Math and natural language

I had the good fortune as an undergraduate to have a “bridge class” in my math curriculum. We learned basic logic, set manipulation, formal functions and relations, proof structure and induction. In that class our instructor had us read an article by Reuben Hirsch called “Math Lingo vs. Plain English: Double Entendre” (published in the […]

Implication Quiz

1. Willie Nelson’s song “I’d Have to be Crazy” contains the line I’d have to be crazy to fall out of love with you. Based on that hypothesis, he asserts The place where I hold you is true, so I know I’m all right. Is this a logically valid argument? That is, is still being […]