Proof and Disproof in Formal Logic is a lively and entertaining introduction to formal logic providing an excellent insight into how a simple logic works. Formal logic allows you to check a logical claim without considering what the claim means. This highly abstracted idea is an essential and practical part of computer science. The idea of a formal system—a collection of rules and axioms which define a universe of logical proofs—is what gives us programming languages and modern-day programming. This book concentrates on using logic as a tool: making and using formal proofs and disproofs of particular logical claims. The logic it uses—natural deduction—is very small and very simple; working with it helps you see how large mathematical universes can be built on small foundations. The book is divided into four parts: · Part I "Basics" gives an introduction to formal logic with a short history of logic and explanations of some technical words. · Part II "Formal syntactic proof" show you how to do calculations in a formal system where you are guided by shapes and never need to think about meaning. Your experiments are aided by Jape, which can operate as both inquisitor and oracle. · Part III "Formal semantic disproof" shows you how to construct mathematical counterexamples to show that proof is impossible. Jape can check the counterexamples you build. · Part IV "Program specification and proof" describes how to apply your logical understanding to a real computer science problem, the accurate description and verification of programs. Jape helps, as far as arithmetic allows. Aimed at undergraduates and graduates in computer science, logic, mathematics, and philosophy, the text includes reference to and exercises based on the computer software package Jape, an interactive teaching and research tool designed and hosted by the author that is freely available on the web.

"Proof and Disproof in Formal Logic is a lively and entertaining introduction to formal logic that provides an excellent insight into how a simple logic works. The text concentrates on practical skills: making proofs and disproofs of particular logical claims. The logic it employs - Natural Deduction - is very small and very simple and teaches the student how to focus on syntactic reasoning." "Aimed at undergraduates and graduates in computer science, logic, mathematics, and philosophy, the text shows how to make proofs and disproofs in Jape, an interactive easy-to-use logic calculator designed and hosted by the author that is freely available on the web."--Jacket.

Proof and Disproof in Formal Logic is a lively and entertaining introduction to formal logic providing an excellent insight into how a simple logic works. This book concentrates on using logic as a tool: making and using formal proofs and disproofs of particular logical claims. The logic it uses - natural deduction - is very simple and shows how large mathematical universes can be built on small foundations. Aimed at undergraduates and graduates in computerscience, logic, mathematics, and philosophy, the text includes reference to...

According to the great mathematician Paul Erdös, God maintains perfect mathematical proofs in The Book. This book presents the authors candidates for such "perfect proofs," those which contain brilliant ideas, clever connections, and wonderful observations, bringing new insight and surprising perspectives to problems from number theory, geometry, analysis, combinatorics, and graph theory. As a result, this book will be fun reading for anyone with an interest in mathematics.

The mathematical proof is the most important form of justification in mathematics. It is not, however, the only kind of justification for mathematical propositions. The existence of other forms, some of very significant strength, places a question mark over the prominence given to proof within mathematics. This collection of essays, by leading figures working within the philosophy of mathematics, is a response to the challenge of understanding the nature and role of the proof.

This book is an introduction to the language and standard proof methods of mathematics. It is a bridge from the computational courses (such as calculus or differential equations) that students typically encounter in their first year of college to a more abstract outlook. It lays a foundation for more theoretical courses such as topology, analysis and abstract algebra. Although it may be more meaningful to the student who has had some calculus, there is really no prerequisite other than a measure of mathematical maturity.

Formal logic provides us with a powerful set of techniques for criticizing some arguments and showing others to be valid. These techniques are relevant to all of us with an interest in being skilful and accurate reasoners. In this highly accessible book, Peter Smith presents a guide to the fundamental aims and basic elements of formal logic. He introduces the reader to the languages of propositional and predicate logic, and then develops formal systems for evaluating arguments translated into these languages, concentrating on the easily comprehensible 'tree' method. His discussion is richly illustrated with worked examples and exercises. A distinctive feature is that, alongside the formal work, there is illuminating philosophical commentary. This book will make an ideal text for a first logic course, and will provide a firm basis for further work in formal and philosophical logic.