Laws of Logic

Using arguments that have logical

order

Review Terms

Counterexample
Conditional Statement
Hypothesis
Conclusion

 If Osama Bin Laden dies, the US troops

will come home.
The troops came back home.
Conclusion: Osama is dead.
1. Identifytheconditional
statement.
2. Identifythehypothesisand
conclusion.
3. Isthistrue?
4. Justifyyouranswer.

 If you eat too much ice cream, you will get

sick.
Youre sick.
Conclusion: You had too much ice cream.
1. Identifytheconditional
statement.
2. Identifythehypothesisand
conclusion.
3. Isthistrue?
4. Justifyyouranswer.

Law of Detachment
If pq is a true conditional statement and p
(hypothesis) is true, then q (conclusion) is
true.
p q true
p

true

true

Law of Detachment
Given If you save a penny then you earn a penny.TRUE conditional
statement

Given Julio saves a penny. TRUE hypothesis

You can conclude that the
Conclusion Therefore, Julio earns a penny
conclusion is TRUE
Why is this argument valid? Because it follows the law of detachment.

p q true

p: save a penny

true

q: earn a penny

true

Law of Detachment
Given If you pay attention then you will learn. TRUE conditional
statement

Given Mara pays attention. TRUE hypothesis

You can conclude that the
ConclusionTherefore, Mara will learn.
conclusion is TRUE
Why is this argument valid? Because it follows the law of detachment.

p q true

p: pay attention

true

q: will learn

true

Law of Detachment
Given If you exercise then you will be healthy.

TRUE

Given Tony is healthy.

This is not the hypothesis

You cannot conclude that
ConclusionTherefore, Tony exercises.
this statement is TRUE
Why is this argument invalid?Because it does not follow the law of
detachment.

p q true

p: exercise

true

q: healthy

true

Which argument is valid?

Vertical angles are congruent

Vertical angles are congruent

A B

A and B are vertical angles

Therefore A and B are

vertical angles

Therefore A B

Invalid

Valid

Which argument is valid?

If two lines are perpendicular,

then they intersect to form right
angles.

If two lines are perpendicular,

then they intersect to form right
angles.

Lines l and m intersect to form

right angles

Line l is perpendicular to line m

Therefore, line l is
perpendicular to line m

Invalid

Therefore, lines l and m

intersect to form right angles

Valid

Which argument is valid?

The menu says that apple pie a

la mode is served with ice
cream.

The menu says that apple pie a

la mode is served with ice
cream.

Laura ordered apple pie a la

mode.

Laura ordered ice cream.

Therefore, she was served ice

cream.

Valid

Therefore, she was served apple

pie a la mode.

Invalid

What can you conclude?

Linear pairs are adjacent angles that measure 180.
A and B are linear pairs
Therefore, A and B are adjacent angles and
they measure 180.
Linear pairs are adjacent angles that measure 180.
A and B are adjacent angles
Therefore, This argument does not follow the Law of
Detachment so I can not make a conclusion

Law of Detachment
Sarahknowsthatall
IfmABC<90,then
sophomorestakedriver
ABCisanacuteangle.
educationatherschool. mABC=42degrees.
Hankistakingdriver
SoABCisanacute
education.SoHankisa
angle
sophomore.
1. Explainwhythisargumentisvalid/notvalid.
2.

Justifyyouranswer.

3.

Whatdoyouneedtochangetomakeavalid
argumentnotvalidandthenotvalidone
valid.

Closure
Michaelknowsthatifhe
doesnotdohischoresin
themorning,hewillnot
beallowedtoplayvideo
gameslaterthesameday.
Michaeldoesnotplay
videogamesonFriday
afternoon.SoMichael
didnotdohischoreson
Fridaymorning.

Iftwoanglesare
vertical,thenthey
arecongruent.
ABCandDBE
arevertical.So
ABCandDBE
arecongruent.

Whichstatementisvalidandwhichisnotvalid.
Justifyyouranswer.

Law of Syllogism
If pq and qr are true conditional then
pr is true.
Howistheconclusion
ofthefirstconditional
statementrelatedtothe
hypothesisofthe
secondconditional
statement.

p q true
q r

true

pr

true

Law of Syllogism
Given If the sun is shining then it is a beautiful day. TRUE
Given If it is a beautiful day, then we will have a
picnic.

conditional
statements

Conclusion Therefore if the sun is shining then we will have

a picnic.

You can
conclude this
statement is
TRUE

Why is this argument valid? Because it follows the law of syllogism.

p q true

p: sun is shining

q r

q: beautiful day

pr

true
true

r: have a picnic

Law of Syllogism
Given If you take algebra 1 then you will take
geometry.

TRUE
conditional
statements

Given If you take geometry, then you will take algebra

You can
2.

conclude this
statement is
TRUE

Conclusion Therefore if you take algebra 1 then you will

take algebra 2.
Why is this argument valid? Because it follows the law of syllogism.

p q true

p: algebra 1

q r

q: geometry

pr

true
true

r: algebra 2

Law of Syllogism
Given
Given

If you get the new job then you will be able to take the
Mertolink.

TRUE
conditional
If you take the Metrolink, then you will not have to buy a
statements
new car.

Given

If you dont have to buy an new car then you will not need
to get insurance.
You can conclude
Conclusion If you get the new job then you will not need to get this statement is
TRUE
insurance.

Why is this argument valid? Because it follows the law of syllogism.

p q true

p: get the new job

q r

q: take the Metrolink

true

r s true
p s true

r: do not have to buy a new car

s: do not need insurance

Law of Syllogism
Given If 2 is acute then 3 is obtuse.
TRUE conditional
Given If 3 is obtuse, then 4 is acute. statements
Conclusion Therefore if you 4 is acute then 2 is acute Not the correct
conclusion

Why is this argument invalid?

p q true

p: 2 is acute

q r true
pr true

q: B is obtuse

r: 4 is acute

Because it doesnt follow the

law of syllogism.

Which argument is valid?

If the two lines are parallel

then the lines do not intersect.

If the two lines are parallel

then the lines do not intersect.

If the lines dont intersect, then

no angles are formed.

If the lines dont intersect, then

we will no angles are formed.

Therefore if the two lines are

parallel then the no angles are
formed.

Therefore if no angles are

formed then the two lines are
parallel

Valid

Invalid

Which argument is valid?

If we visit Hong Kong, then we

will eat well.

If we visit Hong Kong, then we

will eat well.

If we eat well, then we will

walk a lot.

If we visit Hong Kong, we will

walk a lot.

If we visit Hong Kong then we

will walk a lot.

If we eat well then we will

walk a lot.

Valid

Invalid

Which argument is valid?

If we visit Disneyland then we will
see Mickey Mouse.

If we visit Disneyland then we will

see Mickey Mouse.

If we visit Disneyland then we will

get on Space Mountain.

If we visit Disneyland then we will

get on Space Mountain.

If we get on Space Mountain then we

will have fun.

If we get on Space Mountain then we

will have fun.

If we see Mickey Mouse then we get

on Space Mountain.

If we visit Disneyland then we will

have fun.

Invalid

Valid

Who is going to the Party?

Using the Law of Detachment and the Law of Syllogism
If Don is going, then Eve
is going.
Ben is not going to the
party.
If Al is going then, Ben is
going.
If Carla is going, then Don
is going
Al or Carla is going to the
party.

Is Ben going to the

party?
Is Al going to the party?
Is Carla going to the
party?
Is Don going to the
party?
Is Eve going to the
party?