University of Hawaii

ICS141:
Discrete Mathematics for
Computer Science I
Dept. Information & Computer Sci., University of Hawaii

Originals slides by Dr. Baek and Dr. Still, adapted by J. Stelovsky

Based on slides Dr. M. P. Frank and Dr. J.L. Gross
Provided by McGraw-Hill

ICS 141: Discrete Mathematics I (Fall 2011) 1-1

 University of Hawaii

Lecture 1
Course Overview
Chapter 1. The Foundations
1.1 Propositional Logic

ICS 141: Discrete Mathematics I (Fall 2011) 1-2

 Class Information
University of Hawaii

 Instructor: Jan Stelovsky (POST 305C)

 Email: [email protected]
 Skype: havajsky
 Office hours: M/W 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. or by appointment
 TA: Christopher Mullins (POST 303–5)
 Email: [email protected]
 Office hours: TBA
 Textbook: Discrete Mathematics and Its Applications
(6th Edition), by Kenneth H. Rosen, McGraw-Hill
 Web site:
 Lecture: www2.hawaii.edu/~janst/141
 Recitation: www2.hawaii.edu/~cmmullin/141
 Grading
 Final exam: 40%
 Midterm Exam: 25%
 Homework assignments: 25%
 Quizzes: 5%
 Recitation attendance: 5%

ICS 141: Discrete Mathematics I - Fall 2011 1-3

 What is Mathematics, really?
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 It’s not just about numbers!

 Mathematics is much more than that:

Mathematics is, most generally, the study of

any and all absolutely certain truths about
any and all perfectly well-defined concepts.

 These concepts can be about numbers,

symbols, objects, images, sounds, anything!
 It is a way to interpret the world around you.

ICS 141: Discrete Mathematics I - Fall 2011 1-4

 So, what’s this class about?
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What are “discrete structures” anyway?

 “Discrete” - Composed of distinct, separable
parts. (Opposite of continuous.)
discrete:continuous :: digital:analog
 “Structures” - Objects built up from simpler
objects according to some definite pattern.
 “Discrete Mathematics” - The study of
discrete, mathematical (i.e. well-defined
conceptual) objects and structures.

ICS 141: Discrete Mathematics I - Fall 2011 1-5

 Discrete Objects/Concepts and University of Hawaii

Structures We Study
 DM PART I  DM PART II
 Propositions  Relations
 Predicates  Graphs
 Proofs
 Trees
 Sets
 Boolean Functions /
 Functions
Logic Circuits
 Orders of Growth
 Automata
 Algorithms
 Integers
 Summations
 Sequences
 Strings
 Permutations
 Combinations
 Probability
ICS 141: Discrete Mathematics I - Fall 2011 1-6
 Why Study Discrete Math?
University of Hawaii

 The basis of all of digital information

processing is: Discrete manipulations of
discrete structures represented in memory.
 It’s the basic language and conceptual
foundation for all of computer science.
 Discrete math concepts are also widely used
throughout math, science, engineering,
economics, biology, etc., …
 A generally useful tool for rational thought!
ICS 141: Discrete Mathematics I - Fall 2011 1-7
 Uses for Discrete Math in University of Hawaii

Computer Science
 Advanced algorithms & data structures
 Programming language compilers & interpreters
 Computer networks
 Operating systems
 Computer architecture
 Database management systems
 Cryptography
 Error correction codes
 Graphics & animation algorithms, game engines,
etc.…
 i.e., the whole field!

ICS 141: Discrete Mathematics I - Fall 2011 1-8

 Course Topics
University of Hawaii

 Logic and Proofs (Chap. 1)

 Basic Structures (Chap. 2)
 Sets, Functions, Sequences and Summations
 Algorithms, Integers, and Matrices (Chap. 3)
 Induction and Recursion (Chap. 4)
 Counting (Chap. 5)
 Discrete Probability (Chap. 6)

ICS 141: Discrete Mathematics I - Fall 2011 1-9

 1.1 Propositional Logic
University of Hawaii

 Logic
 Study of reasoning.
 Specifically concerned with whether reasoning is correct.
 Focuses on the relationship among statements, not on the
content of any particular statement.
 Gives precise meaning to mathematical statements.
 Propositional Logic is the logic that deals with
statements (propositions) and compound statements
built from simpler statements using so-called
Boolean connectives.
 Some applications in computer science:
 Design of digital electronic circuits.
 Expressing conditions in programs.
 Queries to databases & search engines.
ICS 141: Discrete Mathematics I - Fall 2011 1-10
 Definition of a Proposition
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Definition: A proposition (denoted p, q, r, …) is simply:

 a statement (i.e., a declarative sentence)
 with some definite meaning,

(not vague or ambiguous)

 having a truth value that’s either true (T) or false (F)
 it is never both, neither, or somewhere “in between!”

 However, you might not know the actual truth value,

 and, the truth value might depend on the situation or context.
 Later, we will study probability theory, in which we
assign degrees of certainty (“between” T and F) to
propositions.
 But for now: think True/False only! (or in terms of 1 and 0)

ICS 141: Discrete Mathematics I - Fall 2011 1-11

 Examples of Propositions
University of Hawaii

 It is raining. (In a given situation)

 Beijing is the capital of China. (T)
 2 + 2 = 5. (F)
 1 + 2 = 3. (T)
 A fact-based declaration is a proposition,
even if no one knows whether it is true
 11213 is prime.

