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Problem Set

Problem 1. Prove that (p    q)(q    p)(p \implies q) \lor (q \implies p) is a tautology using a truth table.

Solution
ppqqp    qp \implies qq    pq \implies pdisjunction
TTTTT
TFFTT
FTTFT
FFTTT

All rows give TTSo it is a tautology.

If you get this wrong, revise: Section 1.1 and Section 1.4.

Problem 2. Convert (¬pq)(r¬s)(\neg p \lor q) \land (r \lor \neg s) to DNF.

Solution

The formula is a conjunction of two clauses. Distribute \land over \lor:

(¬pq)(r¬s)=(¬pr)(¬p¬s)(qr)(q¬s)(\neg p \lor q) \land (r \lor \neg s) = (\neg p \land r) \lor (\neg p \land \neg s) \lor (q \land r) \lor (q \land \neg s).

This is in DNF (disjunction of four terms, each a conjunction of two literals).

If you get this wrong, revise: Section 1.6.

Problem 3. Negate: “For every real number xxThere exists a real number yy such that y>xy \gt x.”

Solution

Original: xy(y>x)\forall x\, \exists y\, (y \gt x).

Negation: xy(yx)\exists x\, \forall y\, (y \leq x)I.e., “there exists a real number xx such that every Real number yy satisfies yxy \leq x.”

If you get this wrong, revise: Section 1.2.

Problem 4. Prove that ABA \subseteq B if and only if ABc=A \cap B^c = \emptyset.

Solution

(\Rightarrow) Assume ABA \subseteq B. Let xABcx \in A \cap B^c. Then xAx \in A and xBx \notin B. But ABA \subseteq B implies xBx \in BContradiction. So ABc=A \cap B^c = \emptyset.

(\Leftarrow) Assume ABc=A \cap B^c = \emptyset. Let xAx \in A. If xBx \notin BThen xBcx \in B^cSo xABc=x \in A \cap B^c = \emptysetContradiction. Hence xBx \in BProving ABA \subseteq B. \blacksquare

If you get this wrong, revise: Section 2.1.

Problem 5. Show that the relation RR on "Z\mathbb{{"}Z{}'} defined by aRba\,R\,b iff aba - b is even Is an equivalence relation. How many equivalence classes are there?

Solution

Reflexive: aa=0a - a = 0Which is even. ✓ Symmetric: If aba - b is even, then ba=(ab)b - a = -(a - b) is even. ✓ Transitive: If aba - b and bcb - c are even, then ac=(ab)+(bc)a - c = (a - b) + (b - c) is even. ✓

The equivalence classes are [0] = \\{\mathrm{even\; integers{}\\} and [1] = \\{\mathrm{odd\; integers{}\\}. There are exactly 2 equivalence classes.

If you get this wrong, revise: Section 2.2.

Problem 6. Let f:RRf : \mathbb{{'}R{}'} \to \mathbb{{'}R{}'} be f(x)=2x+1f(x) = 2x + 1 and g:RRg : \mathbb{{'}R{}'} \to \mathbb{{'}R{}'} Be g(x)=x2g(x) = x^2. Find gfg \circ f and fgf \circ g. Is gfg \circ f injective?

Solution

(gf)(x)=g(f(x))=g(2x+1)=(2x+1)2=4x2+4x+1(g \circ f)(x) = g(f(x)) = g(2x + 1) = (2x + 1)^2 = 4x^2 + 4x + 1.

(fg)(x)=f(g(x))=f(x2)=2x2+1(f \circ g)(x) = f(g(x)) = f(x^2) = 2x^2 + 1.

Note gffgg \circ f \neq f \circ gSo composition is not commutative.

gfg \circ f is not injective: (gf)(0)=1(g \circ f)(0) = 1 and (gf)(1)=4(1)2+4(1)+1=1(g \circ f)(-1) = 4(-1)^2 + 4(-1) + 1 = 1 But 010 \neq -1.

