Exam 2 Material

Math symbols: ≠ , ∤ ,⋲ , ∉, ℤ

  • ∞ (Infinity)

  • ∑ (Summation)

Chapter 4. More on Direct Proof and Proof by Contrapositive

4.1.Proofs Involving Divisibility of Integers

For integers a and b with a ≠ 0 , we say that a divides b if there exists an integer c such that b=ac. W denote this by a|b


Example 1

Ex. n is an integer <=> 2|n

If a|b, then we also say that b is a multiple of a and that a is a divisor of b.

If a does not divide b, we denote this by a|b. by a ∤ b


Example 2

Example prove: Let a,b and c be integers with a≠0 and b≠0. If a divides b and b divides c, then a divides c.

Proof.

Since a divides b and b divides c, b=ax and c=by for some x,y, b=ax and c=by for some x,y ⋲ ℤ . So cd=axby=abxy. Since x,y ⋲ ℤ , ab divides cd.


Example 3:

Prove: Let a,b,c,x,y ⋲ ℤ where a ≠ 0. If a divides b and a divides c, then a divides bx+cy.

Proof: Assume that a divides both b and c. Then b=an and c=am for some n, m ⋲ ℤ. By substituting these expressions into bx + cy, we have bx + cy = (an)x + (am)y = a(nx + my), which shows that a divides bx + cy. This completes the proof, demonstrating that if a divides both b and c, then a must also divide the linear combination bx + cy.

Explanation of Implication and Its Contrapositive

  • Implication Statement: A statement of the form “∀x ∈ S,P(x) =⇒ Q(x),” means "For all x in the set S, if P(x) is true, then Q(x) is also true."Here, ( P(x) ) is known as the premise or hypothesis, and ( Q(x) ) is known as the conclusion.

  • Contrapositive: The contrapositive of the statement “∀x ∈ S,∼Q(x) =⇒ ∼P(x).”. This means, "For all x in S, if Q(x) is not true, then P(x) is also not true."It is important to note that the quantifier (( \forall )) remains unchanged or unnegated in the contrapositive statement.

Proof by Contrapositive Method:

  1. State the Original Implication: Start with the original statement ∀x ∈ S,P(x) =⇒ Q(x),

  2. Write the Contrapositive: Convert the implication into its contrapositive form, “∀x ∈ S,∼Q(x) =⇒ ∼P(x).”

  3. Prove the Contrapositive: To prove that the implication( P(x) ⇒ Q(x) ) holds, demonstrate that if ( Q(x) ) is false, then ( P(x) ) must also be false for all elements x in S.

Duplicating Proves and Restatements of Theorem 3.12

  1. Statement: If x is even, then x² is even.

    • Proof by Direct Proof: For any integer x, if x is an even integer, we can express it as x = 2k for some integer k. Therefore,

      [ x² = (2k)² = 4k² = 2(2k²) ]

      Since 2k² is an integer, x² is even.

  2. Converse Statement: If x² is odd, then x is odd.

    • Proof by Contrapositive: To show the contrapositive, we restate: If x is even, then x² is even.

    • Assume x is an even integer, so we express it as x = 2k for some integer k. Then:

      [ x² = (2k)² = 4k² = 2(2k²) ]

      Hence, x² is even, verifying the contrapositive. This establishes that if x² is odd, then x must be odd.

Relation to Theorem 3.12

Theorem 3.12 states:

  • If x is even, then x² is even.

  • If x² is even, then x is even.

The contrapositive of these implications are:

  • If x² is odd, then x is odd.

  • If x is odd, then x² is odd.

Thus, the statements in this section restate Theorem 3.12 in terms of contrapositives and do not require separate proof.

Alternative Restatement of Theorem 3.12

One possible restatement of the theorem is:

  • "The square of every even integer is even."

Proof by Contrapositive

Overview

When proving a result or theorem expressed in the form:

  • Let x ∈ S. If P(x), then Q(x), or

  • For all x ∈ S, if P(x), then Q(x), it is essential to establish the truth of the implication P(x) ⇒ Q(x) for all x ∈ S.

Contrapositive Approach

If it can be shown that (∼Q(x)) ⇒ (∼P(x)) holds true for all x ∈ S, then P(x) ⇒ Q(x) is also true for all x ∈ S. A proof by contrapositive essentially takes the form:

  • Let x ∈ S. If ∼Q(x), then ∼P(x), or

  • For all x ∈ S, if ∼Q(x), then ∼P(x).

Thus, to provide a proof by contrapositive of the result:

  • Assume ∼Q(x) is true for an arbitrary element x ∈ S and demonstrate that ∼P(x) is true for that element.

Application of Proof by Contrapositive

Some results are better suited for proof by contrapositive.

Example: Result 3.10
  • Statement: Let x ∈ ℤ. If 5x−7 is even, then x is odd.

Proof: Assume that x is even. Then x can be expressed as x = 2a for some integer a. Therefore:5x − 7 = 5(2a) − 7 = 10a − 7 = 10a − 8 + 1 = 2(5a − 4) + 1.Since 5a − 4 ∈ ℤ, it follows that 5x − 7 is odd.Thus, establishing that if 5x − 7 is even, then x must be odd.

To prove the statement 'For any real number m, if 3m + 5 is odd, then m is even,' we can use proof by contrapositive.

Contrapositive: If m is odd, then 3m + 5 is even.

Proof by Contrapositive:

  1. Assume m is odd. Therefore, we can express m as m = 2k + 1 for some integer k.

  2. Substituting this into the expression:

    3m + 5 = 3(2k + 1) + 5 = 6k + 3 + 5 = 6k + 8.

  3. We can factor out 2 from the expression:

    6k + 8 = 2(3k + 4).

  4. Since 3k + 4 is an integer, it follows that 2(3k + 4) is even.

Thus, if m is odd, then 3m + 5 is even, establishing that the original statement holds.

To prove the statement 'For any real number m, if 3m + 5 is odd, then m is even,' we can use proof by contrapositive.

Contrapositive: If m is odd, then 3m + 5 is even.

Proof by Contrapositive:

  1. Assume m is odd. Therefore, we can express m as m = 2k + 1 for some integer k.

  2. Substituting this into the expression:

    3m + 5 = 3(2k + 1) + 5 = 6k + 3 + 5 = 6k + 8.

  3. We can factor out 2 from the expression:

    6k + 8 = 2(3k + 4).

  4. Since 3k + 4 is an integer, it follows that 2(3k + 4) is even.

Thus, if m is odd, then 3m + 5 is even, establishing that the original statement holds.

Corollary: For any integer n, n is odd if and only if n² is odd.

Proof:

  • (Forward direction): Assume n is odd. Then n can be expressed as n = 2k + 1 for some integer k. Therefore:

    • n² = (2k + 1)² = 4k² + 4k + 1 = 2(2k² + 2k) + 1.

    • Since 2k² + 2k is an integer, n² is odd.

  • (Reverse direction): Assume n² is odd. Then n² can be expressed as n² = 2m + 1 for some integer m. If n were even (n = 2p for some integer p), then n² = (2p)² = 4p², which is even. Thus, n must be odd for n² to be odd.