For a problem on a discrete math assignment, I am asked to find which of the following statements is true, but I am unsure if I'm interpreting it correctly as I don't know how to interpret every symbol yet. Here are the statements: exists !x in Z,forall y in Z,xy=x.

kokomocutie88r1

kokomocutie88r1

Answered question

2022-07-16

For a problem on a discrete math assignment, I am asked to find which of the following statements is true, but I am unsure if I'm interpreting it correctly as I don't know how to interpret every symbol yet. Here are the statements:
! x Z , y Z , x y = x .
! x Z , y Z , x y = y
Should I interpret this as "there exists exactly one x for all y such that ..." or should I interpret this as "there exists exactly one x for each y such that ..."

Answer & Explanation

Rihanna Robles

Rihanna Robles

Beginner2022-07-17Added 18 answers

Step 1
I would consider the English interpretation of the above to be
1. "There exists exactly one x in Z, such that for any y from Z, x y = x"
2. "There exists exactly one x in Z, such that for any y from Z, x y = y"
It might be enlightening to consider what is required to actually prove statements like and .
If you have to prove a statement like x Z . P ( x ), it means to show that P(x) holds from an arbitrary x taken from Z. For existentials, proving the statement x . P ( x ) requires you to come up with an x from Z.
Step 2
A statement of unique existence such as ! x Z . P ( x ) requires you to both come up with an x Z that satisfies P, but to also show that there is no other x′ that satisfies P (or equivalently that any such element is, in fact x).
So, for example, the proof of first statement is going to look like:
Let x be (some value from Z),
1. Take any y from Z, then x y = x because of (reason).
2. Take any x′ and any y from Z, moreover, assume x y = x , then x = x because of (reason).

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