Let P(x) and Q(x) be arbitrary predicates. Which of the following statements…

2005

Let P(x) and Q(x) be arbitrary predicates. Which of the following statements is always TRUE?

  1. A.

    ((∀x(P(x)∨Q(x))))⟹((∀xP(x))∨(∀xQ(x)))

  2. B.

    (∀x(P(x)⟹Q(x)))⟹((∀xP(x))⟹(∀xQ(x)))

  3. C.

    (∀x(P(x))⟹∀x(Q(x)))⟹(∀x(P(x)⟹Q(x)))

  4. D.

    (∀x(P(x))⇔(∀x(Q(x))))⟹(∀x(P(x)⇔Q(x)))

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Correct answer: B

Correct statement and proof: (∀x (P(x) → Q(x))) → ((∀x P(x)) → (∀x Q(x))).

  • Proof:

  • Assume ∀x (P(x) → Q(x)) and assume ∀x P(x). Let a be an arbitrary element of the domain.

  • From ∀x P(x) we have P(a). From ∀x (P(x) → Q(x)) we have P(a) → Q(a). Hence Q(a).

  • Because a was arbitrary, we conclude ∀x Q(x). Therefore (∀x P(x)) → (∀x Q(x)) follows, establishing the implication.

Counterexamples for the other formulas:

  • For ((∀x (P(x) ∨ Q(x)))) → ((∀x P(x)) ∨ (∀x Q(x))): let the domain be {1,2}, set P true only at 1 and Q true only at 2. Then ∀x (P(x) ∨ Q(x)) holds, but neither ∀x P(x) nor ∀x Q(x) holds, so the implication fails.

  • For ( (∀x P(x) → ∀x Q(x)) → ∀x (P(x) → Q(x)) ): use domain {1,2} with P true only at 1 and Q true only at 2. Both ∀x P(x) and ∀x Q(x) are false, so the antecedent is true, but ∀x (P(x) → Q(x)) is false (fails at x=1).

  • For ( (∀x P(x) ⇔ ∀x Q(x)) → ∀x (P(x) ⇔ Q(x)) ): with domain {1,2}, P true only at 1 and Q true only at 2, both ∀x P(x) and ∀x Q(x) are false so the antecedent holds, but ∀x (P(x) ⇔ Q(x)) fails at individual elements.

Conclusion: the only formula that is always true is (∀x (P(x) → Q(x))) → ((∀x P(x)) → (∀x Q(x))).

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