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A predicate is a statement or mathematical assertion that contains variables, sometimes referred to as predicate variables, and may be true or false depending on those variables’ value or values. In propositional logic, atomic formulas are sometimes regarded as zero-place predicates. [1] In a sense, these are nullary (i.e. 0-arity) predicates.
If "predicate variables" are only allowed to be bound to predicate letters of zero arity (which have no arguments), where such letters represent propositions, then such variables are propositional variables, and any predicate logic which allows second-order quantifiers to be used to bind such propositional variables is a second-order predicate ...
A Boolean-valued function (sometimes called a predicate or a proposition) is a function of the type f : X → B, where X is an arbitrary set and where B is a Boolean domain, i.e. a generic two-element set, (for example B = {0, 1}), whose elements are interpreted as logical values, for example, 0 = false and 1 = true, i.e., a single bit of information.
In computer science and mathematics, more precisely in automata theory, model theory and formal language, a regular numerical predicate is a kind of relation over integers. Regular numerical predicates can also be considered as a subset of for some arity . One of the main interests of this class of predicates is that it can be defined in plenty ...
In propositional calculus, a propositional function or a predicate is a sentence expressed in a way that would assume the value of true or false, except that within the sentence there is a variable (x) that is not defined or specified (thus being a free variable), which leaves the statement undetermined.
For predicate logic, the atoms are predicate symbols together with their arguments, each argument being a term. According to some terminology, an open formula is formed by combining atomic formulas using only logical connectives, to the exclusion of quantifiers. [15] This is not to be confused with a formula which is not closed.
In predicate logic, universal instantiation [1] [2] [3] (UI; also called universal specification or universal elimination, [citation needed] and sometimes confused with dictum de omni) [citation needed] is a valid rule of inference from a truth about each member of a class of individuals to the truth about a particular individual of that class.
The equality predicate (usually written '=') is also treated as a logical constant in many systems of logic. One of the fundamental questions in the philosophy of logic is "What is a logical constant?"; [1] that is, what special feature of certain constants makes them logical in nature? [2] Some symbols that are commonly treated as logical ...