|
Course
Home
Syllabus
Lecture Topics
Homework
Policies
|
|
Math 4000-001: Foundations of Mathematics, Fall 2026
|
|
Lecture Topics
|
|
|
Date
|
What we discussed/How we spent our time
|
Aug 21
|
Syllabus. Policies. Text.
The use of AI in this class.
|
Aug 24
|
Read Chapter 0 (pages 1-10).
We discussed the connection between logic
and language, and the role of
predicates in particular.
We practiced formalizing three of the
axioms of set theory (the axioms
of extensionality, empty set, and pairing).
|
Aug 26
|
We discussed:
- How finite sequences are defined in set theory.
- The fact that if $A$ is an alphabet of size $\leq \kappa$,
$\kappa$ infinite, then there are $\leq \kappa$
finite sequences that are constructible from the alphabet $A$.
This implies that there are only countably many
formulas in a given countable alphabet.
- The
types of symbols needed
to express the Goldbach Conjecture: variables,
logical symbols, equality, nonlogical symbols
(constant symbols, operation symbols, predicate symbols),
and punctuation symbols.
- The
types of symbols needed
to express the continuity of a function: variables,
logical symbols, equality, nonlogical symbols
(constant symbols, operation symbols, predicate symbols),
and punctuation symbols.
- The construction of formulas
in a 1-sorted language, $\mathcal{L}$. We completed the
description of $\mathcal{L}$-terms.
|
Aug 28
|
We discussed:
- Terms.
- Atomic formulas.
- Formulas and sentences.
- Formula trees.
Then we spent time working in groups
trying solve Problem 1 from HW1. (You do not have to turn this
problem in.)
|
Aug 31
|
Read Chapter 1, Sections 1-5 (pages 11-54).
We discussed:
- The language of Sentential Logic
(= propositional logic = 0th-order logic).
(Introduced by Stoic philosopher
Chryssipus ~250 BCE.)
- Sentential formulas. Wffs.
- Formula trees.
- Truth assignments.
Tautologies and contradictions.
Quiz 1 solutions.
Latex source.
|
Sep 2
|
We discussed:
- Unique readability of propositional formulas.
- Completeness of sets of connectives.
|
Sep 4
|
We discussed:
- Completeness of sets of connectives.
- Disjunctive Normal Form..
|
|
|