ICT 2021: Computational Mathematics
Predicate Logic:
Rules of Inference
Phyela Mbewe
LIS Department
Lecture 5 University of Zambia
February 2023
Overview
▪ Rules of Inference
➢ meaning
➢ Common Inference Rules
➢ Tautology from an Inference Rule
ICT 2021 2
Rules of Inference - Meaning
▪ A Rule of Inference
➢ a Rule of Inference is a valid argument based on the known truth
values of multiple propositions
(mathematical logic)
➢ An argument: is a sequence of statements
• The last statement is called the conclusion
• All statements before the conclusion are known as the premise
➢ Certain simple arguments have been established as valid (the
conclusion will always be true for a given premise). These arguments
are known as the Rules of Inference
ICT 2021 3
Rules of Inference – Meaning [2]
▪ Rule of Inferences
➢ Therefore: the symbol ∴ (read as ‘therefore’) is used before the
conclusion when representing a valid argument from propositions
For example:
𝑃
∴𝑃∨𝑄
➢ The above argument is a Rule of Inference (a valid argument, it is
always true). It is read as:
• If 𝑷 is true, therefore 𝐏 ∨ 𝑸 is true
ICT 2021 4
Rules of Inference – Meaning [3]
𝑃
∴𝑃∨𝑄
• If 𝑷 is true, therefore 𝐏 ∨ 𝑸 is true
P Q P∨Q
➢Using a truth table: T T T
T F T
F T T
Note: P and Q here are capital, representing
Compound propositions F F F
ICT 2021 5
Common Inference Rules
▪ 1) Addition (Inference Rule)
𝑃
∴𝑃∨𝑄
Read as:
▪ If 𝑃 is true, therefore P ∨ 𝑄 is true
ICT 2021 6
Common Inference Rules [2]
▪ 2) Conjunction (Inference Rule)
𝑃
𝑄
∴𝑃∧𝑄
Read as:
▪ If 𝑃 is true and 𝑄 is true, therefore 𝑃 ∧ 𝑄 is true
ICT 2021 7
Common Inference Rules [3]
▪ 3) Simplification
𝑃∧𝑄
∴𝑃
Read as:
▪ If 𝑃 ∧ 𝑄 is true, therefore 𝑃 is true
ICT 2021 8
Common Inference Rules [4] P Q P→ Q
T T T
▪ 4) Modus Ponens T F F
F T T
𝑃→𝑄 F F T
𝑃
∴𝑄
Read as:
▪ If 𝑃 implies 𝑄 is true and 𝑃 is true, therefore 𝑄 is true
ICT 2021 9
Common Inference Rules [5]
▪ 5) Modus Tollens
𝑃→𝑄
¬𝑄
Exercise: Draw a truth table to show that Modus
∴ ¬𝑃 Tollens is valid
Read as:
▪ If 𝑃 implies 𝑄 is true and ¬Q is true, therefore ¬𝑃 is true
ICT 2021 10
Common Inference Rules [6]
▪ 6) Hypothetical Syllogism
𝑃→𝑄
𝑄 →𝑅
∴𝑃 →𝑅
Read as:
▪ If 𝑃 implies 𝑄 is true and Q implies R is true, therefore
𝑃 implies 𝑅 is true
ICT 2021 11
Hypothetical Syllogism – Text Example
𝑃→𝑄
𝑄 →𝑅
∴𝑃 →𝑅
▪ Let P be the proposition: She goes outside
▪ Let Q be the proposition: She runs
▪ Let R be the proposition: She buys a water bottle
▪ 𝑃 → 𝑄: if she goes outside then she will run
▪ 𝑄 → 𝑅: if she runs then she will buy a water bottle
▪ therefore: if she goes outside then she will buy a water bottle
(𝑷 → 𝑹)
ICT 2021 12
Tautology from an Inference Rule [1]
▪ Note: for an Inference Rule, the premise implies the
conclusion will always be a tautology
For example: from the Addition Inference Rule
𝑃
∴𝑃∨𝑄
▪ 𝑷 →𝑷 ∨𝑸 ≡𝑻
The premise implies the conclusion will be a tautology
ICT 2021 13
Tautology from an Inference Rule [2]
For example (continued): from the Addition Inference Rule
𝑃
▪ 𝑷 →𝑷 ∨𝑸 ≡𝑻
∴𝑃∨𝑄
Using a truth table:
P Q P∨ Q 𝑷 → 𝑷 ∨𝑸
T T T T
T F T T
F T T T
F F F T
ICT 2021 14
Tautology from an Inference Rule [3]
Example 2: from the Modus Ponens Inference Rule
𝑃→𝑄
𝑃
∴𝑄
▪ 𝑷 →𝑸 ∧𝑷 →𝑸 ≡𝑻
The premise implies the conclusion will be a tautology.
This is true for all 6 Inference Rules above (Slide 6 to 11)
ICT 2021 15
