Introduction to Real Analysis

Mathematical Logic

Proposition

A statement in either true or false state.

Symbols

SymbolRead as
∧\landand
∨\loror
→\rightarrowthen
  ⟹  \impliesimplies
⇐\Leftarrowimplied by
  ⟺  \iffif and only if
∀\forallfor all
∃\existsthere exists
∼\simnot

Let’s take a→ba \to b.

  1. Contrapositive or transposition: ∼b→  ∼a\sim b \to\,\, \sim a. This is equivalent to the original.
  2. Inverse: ∼a→  ∼b\sim a \to\,\,\sim b. Does not depend on the original.
  3. Converse: b→ab \to a. Does not depend on the original.

a→b ≡  ∼a∨b ≡  ∼b→  ∼aa \to b \,\equiv\,\,\sim a \lor b \,\equiv\,\, \sim b \to\,\,\sim a

Required Proofs

  • ∼∀x P(x)≡∃x∼P(x)\sim\forall x \, P(x) \equiv \exists x \sim{P(x)}
  • ∼∃x P(x)≡∀x∼P(x)\sim\exists x \, P(x) \equiv \forall x \sim{P(x)}
  • ∃x ∃yP(x,y)≡∃y ∃xP(x,y)\exists x\, \exists y P(x,y) \equiv \exists y\, \exists x {P(x,y)}
  • ∀x ∀yP(x,y)≡∀y ∀xP(x,y)\forall x\, \forall y P(x,y) \equiv \forall y\, \forall x {P(x,y)}
  • ∃x ∀yP(x,y)  ⟹  ∀y ∃xP(x,y)\exists x\, \forall y P(x,y) \implies \forall y\, \exists x {P(x,y)}
  • (A→C)∧(B→C)≡(A∨B)→C(A \rightarrow C)\land(B \rightarrow C) \equiv (A\lor B)\rightarrow C

Methods of Proofs

  1. Just proof what should be proven
  2. Prove the contrapositive
  3. Proof by contradiction
  4. Proof by induction

Proof by Contradiction

Suppose a  ⟹  ba \implies b has to be proven. If a ∧∼ba\,\land \sim b is proven to be false, then, by proof by contradiction, a  ⟹  ba \implies b can be trivially proven.

Logic Behind Proof by Contradiction

a ∧∼b=Fa\,\land \sim b = F

∼(a ∧∼b)=  ∼F\sim{(a\,\land \sim b)} =\,\, \sim F

∼a∨b=T\sim a \lor b = T

a→b=Ta \to b = T

a  ⟹  ba \implies b

Written by September 13, 2026 1 min read
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