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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Jobs in Mathematics

 

Courtesy of the Mathematical Association of America, here are some resources for finding a career in the mathematical sciences: http://www.maa.org/news/quantitative-careers-get-your-piece-of-the-math-jobs-pie

I’ll also link to the list of resources that my university provides to our math majors: http://math.unt.edu/support-math-department/careers-mathematics

A quick programming note: after 4 years (or roughly 1,500 consecutive days of posts), I’m going to be switching to posting on Mondays and Fridays. I recently moved to an administrative appointment at my university, and found through the school of hard knocks that I’m not going to be able to sustain daily posts while also doing my day job.

Predicate Logic and Popular Culture (Part 153): The Eagles

Let W(t) be the proposition “I try to walk away at time t,” and let S(x,t) be the proposition “At time t, $latex x makes me turn around and stay.” Translate the logical statement

\forall t (W(t) \rightarrow \exists x (S(x,t))).

This matches the opening lines of “I Can’t Tell You Why,” by the Eagles.

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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 152): Stevie Wonder

Let Z(x) be the proposition “We are amazed by x,” let A(x) be the proposition “We are amused by x, and let D(x) be the proposition “x is a thing you say you’ll do.” Translate the logical statement

\forall x (D(x) \Rightarrow Z(x) \land \lnot A(x)).

This matches the opening line of “You Haven’t Done Nothin'” by Stevie Wonder.

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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 151): Carly Rae Jepsen

Let L(x) be the proposition “I can have x,” and let D(x) be the proposition “You will do x.” Translate the logical statement

\lnot \exists x(\lnot L(x)) \land \lnot \exists x (\lnot D(x)).

This matches a line (complete with double negatives) from E-MO-TION by Carly Rae Jepsen.

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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 150): Katy Perry

Let S(x) be the proposition “I stood for x,” and let F(x) be the proposition “I fell for x.” Translate the logical statement

\forall x (\lnot S(x)) \land \forall x(F(x)).

This matches one of the lines in Katy Perry’s smash hit “Roar.”

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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.