Finite Math For Dummies
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When studying logic in your finite mathematics course, you will probably work with truth tables. A truth table is a visual representation of all the possible combinations of truth values for a given compound statement.

Two types of connectives that you often see in a compound statement are conjunctions and disjunctions, represented by ∧ and ∨, respectively.

It’s important to know the difference between these two connectives.

Identifying a conjunction

The conjunction, p q, puts the word and between two statements to create a compound statement.

Consider the following statements:

(1) Chicago is a city in Illinois.

(2) Red is a color in the American flag.

(3) 7 + 3 = 11.

(4) San Francisco is a city in Florida.

Statements (1) and (2) are true, and Statements (3) and (4) are false.

Next, you construct a truth table for the conjunction p ^ q.

FNTMATH_0203

Referring to the first line of Ts and Fs in the table, when both statements are true, their conjunction p ^ q is true. For example, using Statements (1) and (2), the conjunction reads: “Chicago is a city in Illinois, and red is a color in the American flag.”

The second line of Ts and Fs says that when the first statement is true and the second is false, their conjunction p ^ q is false. Using Statements (1) and (3), the conjunction reads: “Chicago is a city in Illinois, and .”

In the third line, when the first statement is false and the second statement is true, their conjunction p ^ q is false. Using Statements (4) and (2), the conjunction reads: “San Francisco is a city in Florida, and red is a color in the American flag.”

And, finally, when both statements are false, their conjunction is false. Using Statements (3) and (4), the conjunction reads: “7 + 3 = 11, and San Francisco is a city in Florida.”

Basically, what you see here is that for a conjunction to be true, both of the component statements have to be true.

Identifying a disjunction

The disjunction, p q, uses the word or to create a compound statement.

The truth table for the disjunction is shown here:

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For a disjunction to be true, only one of the component statements needs to be true. Consider the following compound statements representing the four rows.

FNTMATH_0206

Both are true; the compound statement is true.

TF: “It rains in Hawaii, or all cows have seven legs.” The first statement is true, so the compound statement is true.

FNTMATH_0207

The second statement is true, so the compound statement is true.

FF: “All cows have seven legs, or pigs can fly.” Both statements are false, so the compound statement is false.

About This Article

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About the book author:

Mary Jane Sterling is the author of Algebra I For Dummies, Algebra Workbook For Dummies, and many other For Dummies books. She taught at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois for more than 30 years, teaching algebra, business calculus, geometry, and finite mathematics.

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