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Meaning of QUANTIFIER

Pronunciation:  'kwântu`fIur

WordNet Dictionary
 
 Definition: 
  1. [n]  (grammar) a word that expresses a quantity (as `fifteen' or `many')
  2. [n]  (logic) a word (such as `some' or `all` or `no') that binds the variables in a logical proposition
 
 Websites: 
 
 Synonyms: logical quantifier
 
 See Also: existential operator, existential quantifier, universal quantifier, word

 

 

Computing Dictionary
 
 Definition: 

An operator in predicate logic specifying for which values of a variable a formula is true. Universally quantified means "for all values" (written with an inverted A, LaTeX \forall) and existentially quantified means "there exists some value" (written with a reversed E, LaTeX \exists). To be unambiguous, the set to which the values of the variable belong should be specified, though this is often omitted when it is clear from the context (the "universe of discourse"). E.g.

        Forall x . P(x)  <=>  not (Exists x . not P(x))

meaning that any x (in some unspecified set) has property P which is equivalent to saying that there does not exist any x which does not have the property.

If a variable is not quantified then it is a free variable. In logic programming this usually means that it is actually universally quantified.

See also first order logic.

 

 

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