LESSON 13: Working with Mutiple Quantifiers

Assignment 13

Keep in mind that we use x,y and z as variables to stand for unidentified individuals, but in our system they never appear "unbound," which means without a quantifier.  At the same time we typically do our work with consistency trees and derivations by setting up hypothetical instances in which the variables are replaced by letters representing individual names.   One very good way of getting some practice in derivations is by converting wff's into a prenex form or out of it.  Here's an example for which we will also use a conditional or hypothetical proof.

Ax(Fx -> Ay(Gy -> Hxy)) |- AxAy(Fx -> (Gy -> Hxy))
1.  Ax(Fx -> Ay(Gy -> Hxy))     Ass
2.         Fa                                     Hyp
3.         Fa -> Ay(Gy -> Hay)      1  UQ elim
4.         Ay(Gy -> Hay)                2,3  -> elim
5.         Gb -> Hab                        4  UQ elim
6.  Fa -> (Gb -> Hab)                   2-5  hyp elim
7.  Ay(Fa -> (Gy -> Hay))           6  UQ int
this is a legitimate move once we have brought our original assumed "a" into a conditional by eliminating the hypothesis
8.  AxAy(Fx -> (Gy -> Hxy))      7  UQ int

One of the most common mistakes students make in working with these proofs is to forget that any inference rule (all those rules to introduce or eliminate a quantifier, for instance) must work with the main connective (what you saw in PLN by looking just at the last letter).  In eliminating quantifiers, we work systematically inwards from the left, but in introducing them we can work from anywhere inside building out to the left.

The other common mistake is to ignore the new name rule.

In symbolizing, a good rule is to avoid starting with a prenex form unless there is no choice.  Here are two examples.

All students like good teachers.   Ax(Sx -> Ay((Gy & Ty) -> Lxy))
think of this as saying that for anyone at all (x), if that individual is a student then for anyone at all (y), if that other individual is a good teacher then individual x will like individual y
Only good students like hard classes.   AxAy((Hy & Cy & Lxy) -> (Gx & Sx))

Review the page on symbolization with my suggested templates before going on to the assignment.

Go on to assignment 13.