First-Order Logic
A formal system for expressing logical statements that can be used to represent relationships between variables and constants. It extends propositional logic by allowing the use of quantifiers, such as ‘for all’ and ‘there exists’, to create more complex expressions.
Areas of application
- Artificial Intelligence
- Database Systems
- Knowledge Representation
- Computer Programming
- Automated Reasoning
- Formal Verification
- Computer Science Education
- Philosophy and Logic
Example
The statement ‘For all x, y: X(x) ∧ Y(y) → Z(x, y)’ can be used to express a relationship between two variables, x and y, where the presence of X(x) and Y(y) guarantees the presence of Z(x, y).