The equivalence of \(¬ ∃ x \ Q (x)\) is :

2018

The equivalence of

\(¬ ∃ x \ Q (x)\) is :

  1. A.

    \(∃ x \ ¬ Q (x)\)

  2. B.

    \(\forall \: x \: \neg \: Q \: (x)\)

  3. C.

    \(¬ ∃ x \ ¬ Q (x)\)

  4. D.

    \(\forall \: x \: Q \: (x)\)

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Correct answer: B

Answer: ¬∃x Q(x) is equivalent to ∀x ¬Q(x).

Reasoning:

  1. If ¬∃x Q(x) holds, then there is no x for which Q(x) is true. Therefore, for every x, Q(x) is false, i.e. ∀x ¬Q(x).

  2. Conversely, if ∀x ¬Q(x) holds, then there is no x that satisfies Q(x), so ¬∃x Q(x) holds.

This is the quantifier version of De Morgan's laws: ¬∃x P(x) ≡ ∀x ¬P(x) (and similarly ¬∀x P(x) ≡ ∃x ¬P(x)).

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