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Exercise 1861Logic, sets and proofs › Quantifiers and negationL1Added 3 Nov 2026

Logical equivalence of quantified statements

#equivalence#quantifiers#distribution

Statement

Is ∀x, (P(x)∧Q(x))\forall x,\ (P(x)\land Q(x)) equivalent to (∀x, P(x))∧(∀x, Q(x))(\forall x,\ P(x))\land(\forall x,\ Q(x))?

Hint

Show both implications.

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Solution

Forward. If every xx satisfies both PP and QQ, then every xx satisfies PP, and every xx satisfies QQ.

Backward. If every xx satisfies PP, and every xx satisfies QQ, then for any xx, both P(x)P(x) and Q(x)Q(x) hold.

Conclusion. Yes, the equivalence holds.

Contrast. ∀x, (P(x)∨Q(x))\forall x,\ (P(x)\lor Q(x)) is *not* equivalent to (∀x, P(x))∨(∀x, Q(x))(\forall x,\ P(x))\lor(\forall x,\ Q(x)).