2.6 De Morgan’s Laws

3 min readjune 18, 2024

are powerful tools for simplifying logical statements. They show how to negate compound statements by flipping the connectives negating each part. This makes complex logic easier to understand and manipulate.

These laws are super useful in many fields, from computer science to electrical engineering. They help us break down tricky logical problems, design better circuits, and even improve how we communicate complex ideas.

De Morgan's Laws

Application of De Morgan's Laws

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Top images from around the web for Application of De Morgan's Laws
  • Negates compound statements by negating each part and changing the
    • of a (pqp \wedge q) becomes the of the negated parts (¬p¬q\neg p \vee \neg q)
      • ¬(pq)¬p¬q\neg (p \wedge q) \equiv \neg p \vee \neg q
    • Negation of a (pqp \vee q) becomes the conjunction of the negated parts (¬p¬q\neg p \wedge \neg q)
      • ¬(pq)¬p¬q\neg (p \vee q) \equiv \neg p \wedge \neg q
  • Applies De Morgan's Laws using these steps:
    1. Negate each part of the individually
    2. Change the logical connective from \wedge to \vee vice versa
  • Negates the entire statement without using the phrase "It is the case that..."
  • Examples:
    • ¬(AB)¬A¬B\neg (A \wedge B) \equiv \neg A \vee \neg B
    • ¬(CD)¬C¬D\neg (C \vee D) \equiv \neg C \wedge \neg D
  • De Morgan's Laws are fundamental in , allowing for the manipulation of set complements and unions/intersections

Negation of conditional statements

  • Expresses the negation of a (pqp \rightarrow q) as a conjunction of the and the negation of the (p¬qp \wedge \neg q)
    • ¬(pq)p¬q\neg (p \rightarrow q) \equiv p \wedge \neg q
  • Negates a conditional statement by:
    1. Keeping the antecedent (pp) as it is
    2. Negating the consequent (qq)
    3. Changing the logical connective from \rightarrow to \wedge
  • Translates the negation of a conditional statement into a conjunction
  • Examples:
    • ¬(AB)A¬B\neg (A \rightarrow B) \equiv A \wedge \neg B
    • ¬(CD)C¬D\neg (C \rightarrow D) \equiv C \wedge \neg D

Truth tables for De Morgan's Laws

  • Verifies the of statements involving De Morgan's Laws using truth tables

  • Creates a by:

    1. Listing all possible combinations of truth values for the variables involved
    2. Evaluating the truth values of the compound statements using the logical connectives
    3. Comparing the truth values of the statements on both sides of the equivalence
  • Confirms statements are logically equivalent if the truth values match for all combinations of variable values

  • Verifies ¬(pq)¬p¬q\neg (p \wedge q) \equiv \neg p \vee \neg q using a : | pp | qq | pqp \wedge q | ¬(pq)\neg (p \wedge q) | ¬p\neg p | ¬q\neg q | ¬p¬q\neg p \vee \neg q | |-----|-----|--------------|---------------------|----------|----------|----------------------| | T | T | T | F | F | F | F | | T | F | F | T | F | T | T | | F | T | F | T | T | F | T | | F | F | F | T | T | T | T |

  • Confirms the logical equivalence as the truth values in the columns for ¬(pq)\neg (p \wedge q) and ¬p¬q\neg p \vee \neg q match

  • Truth tables can be used to prove a in

Applications in Digital Logic

  • De Morgan's Laws are crucial in the design and analysis of in digital circuits
  • The in boolean algebra is closely related to De Morgan's Laws, allowing for the transformation of expressions by interchanging AND and OR operations

Key Terms to Review (35)

