Math 5134 Spring 2008

Course Description

This is the graduate course in symbolic logic. The content of the course will duplicate the presentation of the undergraduate course in some ways. We will, for example, consider first propositional logic and then follow with consideration of logic with logical functions or predicates and relations. One simple difference is that there is no difference in consideration of predicates or 1 variable functions and relations or multiple variable functions.

A rather more important change is that significant care will be shown for the formal development of logic. Thus we will be doing proofs about proof.

Another significant difference is that the consideration will be done from two distinct viewpoints. First Model Theory or truth tables and then proof from axioms. Finally we will see that exactly those statements are provable that are tautologies.

The course will utilize short lectures by the instructor, group discussion, and individual questions. Students are expected to read the relevant portions of the text both prior to the content introduction and again after the introduction. They should identify and ask questions on any part of the text which is not clear.

Homework on each area is assigned on the class when content is introduced and for two sessions thereafter. This should allow students to work on fresh problems after initial questions have been answered.

Students should keep a notebook of homework problems both to study from and to turn in at the end of the course. The arrangement should probably follow the text location rather than the order of assignment.

Text:

Grade Process

Midterm 25%
Final Exam 50%
Misc Assgn 25%

Course Objectives



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This page updated by Frank Matthews Dec. 11, 2012