Question

Let W represent that a car is white, let N represent that a car is new, and let M represent that a car is mine. Analyze the logical form of the following statements:

a. If the car is not white and new, then it is mine.
b. The car being white or new is a sufficient condition for it being not mine.
c. The car is mine if and only if it is new and not white.

Answer 1

Remember that if we have a proposition P, ¬P is the negation of that proposition.

We have:

W = car is white

¬W = car is not white

N = car is new

¬N = car is not new

M = the car is mine

¬M = the car is not mine.

Now, whit that defined, let's analyze the statements:

a: " If the car is not white and new, then it is mine."

We can write this as:

"Not W and N, then M"

using only symbols this is:

(¬W ∧ N) ⇒ M

where the symbol ∧ means "and"

and the symbol ⇒ means "then"

b " The car being white or new is a sufficient condition for it being not mine."

We can rewrite this in a simpler way:

"if the car is white or new, then is not mine"

We can write this as:

W or N, then, not M

using the symbols, we get:

(W ∨ N) ⇒ ¬M

Where the symbol ∨ means "or"

c " The car is mine if and only if it is new and not white."

This can be rewritten as:

"M if and only if N and not W"

Using only symbols, we get:

M ⇔ (N ∧ ¬W)

Where "⇔" means "if and only if"