Confusion in taking negation in nested statement. It is given that forall x forall y[(x<y) rightarrow exists z(x<z<y)]

Makayla Reilly

Makayla Reilly

Answered question

2022-09-06

Confusion in taking negation in nested statement
It is given that
x y [ ( x < y ) z ( x < z < y ) ]
It is wanted to find the negation of given structure.
The answer is x y [ ( x < y ) z ( x z z y ) ]. Where i stuck in is ( x z z y ), i see that because of ( x < z z < y ), when we take the negation of ( x < z z < y ), we obtain ( x z z y ). I want to ask that can we write ( x z y ) instead of ( x z z y ).
If so , can we write ( x z y ) as ( x z z y ), because we wrote ( x < z < y ) as ( x < z z < y ).

Answer & Explanation

Raina Russo

Raina Russo

Beginner2022-09-07Added 20 answers

Step 1
I want to ask that can we write ( x z y ) instead of ( x z z y ).
No, because your suggestion is equivalent to ( x z z y ) instead of ( x z z y ) .
For example, z = 3 satisfies ( 4 z z 4 ) but not 7 z 4..
Step 2
Addendum (response to OP's follow-up query below)
OP: We write negate x > y as x y . Why cant we apply this to three or more variables? Why isn't x < y < z negated as x y z?
By De Morgan's law,
not ( x < y < z ) not  ( x < y  and  y < z ) not  ( x < y )  or  not  ( y < z ) x y  or  y z x y  and  y z x y z .

Do you have a similar question?

Recalculate according to your conditions!

New Questions in Discrete math

Ask your question.
Get an expert answer.

Let our experts help you. Answer in as fast as 15 minutes.

Didn't find what you were looking for?