AND: In logic, 'AND' is a conjunction used to connect two statements, indicating that both statements must be true for the combined statement to be true. This operation is fundamental in forming compound statements, where the truth value of the conjunction depends on the truth values of its individual components. Understanding how 'AND' operates is crucial for constructing truth tables and applying logical laws effectively.
Antecedent: An antecedent is a component of a conditional statement that represents the hypothesis or the 'if' part. In logical terms, it forms the basis for determining the truth value of the entire statement when evaluated. The relationship between the antecedent and the consequent (the 'then' part) is crucial for understanding implications in logic and mathematics.
Augustus De Morgan: Augustus De Morgan was a British mathematician and logician, known for his significant contributions to the fields of formal logic and set theory. He is best recognized for De Morgan's Laws, which provide a systematic way to understand the relationship between conjunctions and disjunctions in logical statements. His work laid the groundwork for modern symbolic logic and influenced various branches of mathematics, including probability theory and computer science.
Boolean algebra: Boolean algebra is a branch of algebra that deals with variables that have two possible values, typically represented as true or false, 1 or 0. It provides the foundational principles for designing circuits and understanding logical operations in computer science and mathematics. Boolean algebra employs various operations, such as AND, OR, and NOT, to manipulate these binary variables, making it essential for reasoning about set operations and logical statements.
Boolean expression: A boolean expression is a statement that can evaluate to either true or false, typically used in logic and programming. It often consists of boolean variables, logical operators (such as AND, OR, NOT), and may include parentheses to denote the order of operations. These expressions are foundational in understanding logic gates, conditional statements, and decision-making processes in computer science and mathematics.
Cardinality of the union of two sets: The cardinality of the union of two sets is the number of unique elements present in both sets combined. It is calculated by adding the cardinalities of each set and subtracting the cardinality of their intersection.
Complement: The complement of a set A, denoted by A', consists of all elements not in A but within the universal set U. The universal set U contains all possible elements under consideration.
Complement: In set theory, the complement of a set refers to all the elements in the universal set that are not included in that specific set. Understanding the complement is crucial as it helps in visualizing and analyzing relationships between sets, especially when using diagrams, performing operations with two or three sets, applying De Morgan's laws, and calculating probabilities.
Compound statement: A compound statement is a logical construction that combines two or more individual statements using logical operators such as 'and', 'or', and 'not'. This allows for more complex expressions of truth that can be analyzed for their overall validity, particularly through the use of truth tables, which systematically outline the truth values of each component. Understanding compound statements is essential for evaluating logical expressions in various contexts.
Conditional statement: A conditional statement is a logical statement that has the form 'if P, then Q', where P is called the hypothesis and Q is the conclusion. This type of statement establishes a relationship between two propositions and is fundamental in constructing more complex logical arguments, as well as in understanding how different statements interact with one another.
Conjunction: A conjunction is a logical connective that combines two or more statements into a single compound statement, which is true only when all the individual statements it connects are true. This concept is fundamental in understanding how to build complex logical expressions and analyze their truth values, especially in the context of logical reasoning and mathematical proofs.
Consequent: In logic and mathematics, the consequent refers to the second part of a conditional statement, which typically follows the word 'then.' It represents the outcome or result that is dependent on the truth of the first part, known as the antecedent. Understanding the role of the consequent is crucial when analyzing logical statements, constructing truth tables, and recognizing equivalent statements.
De Morgan’s Law: De Morgan’s Laws are fundamental rules in logic that relate the operations of conjunction (AND) and disjunction (OR) through negation. They provide a way to transform expressions involving these operators into equivalent forms.
De Morgan's laws: De Morgan's laws are a set of rules that describe the relationship between union and intersection operations in set theory, as well as their equivalent expressions in logical operations. These laws state that the complement of the union of two sets is equal to the intersection of their complements, and the complement of the intersection of two sets is equal to the union of their complements. This principle is vital for understanding how to manipulate expressions involving multiple sets and logical statements effectively.
Disjunction: A disjunction is a compound statement formed by combining two statements with the word 'or'. It is true if at least one of the statements is true.
Disjunction: Disjunction is a logical operation that connects two statements with the word 'or,' creating a compound statement that is true if at least one of the individual statements is true. This concept is essential for understanding how to combine statements logically, analyze their validity, and evaluate conditions in mathematical reasoning.
Distributive Property: The distributive property is a fundamental algebraic principle that states that multiplying a number by a sum is the same as multiplying each addend separately and then adding the results. This property is essential for simplifying expressions and solving equations, and it connects to various mathematical concepts such as logic, operations with real numbers, manipulation of exponents, and algebraic expressions.
