Mathematical logic is the basis of Computer Science. Teaching CS students mathematical logic can be a very strenuous act. It is difficult to invent simple but convincing examples. It is also difficult to pass the symbolic notation. I stumbled on a real interesting way I could make students understand mathematica logic (symbolic logic). I was inspired by an amazing book by Raymond Smullyan (The lady or the tiger, and other logic puzzles, Pub.: Alferd Knopf Inc.). I took the first puzzle in that book and explained it to my students in so many words. I gave them the solution, also in so many words. I then asked them to explain the same, but without using any English language words -- just use math notation and symbols. I let them struggle for some time and then gave them the solution (in fact two of them). This time I did not use "so many words", it was all in math symbols. I showed them how elegant and simple the resultant text was. I showed them how we could avoid the many ambiguities and pitfalls of a natural language like English. The puzzle and the solution will soon be published on the web, and announced in this blog. watch this space !
mathematics
