CSCI 301 L14 Worksheet

Lecture 14 - Exercises

Part A - Proving Non-Conditional Statements

  1. Prove the following proposition: Proposition: Suppose \(a \in \mathbb{Z}\). Then \(14 \mid a\) if and only if \(7 \mid a\) and \(2 \mid a\).
  2. Prove the following proposition: Proposition: There exists a positive real number x for which \(x^2 < \sqrt{x}\).
  3. Prove the following proposition:

\[ \forall n \in \mathbb{N}, \sum_{i=0}^n 2^i = 2^{i+1} - 1 \]

Part B - Mechanics of Disproof

  1. What must you show in order to disprove a claim of the form \(\forall x \in S, P(x)\)?
  2. What must you show in order to disprove a claim of the form \(P(x) \Rightarrow Q(x)\)?
  3. What must you show in order to disprove a claim of the form \(\exists x \in S, P(x)\)?
  4. How would you disprove \(P\) with proof by contradiction?

Part C - Proof/Disproof Examples

  1. Prove or disprove the following: Proposition: If \(x, y \in R\) and \(|x + y| = |x − y|\), then \(y = 0\).
  2. Prove or disprove the following: Proposition: Every odd integer is the sum of three odd integers.
  3. Prove or disprove the following: Proposition: There exist two prime numbers \(p\) and \(q\) for which \(p − q = 97\).