If you get this wrong, revise: Section 2.3.

Problem 7. Prove that the set of all infinite binary sequences is uncountable.

Solution

Suppose the set SS of all infinite binary sequences is countable, so S=s1,s2,s3,S = \\{s_1, s_2, s_3, \ldots\\} Where si=(si1,si2,si3,)s_i = (s_{i1}, s_{i2}, s_{i3}, \ldots) with each sij0,1s_{ij} \in \\{0, 1\\}.

Define t=(t1,t2,t3,)t = (t_1, t_2, t_3, \ldots) by ti=1siit_i = 1 - s_{ii} (flip the ii-th bit of the ii-th Sequence). Then tSt \in S but tsit \neq s_i for every ii (they differ in position ii). This Contradicts S=s1,s2,S = \\{s_1, s_2, \ldots\\}. Therefore SS is uncountable. \blacksquare

If you get this wrong, revise: Section 2.4.

Problem 8. Prove: the product of any two odd integers is odd.

Solution

Let a=2m+1a = 2m + 1 and b=2n+1b = 2n + 1 be odd. Then ab=(2m+1)(2n+1)=4mn+2m+2n+1=2(2mn+m+n)+1ab = (2m+1)(2n+1) = 4mn + 2m + 2n + 1 = 2(2mn + m + n) + 1 Which is odd. \blacksquare

If you get this wrong, revise: Section 3.1.

Problem 9. Prove: if 3n+23n + 2 is odd, then nn is odd.

Solution

By contrapositive: assume nn is even, so n=2kn = 2k. Then 3n+2=6k+2=2(3k+1)3n + 2 = 6k + 2 = 2(3k + 1)Which is Even. \blacksquare

If you get this wrong, revise: Section 3.2.

Problem 10. Prove: 3\sqrt{3} is irrational.

Solution

Suppose 3=p/q\sqrt{3} = p/q in lowest terms. Then 3q2=p23q^2 = p^2So 3p23 \mid p^2Hence 3p3 \mid p. Write p=3rp = 3r. Then 3q2=9r23q^2 = 9r^2So q2=3r2q^2 = 3r^2Giving 3q23 \mid q^2 and 3q3 \mid q. But then gcd(p,q)3\gcd(p, q) \geq 3Contradicting lowest terms. \blacksquare

If you get this wrong, revise: Section 3.3.

Problem 11. Prove by induction: i=0n2i=2n+11\sum_{i=0}^{n} 2^i = 2^{n+1} - 1 for all n0n \geq 0.

Solution

Base case: n=0n = 0: 20=1=2112^0 = 1 = 2^1 - 1. ✓

Inductive step: Assume i=0k2i=2k+11\sum_{i=0}^{k} 2^i = 2^{k+1} - 1. Then

i=0k+12i=(2k+11)+2k+1=22k+11=2k+21\sum_{i=0}^{k+1} 2^i = (2^{k+1} - 1) + 2^{k+1} = 2 \cdot 2^{k+1} - 1 = 2^{k+2} - 1

\blacksquare

If you get this wrong, revise: Section 3.4.

Problem 12. Prove by strong induction that every integer n2n \geq 2 is a product of primes.

Solution

Base case: n=2n = 2 is prime, hence a product of primes.

Inductive step: Assume every integer in 2,,k\\{2, \ldots, k\\} is a product of primes (k2k \geq 2). If k+1k + 1 is prime, done. If k+1k + 1 is composite, then k+1=abk + 1 = ab where 2a,bk2 \leq a, b \leq k. By the induction hypothesis, both aa and bb are products of primes, so k+1=abk + 1 = ab is too. \blacksquare

If you get this wrong, revise: Section 3.4 (strong induction).

Problem 13. A committee of 5 is to be chosen from 12 people. How many ways if two specific People must either both serve or neither serves?

