Truth Values

In logic, we assign a truth value to every statement. Classical logic is bivalent: every statement is either true (1) or false (0).

• 1 = true
• 0 = false

This notation shows that the truth value of a statement p is always an element of the set {0,1}.

Examples

• "10 is divisible by 2" → truth value 1.
• "15 is a prime number" → truth value 0.
• "The sky is blue" → truth value 1.

Everyday Application

The concept of truth values is also the foundation of computer science. Computer operation is built on 0 and 1 logic: every instruction, data, and condition can be traced back to truth values.

Summary

Every logical statement has a truth value, which in classical logic is either 0 (false) or 1 (true). This is the basis of thinking in mathematics and computer science.

Practice Exercise