# Predicate Logic and Popular Culture (Part 123): Willie Nelson

Let $M(t)$ be the proposition “You were on my mind at time $t$.” Translate the logical statement

$\forall t < 0 (M(t))$.

Naturally, this matches the classic song by Willie Nelson (though Elvis did record it before him).

Context: This semester, I taught discrete mathematics for the first time. Part of the discrete mathematics course includes an introduction to predicate and propositional logic for our math majors. As you can probably guess from their names, students tend to think these concepts are dry and uninteresting even though they’re very important for their development as math majors.

In an effort to making these topics more appealing, I spent a few days mining the depths of popular culture in a (likely futile) attempt to make these ideas more interesting to my students. In this series, I’d like to share what I found. Naturally, the sources that I found have varying levels of complexity, which is appropriate for students who are first learning prepositional and predicate logic.

When I actually presented these in class, I either presented the logical statement and had my class guess the statement in actual English, or I gave my students the famous quote and them translate it into predicate logic. However, for the purposes of this series, I’ll just present the statement in predicate logic first.

# Predicate Logic and Popular Culture (Part 122): Queen

Let $p$ be the proposition “I cross a million rivers,” let $q$ be the proposition “I rode a million miles,” and let $r$ be the proposition “I still am where I started.” Translate the logical statement

$(p \land q) \Rightarrow r$.

This matches a line from this classic by Queen.

Context: This semester, I taught discrete mathematics for the first time. Part of the discrete mathematics course includes an introduction to predicate and propositional logic for our math majors. As you can probably guess from their names, students tend to think these concepts are dry and uninteresting even though they’re very important for their development as math majors.

In an effort to making these topics more appealing, I spent a few days mining the depths of popular culture in a (likely futile) attempt to make these ideas more interesting to my students. In this series, I’d like to share what I found. Naturally, the sources that I found have varying levels of complexity, which is appropriate for students who are first learning prepositional and predicate logic.

When I actually presented these in class, I either presented the logical statement and had my class guess the statement in actual English, or I gave my students the famous quote and them translate it into predicate logic. However, for the purposes of this series, I’ll just present the statement in predicate logic first.

# Predicate Logic and Popular Culture (Part 121): OneRepublic

Let $F(x)$ be the proposition “$x$ is a right friend,” let $P(y)$ be the proposition “$y$ is a right place,” let $I(x,y)$ be the proposition “$x$ is located at place $y$,” and let $H(x,y)$ be the proposition “They have $x$ at place $y$,” and let $p$ be the proposition “We’re going down.” Translate the logical statement

$\forall x \forall y(F(x) \land P(y) \land I(x,y) \Rightarrow H(x,y)) \land p$.

This matches the chorus of this song by OneRepublic.

Context: This semester, I taught discrete mathematics for the first time. Part of the discrete mathematics course includes an introduction to predicate and propositional logic for our math majors. As you can probably guess from their names, students tend to think these concepts are dry and uninteresting even though they’re very important for their development as math majors.

In an effort to making these topics more appealing, I spent a few days mining the depths of popular culture in a (likely futile) attempt to make these ideas more interesting to my students. In this series, I’d like to share what I found. Naturally, the sources that I found have varying levels of complexity, which is appropriate for students who are first learning prepositional and predicate logic.

When I actually presented these in class, I either presented the logical statement and had my class guess the statement in actual English, or I gave my students the famous quote and them translate it into predicate logic. However, for the purposes of this series, I’ll just present the statement in predicate logic first.

# Predicate Logic and Popular Culture (Part 120): Crossfade

Let $C(t)$ be the proposition “At time $t$, I meant to be so cold.” Translate the logical statement

$\forall t < 0 \lnot C(t)$.

This matches the echo of this song by Crossfade.

Context: This semester, I taught discrete mathematics for the first time. Part of the discrete mathematics course includes an introduction to predicate and propositional logic for our math majors. As you can probably guess from their names, students tend to think these concepts are dry and uninteresting even though they’re very important for their development as math majors.

In an effort to making these topics more appealing, I spent a few days mining the depths of popular culture in a (likely futile) attempt to make these ideas more interesting to my students. In this series, I’d like to share what I found. Naturally, the sources that I found have varying levels of complexity, which is appropriate for students who are first learning prepositional and predicate logic.

When I actually presented these in class, I either presented the logical statement and had my class guess the statement in actual English, or I gave my students the famous quote and them translate it into predicate logic. However, for the purposes of this series, I’ll just present the statement in predicate logic first.

# Predicate Logic and Popular Culture (Part 119): Billy Joel

Let $p$ be the proposition “I’m gonna try for an uptown girl,” let $B(x)$ the proposition “$x$ has hot blood,” let $q$ be the proposition “She’s looking for a downtown man,” and let $r$ be the proposition “I’m a downtown man.” Also, define the function $f(x)$ to be how long $x$ has lived in a white bread world. Translate the logical statement

$p \land \forall x (B(x) \Rightarrow (f(x) \le f(\hbox{she})) \land q \land r$.

Of course, this matches the first chorus of the Billy Joel classic.

Context: This semester, I taught discrete mathematics for the first time. Part of the discrete mathematics course includes an introduction to predicate and propositional logic for our math majors. As you can probably guess from their names, students tend to think these concepts are dry and uninteresting even though they’re very important for their development as math majors.

In an effort to making these topics more appealing, I spent a few days mining the depths of popular culture in a (likely futile) attempt to make these ideas more interesting to my students. In this series, I’d like to share what I found. Naturally, the sources that I found have varying levels of complexity, which is appropriate for students who are first learning prepositional and predicate logic.

When I actually presented these in class, I either presented the logical statement and had my class guess the statement in actual English, or I gave my students the famous quote and them translate it into predicate logic. However, for the purposes of this series, I’ll just present the statement in predicate logic first.