Duality principle: The duality principle is a fundamental concept in logic and set theory stating that every logical statement or set can be transformed into a dual statement or set, which holds true under specific conditions. This principle highlights the correspondence between conjunctions and disjunctions, allowing for the transformation of expressions through the interchange of ANDs and ORs while maintaining truth values.
Intersection: The intersection of two or more sets is the set containing all elements that are common to each of the sets. This concept is crucial for understanding relationships between different groups, helping visualize shared traits or properties through various methods.
Intersection of two sets: The intersection of two sets is a new set containing all the elements that are common to both original sets. The symbol for intersection is ∩.
Law of denying the consequent: The law of denying the consequent (also called modus tollens) is a valid form of argument in propositional logic. It states that if 'P implies Q' and 'Q is false,' then 'P must also be false.'
Logic Gates: Logic gates are fundamental building blocks of digital circuits that perform logical operations on one or more binary inputs to produce a single binary output. They are essential in computer architecture and electronic systems, as they facilitate decision-making processes based on binary logic, such as AND, OR, and NOT operations. Understanding logic gates is crucial for grasping how complex digital systems process information and how they relate to Boolean algebra.
Logical connective: A logical connective is a symbol or word used to connect two or more statements in a way that creates a new statement whose truth value depends on the truth values of the original statements. Logical connectives play a crucial role in forming compound statements and analyzing their validity through various logical structures. They help to establish relationships between statements such as conjunction, disjunction, and negation, making it easier to evaluate the overall truth of complex expressions.
Logical Equivalence: Logical equivalence refers to the relationship between two statements that always have the same truth value, meaning they are true in the same situations and false in the same situations. This concept is crucial for understanding how different logical expressions can be transformed and manipulated while preserving their truth values. It allows for the simplification of complex logical statements and the verification of the validity of arguments by demonstrating that different forms of a statement are interchangeable.
Negation: Negation is the logical operation that takes a statement and turns it into its opposite. When we negate a statement, we assert that the original statement is false. This concept is crucial for understanding how to analyze statements, particularly when dealing with quantifiers, compound statements, and truth values.
Negation of a logical statement: A negation of a logical statement is the opposite of the original statement, often formed by adding 'not.' It changes a true statement to false and vice versa.
NOT: NOT is a logical operator used in propositional logic that negates a statement, turning a true statement into false and vice versa. It plays a crucial role in forming compound statements, assessing the truth values of conditionals and biconditionals, and applying De Morgan's Laws. Understanding NOT is essential for evaluating logical expressions and determining their truth values in various contexts.
OR: In logic, 'OR' is a disjunction operator that connects two or more statements, indicating that at least one of the statements must be true for the overall compound statement to be true. This operator plays a crucial role in forming compound statements, as it allows for flexibility in truth conditions and is essential in constructing truth tables and applying De Morgan's Laws.
Proposition: A proposition is a declarative statement that can either be true or false, but not both at the same time. This concept is foundational in logic and mathematics, as propositions serve as the basic building blocks for more complex logical expressions and arguments. Understanding propositions is crucial for grasping logical operations, particularly in the context of laws like De Morgan's Laws, which deal with how propositions can be combined and manipulated.
Set theory: Set theory is a branch of mathematical logic that studies sets, which are collections of objects. It provides a foundational framework for various mathematical concepts and operations, including relationships between different groups, classifications, and how elements interact within those groups. This framework is crucial for understanding concepts like subsets, Venn diagrams, and various set operations, which are fundamental in both theoretical and applied mathematics.
Tautology: A tautology is a logical statement that is true in every possible interpretation. It is a formula or assertion that cannot be false regardless of the truth values of its components.
Tautology: A tautology is a statement that is always true, regardless of the truth values of its components. This concept is essential in understanding logical reasoning and truth conditions, as it helps identify statements that remain valid under any circumstance. Tautologies play a significant role in constructing compound statements, creating truth tables, and establishing equivalent statements, as they ensure consistency in logical deductions.
Truth table: A truth table is a mathematical table used to determine if a logical expression is true or false under all possible interpretations. It lists all possible combinations of inputs and their corresponding output values for the expression.
Truth Table: A truth table is a mathematical table used to determine the truth values of a logical expression based on the possible combinations of truth values for its components. It provides a systematic way to evaluate complex statements and their relationships, which is essential for understanding how different logical operations interact with each other.
Union: In set theory, the union refers to the operation that combines all distinct elements from two or more sets, creating a new set that contains every element present in any of the sets involved. This operation highlights how different collections of items can be merged together without duplication, showcasing the overall diversity of elements.
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