lecture recording on 11 March 2025 at 11.04.50 AM

Upcoming Test Overview

• The next test is on Thursday.

• A practice test with the same format will be conducted to help students prepare.

Test Materials

• Students will receive a full rule sheet identical to what they will use for the actual test.

• This rule sheet includes inferentials and sub derivational rules.

• The students need to fill out lines for sub derivations to assist understanding.

Test Format

Multiple Parts

• True/False Questions

  • There will be five true/false questions.

• Translation from English to Symbolic Form

  • Students will be given a valid argument in English to translate symbolically and derive its validity.

• Derivations

  • Students will work on eight available derivations but only need to complete seven for credit.

  • An option for extra credit will be provided if students attempt all eight and clearly mark one question as extra credit.

Focus Areas for Derivations

• Biconditional Rules:

  • Students can use biconditional commutativity (order of statements doesn't affect truth).

  • Associativity of biconditionals allows rearranging parentheses without affecting truth value.

  • Biconditional inference: students can split biconditional statements into two standard conditionals to simplify derivations.

Grading Criteria

Partial Credit

• Students can receive partial credit for correct steps even if a derivation is not fully completed.

• Indications of strategy or setup of subderivations can yield extra points.

• Focusing on correct definitions and logical steps maximizes points.

Study Resources

• Review the definition tables provided during class, as they will help with the true/false section.

• Practice translating English arguments into symbolic form using example materials.

• Review previous homework or practice tests for similar questions to anticipate the upcoming test.

True/False Question Guidance

Sample Questions

1. Sound Arguments - "Some sound arguments are invalid." - False; sound arguments must be valid.

2. Invalid Arguments - "Every invalid argument has consistent premises." - True; consistency is required for invalid arguments.

3. Valid Arguments - "Some valid arguments have premises consistent with the negation of its conclusion." - False; this is contradictory to the definition of validity.

4. Invalid Arguments - "Every invalid argument has a false conclusion." - False; some lines can be true.

5. Logical Equivalence - "If two statements are logically equivalent, then it’s not possible for one to be true and the other false." - True; this is the definition of equivalence.

Argument Translation and Derivations

Tips

• Identify conclusions first before translating premises. Use indicator words to determine premises and conclusions accurately.

• Familiarize with conditional structures: 'unless' and 'if and only if' can indicate conditionals and biconditionals, respectively.

• Practice deriving arguments to ensure translation accuracy.

• Understand potential pitfalls such as mixing parts of premises with conclusions.

Practice Problems

• Work on derivation examples to reinforce the necessity of clear steps and appropriate rule application.

• Conduct practice tests utilizing the rule sheets to prepare effectively for all expected derivatives.