WTW 115: Logical Form and Logical Equivalence

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts introduced in the WTW 115 lecture on logical form and logical equivalence.

Discrete

Separated values, such as the set of integers or {true, false}.

Continuous

Values that vary without sudden jumps, exemplified by the set of real numbers.

Statement

A meaningful sentence that has exactly one of two truth values: true (T) or false (F).

Truth Value

The attribution of a statement as true (T) or false (F).

Statement Variable

An arbitrary statement represented by symbols such as p, q, r, or s.

Negation

A logical operation that inverts the truth value of a statement; 'not' is denoted by the tilde (∼).

Conjunction

A logical operation symbolized by 'and' (∧); true only if both component statements are true.

Disjunction

A logical operation symbolized by 'or' (∨); true if at least one component statement is true.

Truth Table

A table showing the truth values of a logical operation for all possible inputs.

Tautology

A statement form that has a truth value of T regardless of the truth values of its variables.

Contradiction

A statement form that has a truth value of F regardless of the truth values of its variables.

Order of Operations

The sequence in which logical operations are evaluated: negation first, followed by conjunction and disjunction.

Symmetric Language

Statements composed in natural language converted into symbolic language forms.