Last week and this week in CSC165 classes, we discussed about precise expressions, problem solving, quantifiers, some symbols, implications, and logical connectives.
The problem solving part was really interesting with the streetcar drama. The thought process, in which we figured out that there had to be two or more combinations that had the same sum since knowing the sum wasn't enough and there should be a pair of twins since knowing there is only one eldest child revealed the answer, is quite exciting to me. It's like one of those fun logic puzzles that I loved to do as a child. Whenever I solved the puzzle, it's like my brain got its food. So I went home and figured out the solution to be 2 2 9.
The ideas of quantifiers, which set properties and connect properties of elements to properties of sets, and how to evaluate them, verifying and falsifying universal and existential claims, were new to me. But this part was also very intuitive and self-explanatory. So it's not hard to grasp the concept.
As for the second week's contents, since I'm taking PHL245 simultaneously, it feels kinda like Deja Vu when my mind wandered a little bit in class. Now I think I know why our PHL245 prof asked us if some of us were from computer science and heard that PHL245 was an easy A. At least for the logic part, both the courses covered concepts like antecedent and consequent, negation and contrapositive, if, only if, necessary and sufficient. Some of the symbols were different though.
Since it is logic, for the most part it is intuitive, we just need to think it through. For example, if P is necessary for Q, then, if you have Q, you must have P, since without P, you won't get Q. Therefore, Q is the antecedent and P would be the consequent. That's just one of the easy examples. I did enjoyed the time when we had to figure out what the correct logic relationships were and express them symbolically for some tricky implications.
Mmm...
The tutorial was fun. Our TA even prepared treats for us :)
Anyway, the bottom line is:
Go Take PHL245 if you are looking for some courses in BR2 o(*￣▽￣*)o
