# Predicate Logic and Popular Culture (Part 162): Chris Young

Let $L(t)$ be proposition “We are the life of the party at time $t$,” where $t = 0$ is now. Translate the logical statement

$\lnot L(0) \land \exists t<0 (L(t))$.

This is the first line of this hit country song by Chris Young.

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.

# Predicate Logic and Popular Culture (Part 161): Buffalo Springfield

Let $R(x)$ be the proposition “$x$ is right” and let $W(x)$ be the proposition “$x$ is wrong.”Translate the logical statement

$\forall x( W(x)) \Rightarrow \lnot \exists x (R(x))$.

This matches the second line of the second verse of this classic song from the 1960s.

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.

# Predicate Logic and Popular Culture (Part 160): Florida Georgia Line/Backstreet Boys

Let $f(x)$ measure how much $x$ loves you, and let $P$ be the set of all people. Translate the logical statement

$\forall x\in P \setminus \{\hbox{God}, \hbox{your mama}, \hbox{me}\} ((f(x) \le \min(f(\hbox{God}), f(\hbox{your mama}), f(\hbox{me})))$.

This matches the chorus of a recent hit country song by Florida Georgia Line featuring the Backstreet Boys.

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.

# Predicate Logic and Popular Culture (Part 159): Miranda Lambert

Let $R(x)$ be the proposition “You are running with $x$,” let $G(x)$ be the proposition “$x$ is a girl,” let $T(x)$ be the proposition “$x$ is in town,” and let $f(x)$ measure how fast $x$ is. Translate the logical statement

$R(I) \land G(I) \land T(I) \land \forall x( (G(x) \land T(x) \land x \ne I) \Rightarrow (f(x) < f(I))$.

This matches the key line in one of Miranda Lambert’s hit songs.

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.

# Predicate Logic and Popular Culture (Part 158): Carrie Underwood

Let $H(t)$ the proposition “He hit a woman at time $t$.” Translate the logical statement

$\exists t (H(t) \land \forall s > t (\lnot H(s))$.

This matches one of the climactic lines of a recent country ballad by Carrie Underwood.

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.

# Predicate Logic and Popular Culture (Part 157): Shakira

Let $M(x,t)$ be the proposition “At time $t$ and at place $x$, we are meant to be together.” Translate the logical statement

$\forall t \forall x (M(x,t))$.

This matches the breakout hit song by Shakira.

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.

# Predicate Logic and Popular Culture (Part 156): Doris Day

Let $M(x)$ be the proposition “$x$ is a lover,” and let $L(x,y)$ be the proposition “$x$ loves $y$.” Translate the logical statement

$\forall y (M(y) \rightarrow \forall x (L(x,y)) \land M(I) \land \forall y (L(I,y))$.

This matches the opening words of this wonderful old-time song by Doris Day.

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.

# Predicate Logic and Popular Culture (Part 155): They Might Be Giants

Let $L(x)$ be the proposition “$x$ is lazy,” let $B(x)$ be the proposition “$x" is a boyfriend," and let$latex C(x)\$ be the proposition “$x$ is preparing to change.” Translate the logical statement

$\forall x (L(x) \land B(x) \Rightarrow C(x))$.

This is the opening line of a recent song by They Might Be Giants.

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.

# Predicate Logic and Popular Culture (Part 154): Whitney Houston

Let $D(x)$ the proposition “I want to dance with $x$,” and let $H(x)$ be the proposition with “I want to feel the heat with $x$.” Translate the logical statement

$\exists x (D(x) \land H(x))$.

This matches the chorus of this classic song by Whitney Houston.

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.