Solution

Case 1: Both serve. Choose the remaining 3 from the other 10: (103)=120\binom{10}{3} = 120. Case 2: Neither serves. Choose all 5 from the other 10: (105)=252\binom{10}{5} = 252.

Total: 120+252=372120 + 252 = 372.

If you get this wrong, revise: Section 4.2.

Problem 14. How many integers from 1 to 500 are divisible by 3 or 7 but not by 5?

Solution

A3=166|A_3| = 166, A7=71|A_7| = 71, A3A7=23|A_3 \cap A_7| = 23. Divisible by 3 or 7: 166+7123=214166 + 71 - 23 = 214.

A3A5=33|A_3 \cap A_5| = 33, A7A5=14|A_7 \cap A_5| = 14, A3A7A5=4|A_3 \cap A_7 \cap A_5| = 4. Divisible by 3 or 7 and 5: 33+144=4333 + 14 - 4 = 43.

Divisible by 3 or 7 but not 5: 21443=171214 - 43 = 171.

If you get this wrong, revise: Section 4.3.

Problem 15. How many solutions does x1+x2+x3=15x_1 + x_2 + x_3 = 15 have with xi1x_i \geq 1?

Solution

Substitute yi=xi10y_i = x_i - 1 \geq 0: y1+y2+y3=12y_1 + y_2 + y_3 = 12 with yi0y_i \geq 0. By stars and bars: (12+3131)=(142)=91\binom{12 + 3 - 1}{3 - 1} = \binom{14}{2} = 91.

If you get this wrong, revise: Section 4.4.

Problem 16. Prove that among any 13 people, at least 2 were born in the same month.

Solution

There are 12 months and 13 people. By the pigeonhole principle, at least one month contains at least 13/12=2\lceil 13/12 \rceil = 2 people.

If you get this wrong, revise: Section 4.5.

Problem 17. Verify that C3=5C_3 = 5 using the Catalan recurrence and the closed form.

Solution

By recurrence: C3=C0C2+C1C1+C2C0=12+11+21=2+1+2=5C_3 = C_0 C_2 + C_1 C_1 + C_2 C_0 = 1 \cdot 2 + 1 \cdot 1 + 2 \cdot 1 = 2 + 1 + 2 = 5.

By closed form: C3=14(63)=1420=5C_3 = \frac{1}{4}\binom{6}{3} = \frac{1}{4} \cdot 20 = 5. ✓

If you get this wrong, revise: Section 4.6.

Problem 18. Find the chromatic number of C5C_5 (the 5-cycle) and justify.

Solution

C5C_5 is an odd cycle. It cannot be 2-coloured (an odd cycle requires 3 colours: colour the first Vertex 1, alternate 2 and 1 around, and the last vertex (5th) is adjacent to both the 4th (colour 2) And the 1st (colour 1), so it needs colour 3).

A 3-colouring exists: label vertices v1,,v5v_1, \ldots, v_5; colour v1=1v_1 = 1, v2=2v_2 = 2, v3=1v_3 = 1 v4=2v_4 = 2, v5=3v_5 = 3.

Therefore χ(C5)=3\chi(C_5) = 3.

If you get this wrong, revise: Section 5.5.

Problem 19. In the bipartite graph with partitions X=1,2,3X = \\{1, 2, 3\\} and Y=a,b,c,dY = \\{a, b, c, d\\} And edges 11a,ba,b; 22b,cb,c; 33c,dc,dVerify Hall’s condition and find a matching covering XX.

Solution

Neighbourhoods: N(1)=a,bN(\\{1\\}) = \\{a, b\\}, N(2)=b,cN(\\{2\\}) = \\{b, c\\}, N(3)=c,dN(\\{3\\}) = \\{c, d\\}. N(1,2)=a,b,cN(\\{1, 2\\}) = \\{a, b, c\\}, N(1,3)=a,b,c,dN(\\{1, 3\\}) = \\{a, b, c, d\\}, N(2,3)=b,c,dN(\\{2, 3\\}) = \\{b, c, d\\}. N(1,2,3)=a,b,c,dN(\\{1, 2, 3\\}) = \\{a, b, c, d\\}.

