Mathematical Language

Read this section for an introduction to mathematical language, then work through practice problems 1-4.

AND and OR

The compound statement "A and B are true" is equivalent to "both of A and B are true".

If A or if B or if both are false, then the statement "A and B are true" is false. The statement "x2 = 4 and x > 0" is true when x = 2 and is false for every other value of x.

The compound statement "A or B is true" is equivalent to "at least one of A or B is true".

If both A and B are false, then the statement "A or B is true" is false. The statement "x^2 = 4 or x > 0" is true if x = –2 or x is any positive number. The statement is false when x = –3 and for lots of other values of x.

Practice 1: Which values of x make each statement true?
(a) "x < 5"

(b) "x + 2 = 6"

(c) "x^2 – 10x + 24 = 0"

(d) "(a) and (b)"

(e) "(a) or (c)"