Chapter 10: Objectives

Following are the main learning objectives from the chapter.  To help you coordinate your studies, these objectives are organized into sub-sections (10-1, 10-2, etc.) and listed with the relevant page numbers from the textbook. 

10-1 (pgs.309- 311)
Understand what truth-function logic is.

• Recognize the synonyms for truth-function logic.
• Understand the wide-ranging applications of truth-function logic.

10-2 (pgs. 311- 313)
Understand the basic vocabulary of truth-function logic.

• Understand what claim variables are and how they are generally represented.
• Understand that claim variables have truth values.
• Understand the role of truth tables in determining the truth value of a claim.
• Understand how the following terms apply to truth-function logic: negation, conjunction, disjunction, conditional claim, antecedent, consequent.

10-3 (pgs. 311-313)
Understand the three basic rules for constructing a truth table.

• Understand the proper use of parentheses.
• Understand how to represent all the possible combinations of truth values for the individual sentences contained in a complex expression.
• Understand how many columns a truth table needs to have.

10-4 (pgs. 311-313)
Understand how truth tables work as a truth-function analysis.

• Understand how a truth table can demonstrate when two claims are equivalent.
• Be familiar with what truth-functionally equivalent means.

10-5 (pgs.316-323)
Understand the importance of translating claims into symbolic form.

• Understand how to translate statements containing the word "if."
• Understand how to translate statements containing the phrase "only if."
• Understand how to translate statements containing the word "if and only if."
• Understand how the concepts necessary conditions and sufficient conditions apply to conditional claims.
• Understand how to translate statements containing the word "unless."
• Understand how to translate statements containing the word "either."
• Understand how to translate statements containing the words "if and then."

10-6 (pgs. 323- 329)
Understand how to use truth tables to test the validity of an argument.

• Be familiar with the concept of validity and how it applies to truth tables.
• Understand the three types of columns used in constructing truth tables and how to keep them organized.

10-7 (pgs. 329-333)
Understand what the short truth-table method is and how it compares to the standard truth-table.

• Understand that the short truth-table method is an indirect proof and what this means.
• Understand why the short truth-table method generally begins with the conclusion of the argument.

10-8 (pgs. 333-338)
Understand the method of deduction and why it is the most sophisticated way of determining validity.

• Understand the disadvantages of the method of deduction.
• Understand the advantages of the method of deduction.
• Understand how the method of deduction, in addition to testing validity, focuses on critical thinking.
• Understand the basic principles of the method of deduction.

10-9 (pgs. 333-338)
Understand that elementary valid argument patterns are the first set of rules you must learn.

• Recognize and understand the following patterns and rules: modus ponens, modus tollens, the chain argument, disjunctive arguments, simplification, conjunction, addition, constructive dilemma, destructive dilemma

10-10 (pgs. 338-345)
Understand that truth function equivalences form a second set of rules that you may use in deductions.

• Understand what truth function equivalences are and how they differ from elementary valid argument patterns.
• Recognize and understand the following rules: double negation, commutation, implication, contraposition, DeMorgan's law, exportation, distribution, tautology.

10-11 (pgs. 345-348)
Understand what the method of conditional proof is and how it can be used to show the truth of conditional claims..

• Understand the basic strategy of the method of conditional proof.
• Understand the steps of the method of conditional proof.