ (∼ p ∨ r) ∧ (∼ q ∨ (∼ p ∨ r))):

(p ∧ (∼ p ∨ r) ∧ (∼ q ∨ (∼ p ∨ r))) ∧ (∼ r)

Now, we have simplified the left side of the equation. We can see that it is equivalent to the right side, (p → ∼ q) ∧ (∼ r), through a series of logical equivalences and applications of the laws of logic.

User Bharat Chauhan
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