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Given the axioms

  • Henry owns a bike
  • Every bike owner loves racing
  • No one who loves racing buys a scooter.
  • Either Henry or Bob bought a scooter, which is named Bill

Did Bob buy the scooter?

This is a homework question; it seems almost too easy, so I just want to check to make sure my logic is correct.

Since either Henry or Bob bought a scooter, and since Henry owns a bike and therefore loves racing and therefore cannot buy a scooter, then Bob must have been the one to buy the scooter.

Am I correct in my logic and my answer?

Arty
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1 Answers1

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Legend:

Owns a bike === A
Loves racing === B
Buys a skooter === C

Rephrase the logic conditions:

Henry is A
A => B
B => Not(C)
Henry or Bob is C

Calculations:

Henry is A => Henry is B => Henry is Not(C) => Bob is C
Meaning: Bob bought a skooter

So yes - you are correct. If it seems easy, it may be just to understand the tools you should use, to get you ready for more complex problems.

Lavi Avigdor
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  • Sorry, the contrast on my screen didn't let me see the check mark, so I tried to upvote, but I don't have enough reputation yet. :) – Arty Dec 08 '15 at 12:07