1a) Let w represent "wages are raised", let b represent "buying increases", and let d represent "there is a depression."
The first premise (p1) is "If wages are raised, then
buying increases." This can be written symbolically as w
b.
The second premise (p2) is "If there is a depression, then wages are not
raised." This can be written symbolically as d ~w.
The conclusion (q) is "Therefore, either there is not a depression, or wages are not
raised." This can be written symbolically as ~d
V ~w.
Remember that an argument is written as a conjunction of the premises
implies the conclusion. So this argument can be represented as
[(w b) L (d ~w)]
(~d V ~w).
Now construct a truth table.
| w | b | d | w  b |
d ~w |
~d V ~w | ||
Complete the eight different truth value combinations for the variables w, b and d. The complete the other columns of the truth table.