Discrete Mathematics and Its Applications, Seventh Edition

Published by McGraw-Hill Education
ISBN 10: 0073383090
ISBN 13: 978-0-07338-309-5

Chapter 1 - Section 1.8 - Proof Methods and Strategy - Exercises - Page 108: 4

Answer

$min(a,min(b,c))=min(min(a,b),c)$

Work Step by Step

We are given the real numbers $a,b,c$. Case 1: $min(a,min(b,c))=a$ $a\leq min(b,c)$ $a\leq b$ and $a\leq c$ $min(min(a,b),c)=min(a,c)=a$ So we got: $min(a,min(b,c))=min(min(a,b),c)=a$ Case 2: $min(a,min(b,c))=b$ $min(b,c)\leq a$ and $min(b,c)=b$ $b\leq a$ and $b\leq c$ $min(min(a,b),c)=min(b,c)=b$ So we got: $min(a,min(b,c))=min(min(a,b),c)=b$ Case 3: $min(a,min(b,c))=c$ $min(b,c)\leq a$ and $min(b,c)=c$ $c\leq a$ and $c\leq b$ $c\leq min(a,b)$ $min(min(a,b),c)=c$ So we got: $min(a,min(b,c))=min(min(a,b),c)=c$
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