# Predicate Logic and Popular Culture (Part 118): Bruno Mars

Let $D(x)$ be the proposition “Today I am doing $x$.” Translate the logical statement

$\forall x \lnot D(x)$.

This matches the closing line of the chorus of the Bruno Mars song.

Context: This semester, I taught discrete mathematics for the first time. Part of the discrete mathematics course includes an introduction to predicate and propositional logic for our math majors. As you can probably guess from their names, students tend to think these concepts are dry and uninteresting even though they’re very important for their development as math majors.

In an effort to making these topics more appealing, I spent a few days mining the depths of popular culture in a (likely futile) attempt to make these ideas more interesting to my students. In this series, I’d like to share what I found. Naturally, the sources that I found have varying levels of complexity, which is appropriate for students who are first learning prepositional and predicate logic.

When I actually presented these in class, I either presented the logical statement and had my class guess the statement in actual English, or I gave my students the famous quote and them translate it into predicate logic. However, for the purposes of this series, I’ll just present the statement in predicate logic first.

# Predicate Logic and Popular Culture (Part 117): Kelly Clarkson

Let $K(x)$ be the proposition “$x$ kills you,” let $S(x)$ be the proposition “$x$ makes you stronger,” and let $T(x)$ be the proposition “$x$ makes you stand a little taller.” Translate the logical statement

$\forall x( \lnot K(x) \Rightarrow (S(x) \land T(x)))$.

This matches the first line of this hit song by Kelly Clarkson.

Context: This semester, I taught discrete mathematics for the first time. Part of the discrete mathematics course includes an introduction to predicate and propositional logic for our math majors. As you can probably guess from their names, students tend to think these concepts are dry and uninteresting even though they’re very important for their development as math majors.

In an effort to making these topics more appealing, I spent a few days mining the depths of popular culture in a (likely futile) attempt to make these ideas more interesting to my students. In this series, I’d like to share what I found. Naturally, the sources that I found have varying levels of complexity, which is appropriate for students who are first learning prepositional and predicate logic.

When I actually presented these in class, I either presented the logical statement and had my class guess the statement in actual English, or I gave my students the famous quote and them translate it into predicate logic. However, for the purposes of this series, I’ll just present the statement in predicate logic first.

# Predicate Logic and Popular Culture (Part 116): George Strait

Let $G(x)$ be the proposition “I’ve got $x$,” let $P(x)$ be the proposition “$x$ is ocean-front property,” and let $A(x)$ be the proposition “$x$ is in Arizona.” Translate the logical statement

$\exists x (G(x) \land P(x) \land A(x))$.

This matches the opening line of this country classic by King George Strait.

Context: This semester, I taught discrete mathematics for the first time. Part of the discrete mathematics course includes an introduction to predicate and propositional logic for our math majors. As you can probably guess from their names, students tend to think these concepts are dry and uninteresting even though they’re very important for their development as math majors.

In an effort to making these topics more appealing, I spent a few days mining the depths of popular culture in a (likely futile) attempt to make these ideas more interesting to my students. In this series, I’d like to share what I found. Naturally, the sources that I found have varying levels of complexity, which is appropriate for students who are first learning prepositional and predicate logic.

When I actually presented these in class, I either presented the logical statement and had my class guess the statement in actual English, or I gave my students the famous quote and them translate it into predicate logic. However, for the purposes of this series, I’ll just present the statement in predicate logic first.

# Predicate Logic and Popular Culture (Part 115): Cascada

Let $T(t)$ be the proposition “We touch at time $t$,” let $G(t)$ be the proposition “I get this feeling at time $t$,” let $K(t)$ be the proposition “We kiss at time $t$,” and let $F(t)$ be the proposition “I swear I can fly at time $t$.” Translate the logical statement

$\forall t ((T(t) \Rightarrow G(t)) \land (K(t) \Rightarrow F(t)))$.

This matches the first two lines of this hit by Cascada.

Context: This semester, I taught discrete mathematics for the first time. Part of the discrete mathematics course includes an introduction to predicate and propositional logic for our math majors. As you can probably guess from their names, students tend to think these concepts are dry and uninteresting even though they’re very important for their development as math majors.

In an effort to making these topics more appealing, I spent a few days mining the depths of popular culture in a (likely futile) attempt to make these ideas more interesting to my students. In this series, I’d like to share what I found. Naturally, the sources that I found have varying levels of complexity, which is appropriate for students who are first learning prepositional and predicate logic.

When I actually presented these in class, I either presented the logical statement and had my class guess the statement in actual English, or I gave my students the famous quote and them translate it into predicate logic. However, for the purposes of this series, I’ll just present the statement in predicate logic first.

# Predicate Logic and Popular Culture (Part 114): Game of Thrones

Let $p$ be the statement “You are Jon Snow,” and let $K(x)$ be the proposition “You know $x$.” Translate the logical statement

$p \land \forall x \lnot K(x)$.

I’m not a fan of Game of Thrones, but one of my students tells me that this is a famous line from that series.

Context: Part of the discrete mathematics course includes an introduction to predicate and propositional logic for our math majors. As you can probably guess from their names, students tend to think these concepts are dry and uninteresting even though they’re very important for their development as math majors.

In an effort to making these topics more appealing, I spent a few days mining the depths of popular culture in a (likely futile) attempt to make these ideas more interesting to my students. In this series, I’d like to share what I found. Naturally, the sources that I found have varying levels of complexity, which is appropriate for students who are first learning prepositional and predicate logic.

When I actually presented these in class, I either presented the logical statement and had my class guess the statement in actual English, or I gave my students the famous quote and them translate it into predicate logic. However, for the purposes of this series, I’ll just present the statement in predicate logic first.