Question

Write the argument below in symbols to determine whether it is valid or invalid. State a reason for your conclusion. Specify the p and q you used.

Either the koi are swimming in the pond or the birds are chirping.
The birds are not chirping.
:. The koi are swimming in the pond.

Answer 1

Which part of this is confusing to you?

Answer 2

I have no idea how to do it .

Answer 3

Well I do know, but if you can't tell me where you're stuck I can't help you figure it out.

Answer 4

never done one before

Answer 5

Do you understand what they mean by p and q?

Answer 6

like p, q, ~p, ~q

Answer 7

Yes, but in this argument, what would you pick for p, and what would you pick for q?

Answer 8

P:Either the koi are swimming in the pond or the birds are chirping.
q:The birds are not chirping.

Answer 9

Good guess. I would break it up further. What if we used instead:

p: The koi are swimming in the pond
q: The birds are chirping

Answer 10

Then what would this argument look like?

Answer 11

Remember that p and q are atomic statements that have a truth value.

Answer 12

u mean in the symbolic form

Answer 13

'Either the koi are swimming in the pond or the birds are chirping' is a compound statement which can be broken up into smaller pieces.

Answer 14

Yeah, symbolically what would the argument look like using the p and q I mentioned?

Answer 15

pVq

Answer 16

pVq

Answer 17

That's the first bit, yeah.

Answer 18

pVq
~q
:.p

Answer 19

Right. So is that a valid argument?

Answer 20

then what would the reason for my conclusion be?

Answer 21

that part i am confused on.