Exercise 3.1.6
Prove Proposition 3.1.27. (Hint: one can use some of these claims to prove others. Some of the claims have also appeared previously in Lemma 3.1.12.)
Let's write out Proposition 3.1.27.
Proposition 3.1.27 (Sets form a boolean algebra). Let , , be sets, and let be a set containing , , as subsets.
(a) (Minimal element) We have and .
(b) (Maximal element)We have and .
(c) (Identity) We have and .
(d) (Commutativity) We have and .
(e) (Associativity) We have and .
(f) (Distributivity) We have and .
(g) (Partition) We have and .
(h) (De Morgan laws) We have and .
Let's prove each in turn.
(a) Minimal Element
We need to show and .
Let's start with the first and use the definition of a pairwise union, Axiom 3.5.
The definition of an empty set, Axiom 3.5, tells us that an empty set has no members. That is, is never true. So the above simplifies to
Thus .
Now let's consider and use the definition of intersection, Definition 3.1.22.
The definition of an empty set, Axiom 3.5, tell us that an empty set has no members. So the expression is always false. That is, is never true.
Thus .
(b) Maximal Element
We need to show and .
We have already shown in Exercise 3.1.5 that , , are logically equivalent. Here we have and so , are true.
(c) Identity
We need to show and .
Let's use the definition of a pairwise union, Axiom 3.5, and equate .
This gives us .
Now let's use the definition of intersection, Definition 3.1.22, and equate .
This gives us .
(d) Commutativity
We need to show and .
Let's use the definition of a pairwise union, Axiom 3.5.
The second line is justified because logical disjunction is commutative.
So we have .
Now let's use the definition of intersection, Definition 3.1.22.
The second line is justified because logical conjunction is commutative.
So we have .
(e) Associativity
We need to show and .
The first identity that union is associative is Lemma 3.1.12 proven in the text.
Now we turn to the second identity . Using Definition 3.1.22 of intersection,
This gives us .
Considering ,
This gives us and .
So in summary we have that all , and are true.
Using and , and Definition 3.1.22 of intersection,
And using ,
That is, .
(f) Distributivity
We need to show and .
Let's start with the first identity, and use Definition 3.1.22 of intersection,
This gives us as true, as well as .
Consider and use the definition of a pairwise union, Axiom 3.5,
This gives us two combinations, at least one of which must be true
"At least one of which must be true" means a disjunction between the two statements.
This proves the first identity . .
Now let's consider the RHS of the second identity, and use Definition 3.1.22 of intersection,
Applying the definition of union Axiom 3.5, we have two combinations, both of which must be true
If then both of these statements are true. If , then both statements are only true if and . That is, .
So we have shown, .
(g) Partition
We need to show and .
Let's start with the first identity , and use Axiom 3.5 which defines union,
Since , we have , which gives us
The last step is true because is true, or is true, and in both cases .
So we have . We now need to show .
Consider . Since , we have . The case combined with , which is true by hypothesis, gives us . So we have
That is, .
Having shown both , and , we can conclude .
Now let's consider the second identity , and use Definition 3.1.22 of intersection,
So both and must be true. However, Definition 3.1.26 for set difference tells us that means . The only solution to this apparent contradiction is if .
So we have .
(h) De Morgan's Laws
We need to show and .
Let's start with the first identity , and use the Definition 3.1.26 for set difference.
Both statements and must be true. Let's consider the second statement.
This is because .
We can write these as two combined statements, both of which must be true.
Which is equivalent to .
So we have shown .
Now let's consider the second identity , and use the Definition 3.1.26 for set difference.
Both statements and must be true. Let's consider the second statement.
This is because .
We can write these as two combined statements, at least one of which must be true.
Which is equivalent to .
So we have shown .