All satisfy N(S)S|N(S)| \geq |S|. A matching: 11aa, 22bb, 33cc.

If you get this wrong, revise: Section 5.7.

Problem 20. Solve an=3an12an2a_n = 3a_{n-1} - 2a_{n-2} with a0=0a_0 = 0, a1=1a_1 = 1.

Solution

Characteristic equation: r23r+2=0r^2 - 3r + 2 = 0Giving (r1)(r2)=0(r - 1)(r - 2) = 0So r1=1r_1 = 1, r2=2r_2 = 2.

an=A1n+B2n=A+B2na_n = A \cdot 1^n + B \cdot 2^n = A + B \cdot 2^n.

a0=A+B=0    A=Ba_0 = A + B = 0 \implies A = -B. a1=A+2B=1    B+2B=B=1a_1 = A + 2B = 1 \implies -B + 2B = B = 1.

So A=1A = -1, B=1B = 1Giving an=2n1a_n = 2^n - 1. \blacksquare

If you get this wrong, revise: Section 6.2 and Section 6.3.

Common Pitfalls

  • Confusing \Rightarrow and \Leftrightarrow. PQP \Rightarrow Q means “if PP then QQ” (sufficient condition). PQP \Leftrightarrow Q means “if and only if” (necessary and sufficient). Fix: PQP \Rightarrow Q is equivalent to ¬Q¬P\neg Q \Rightarrow \neg P (contrapositive), not QPQ \Rightarrow P (converse).
  • Wrong induction base case. The base case must be the smallest value for which the statement is claimed to hold. Fix: If the claim starts at n=1n = 1, prove n=1n = 1; if at n=0n = 0, prove n=0n = 0.
  • Confusing combinations and permutations with repetition. Standard formulas assume distinct, non-repeated items. Fix: With repetition: nrn^r (ordered) or (n+r1r)\binom{n+r-1}{r} (unordered).

Worked Examples

Example 1: Proof by induction

Problem. Prove that k=1nk2=n(n+1)(2n+1)6\sum_{k=1}^{n} k^2 = \frac{n(n+1)(2n+1)}{6} for all n1n \geq 1.

Solution. Base (n=1n = 1): 1=1(2)(3)/6=11 = 1(2)(3)/6 = 1. ✓ Inductive step: assume true for nn. Then k=1n+1k2=n(n+1)(2n+1)6+(n+1)2=(n+1)[n(2n+1)+6(n+1)]6=(n+1)(2n2+7n+6)6=(n+1)(n+2)(2n+3)6\sum_{k=1}^{n+1} k^2 = \frac{n(n+1)(2n+1)}{6} + (n+1)^2 = \frac{(n+1)[n(2n+1) + 6(n+1)]}{6} = \frac{(n+1)(2n^2 + 7n + 6)}{6} = \frac{(n+1)(n+2)(2n+3)}{6}. ✓

\blacksquare

Example 2: Graph theory

Problem. A connected planar graph has 6 vertices and 8 edges. How many faces does it have?

Solution. By Euler’s formula: VE+F=2V - E + F = 2. 68+F=2    F=46 - 8 + F = 2 \implies F = 4.

\blacksquare

Summary

  • Logic: propositions, truth tables, quantifiers; implication, contrapositive, converse.
  • Proof techniques: direct, contrapositive, contradiction, induction.
  • Combinatorics: permutations, combinations, inclusion-exclusion, pigeonhole principle.
  • Graph theory: Euler’s formula (VE+F=2V - E + F = 2), trees, planarity, chromatic number.

Cross-References

TopicSiteLink
Discrete Mathematics (Overview)WyattsNotesView
Theory of ComputationWyattsNotesView
Abstract AlgebraWyattsNotesView
Number TheoryWyattsNotesView
Discrete Mathematics — MIT OCWMITView