Chapter 2: Formal Logic and Constructing Mathematical Proofs
This chapter is an introduction to formal logic and mathematical proofs. We'll first introduce some primary results of formal logic and prove logical statements with the use of truth tables. In the remainder of the chapter, we'll consider the most common methods of mathematical proofs (direct proof, proof by contradiction, and proof by mathematical induction) to build skills that you will need for more complex problems to come later.
In this chapter, we will cover the following topics:
- Formal logic and proofs by truth tables
- Direct mathematical proofs
- Proof by contradiction
- Proof by mathematical induction
By the end of the chapter, you will have a grasp of how formal logic provides a grounding for deductive thought, you will have learned how to model logical problems with truth tables, you will have proved claims with truth tables, and you will have learned how to construct mathematical...