 There exists an odd perfect number.

ICS 141: Discrete Mathematics I - Fall 2011 1-12

 Examples of Non-Propositions
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The following are NOT propositions:

 Who’s there? (interrogative, question)

 Just do it! (imperative, command)

 La la la la la. (meaningless interjection)

 Yeah, I sorta dunno, whatever... (vague)

 1 + 2 (expression with a non-true/false value)

 x + 2 = 5 (declaration about semantic tokens

of non-constant value)

ICS 141: Discrete Mathematics I - Fall 2011 1-13

 Truth Tables
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 An operator or connective combines one or more

operand expressions into a larger expression. (e.g., “+” in numeric
expressions.)
 Unary operators take one operand (e.g., −3);
Binary operators take two operands (e.g. 3  4).
 Propositional or Boolean operators operate on propositions
(or their truth values) instead of on numbers.
 The Boolean domain is the set {T, F}. Either of its elements is
called a Boolean value.
An n-tuple (p1,…,pn) of Boolean values is called a Boolean n-tuple.
 An n-operand truth table is a table that assigns a Boolean value to
the set of all Boolean n-tuples.

ICS 141: Discrete Mathematics I - Fall 2011 1-14

 University of Hawaii

Some Popular Boolean Operators

Formal Name Nickname Arity Symbol

Negation operator NOT Unary ¬

Conjunction operator AND Binary 

Disjunction operator OR Binary 

Exclusive-OR operator XOR Binary 

Implication operator IMPLIES Binary 

Biconditional operator IFF Binary ↔

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 The Negation Operator
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 The unary negation operator “¬” (NOT)

transforms a proposition into its logical negation.
 E.g. If p = “I have brown hair.”
then ¬p = “It is not the case that I have brown
hair” or “I do not have brown hair.”
 The truth table for NOT:
p p
T F
F T
Operand Result
column column
ICS 141: Discrete Mathematics I - Fall 2011 1-16
 The Conjunction Operator
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 The binary conjunction operator “” (AND)

combines two propositions to form their logical
conjunction.

 E.g. If p = “I will have salad for lunch.” and

q = “I will have steak for dinner.”
then, pq = “I will have salad for lunch and
I will have steak for dinner.”

ICS 141: Discrete Mathematics I - Fall 2011 1-17

 Conjunction Truth Table
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Operand columns

p q pq
T T T
T F F
F T F
F F F
 Note that a conjunction p1  p2  …  pn of n
propositions will have 2n rows in its truth table
ICS 141: Discrete Mathematics I - Fall 2011 1-18
 The Disjunction Operator
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 The binary disjunction operator “” (OR)

combines two propositions to form their
logical disjunction.

 E.g. If p = “My car has a bad engine.” and

q = “My car has a bad carburetor.”
then, pq = “My car has a bad engine, or
my car has a bad carburetor.”

Meaning is like “and/or” in informal English.

ICS 141: Discrete Mathematics I - Fall 2011 1-19

 Disjunction Truth Table
University of Hawaii

p q pq
T T T
T F T Note difference
F T T from AND

F F F
 Note that pq means that p is true, or q is
true, or both are true!
 So, this operation is also called inclusive or,
because it includes the possibility that both
p and q are true.
ICS 141: Discrete Mathematics I - Fall 2011 1-20
 The Exclusive-Or Operator
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 The binary exclusive-or operator “” (XOR)

combines two propositions to form their logical
“exclusive or”

 E.g. If p = “I will earn an A in this course.” and

q = “I will drop this course.”, then
p  q = “I will either earn an A in this course,
or I will drop it (but not both!)”

ICS 141: Discrete Mathematics I - Fall 2011 1-21

 Exclusive-Or Truth Table
University of Hawaii

p q pq
Note difference
T T F from OR.
T F T
F T T
F F F
 Note that pq means that p is true, or q is
true, but not both!
 This operation is called exclusive or,
because it excludes the possibility that both
p and q are true.
ICS 141: Discrete Mathematics I - Fall 2011 1-22
 University of Hawaii

Natural Language is Ambiguous

 Note that the English “or” can be ambiguous
regarding the “both” case!
p q p "or" q
 “Pat is a singer or T T ?
Pat is a writer.” - 
T F T
 “Pat is a man or
F T T
Pat is a woman.” - 
F F F
 Need context to disambiguate the meaning!
 For this class, assume “or” means inclusive ().

ICS 141: Discrete Mathematics I - Fall 2011 1-23

 The Implication Operator
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 The conditional statement (aka implication)

p  q states that p implies q.
 I.e., If p is true, then q is true; but if p is not true,
then q could be either true or false.
 E.g., let p = “You study hard.”
q = “You will get a good grade.”
p  q = “If you study hard, then you will
get a good grade.” (else, it could go either way)
 p: hypothesis or antecedent or premise
 q: conclusion or consequence

ICS 141: Discrete Mathematics I - Fall 2011 1-24

 Implication Truth Table
University of Hawaii

p q pq
T T T
The only
T F F False case!
F T T
F F T
 p  q is false only when p is true but q is not true.
 p  q does not require that p or q are ever true!
 E.g. “(1=0)  pigs can fly” is TRUE!

ICS 141: Discrete Mathematics I - Fall 2011 1-25