Logical Proof: Theorem (Truths of Logic) A iff ~~A

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  • #1
VeraMason
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Homework Statement
Prove that the following sentences are theorems (Truths of Logic):
A iff ~~A *Do not use Double Negation*
Relevant Equations
NA
My thought was to break up the sentence into its equivalent form: (A ->~~A) & (~~A -> A)
From there I assumed the premise of both sides to use indirect proofs, so:
1. ~(A -> ~~A) AP
2. ~(~A or ~~A) 1 Implication
3. ~~A & ~~~A 2 DeMorgan's
4. A -> ~~A 1-3 Indirect Proof
5. ~(~~A -> A) AP
6. ~(~~~A or A) 5 Implication
7. ~~~~A & ~A 6 DeMorgan's
8. ~~A -> A 5-7 Indirect Proof
9. (A ->~~A) & (~~A -> A) 4,8 Conjunction
10. A iff ~~A 9 EquivalenceTo me, this looks like it would be correct. Obviously, lines 3 and 7 would look a lot cleaner if I was allowed to use double negation, but in my mind, it shouldn't matter since both lines are a contradiction that essentially says: A & ~A.
Is this correct?
 
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  • #2
VeraMason said:
Homework Statement:: Prove that the following sentences are theorems (Truths of Logic):
A iff ~~A *Do not use Double Negation*
Relevant Equations:: NA

My thought was to break up the sentence into its equivalent form: (A ->~~A) & (~~A -> A)
From there I assumed the premise of both sides to use indirect proofs, so:
1. ~(A -> ~~A) AP
2. ~(~A or ~~A) 1 Implication
3. ~~A & ~~~A 2 DeMorgan's
4. A -> ~~A 1-3 Indirect Proof
5. ~(~~A -> A) AP
6. ~(~~~A or A) 5 Implication
7. ~~~~A & ~A 6 DeMorgan's
8. ~~A -> A 5-7 Indirect Proof
9. (A ->~~A) & (~~A -> A) 4,8 Conjunction
10. A iff ~~A 9 EquivalenceTo me, this looks like it would be correct. Obviously, lines 3 and 7 would look a lot cleaner if I was allowed to use double negation, but in my mind, it shouldn't matter since both lines are a contradiction that essentially says: A & ~A.
Is this correct?
It looks OK to me, but it seems that you could also do this as a direct proof.
Here's for the first part:
##A \Rightarrow \neg \neg A##
##\Leftrightarrow \neg A \vee \neg \neg A## ( implication is equivalent to a disjunction)
##\Leftrightarrow \neg (A \wedge \neg A)## (de Morgan)
##\Leftrightarrow \neg (\text F)## (A and ~A is false)
##\Leftrightarrow \text T## (negation of false is true)

All the steps are reversible, which makes the first implication true.
 
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  • #3
@VeraMason Since this statement is not true in general, you should also point out, where you are using the law of excluded middle.
 

FAQ: Logical Proof: Theorem (Truths of Logic) A iff ~~A

What does "A iff ~~A" mean in logical terms?

"A iff ~~A" stands for "A if and only if not not A." In logical terms, this means that a statement A is equivalent to the double negation of A. Essentially, it asserts that a statement is true if and only if its double negation is also true, which is a fundamental principle in classical logic.

Why is "A iff ~~A" considered a theorem in classical logic?

"A iff ~~A" is considered a theorem in classical logic because it is a tautology—a statement that is true in every possible interpretation. The principle of double negation states that a statement and its double negation are logically equivalent, which makes this theorem universally valid in classical logic.

Is "A iff ~~A" valid in all logical systems?

No, "A iff ~~A" is not valid in all logical systems. While it holds true in classical logic, it does not necessarily hold in intuitionistic logic, which does not accept the law of double negation as a general principle. In intuitionistic logic, a statement and its double negation are not always equivalent.

How can "A iff ~~A" be proven?

"A iff ~~A" can be proven using basic logical equivalences. One way to prove it is by showing that if A is true, then ~~A is true (by applying negation twice), and if ~~A is true, then A must be true (since a double negation cancels out). This mutual implication establishes the equivalence.

What are the practical implications of "A iff ~~A" in logical reasoning?

The practical implications of "A iff ~~A" in logical reasoning include simplifying logical expressions and facilitating proofs. Recognizing that a statement is equivalent to its double negation allows logicians and mathematicians to streamline arguments and avoid unnecessary complexity in proofs.

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