Answer to Question #167482 in Discrete Mathematics for Caleb Kudzuh

Question

State the value of x after the statement if P(x) then x:=1 is executed, where P(x) is the statement

“x > 1,”

Given that thevalue of x when thisstatement is reachedis [3 marks]

a) x=0

b) x=1

c) x =2

Answer 1

Consider the statement "if $P(x)$ then $x := 1$" which is equivalent to "if $x>1$ then $x := 1$"

a) If $x=0$, then the statement "P(0)="0>1"" is false, and thus the value of $x$ is equal to 0 after the statement "if $P(x)$ then $x := 1$".

b) If $x=1$, then the statement "P(1)="1>1"" is false, and thus the value of $x$ is equal to 1 after the statement "if $P(x)$ then $x := 1$".

c) If $x=2$, then the statement "P(2)="2>1"" is true, and thus the value of $x$ is equal to 1 after the statement "if $P(x)$ then $x := 1$".