Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-logic-and-set-theory-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2007/a/1/ii/solution
Past exam of the logic and set theory course of the University of Oxford 2007 A 1 ii Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-31
Two propositional formulas are logically equivalent if every Boolean valuation gives them the same truth value. A disjunctive normal form is a logical disjunction of logical conjunctions of literals, with a literal being a propositional variable or its negation.
Let include all propositional variables appearing in . For each Boolean valuation , putThe minterm is true exactly for Boolean valuations whose restrictions to these propositional variables are . ConsequentlyIndeed, an Boolean valuation making true makes its own minterm true, while a true minterm in the displayed logical disjunction certifies the truth of . There are only finitely many Boolean valuations, so this is a finite disjunctive normal form. If there are no satisfying Boolean valuations, use for any propositional variable ; this is a disjunctive normal form for falsity without needing an empty logical disjunction convention.
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