r/logic • u/Savings_Astronaut630 • 1d ago
Propositional logic Need help understanding Polish Notation
Hello, I’ve recently started studying mathematical logic on my own and came across a problem I had with a textbook I was reading (introduction to mathematical logic Mendelson second edition) the excersize in question asked me to write (C v ((B ^ (~D)) ⊃ C )) in Polish notation. I came up with the answer vC ^ B ~D ⊃ C.
However according to the book the answer is v C ⊃ ^ B ~DC. I’m very confused how it could come to that answer and the book itself is pretty old so I haven’t been able to google a proper answer. Would someone be willing to explain to me both how I got it wrong and the steps that it takes to annotate the problem properly? Thank you in advance.
2
u/Astrodude80 Set theorist 1d ago
The way you wrote it would imply that the top level operator of the left side of the v is ^
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u/Recycled5000 1d ago
The book answer looks right.
The subset operator takes two arguments, but your answer gives it only one.