Praeclarum Theorema

Theorem
The praeclarum theorema (PT), or splendid theorem, is a theorem of classical propositional calculus:


 * $$(p \implies q) \and (r \implies s) \vdash (p \and r) \implies (q \and s)$$

Representing propositions as logical graphs under the existential interpretation, the praeclarum theorema is expressed by means of the following formal equation:

Proof by Truth Table
We apply the Method of Truth Tables to the proposition.

As can be seen for all models by inspection, where the truth value under the main connective on the LHS is $$T$$, that under the one on the RHS is also $$T$$:

$$\begin{array}{|ccccccc||ccccccc|} \hline (p & \implies & q) & \and & (r & \implies & s) & (p & \and & r) & \implies & (q & \and & s) \\ \hline F & T & F & T & F & T & F & F & F & F & T & F & F & F \\ F & T & F & T & F & T & T & F & F & F & T & F & F & T \\ F & T & F & F & T & F & F & F & F & T & T & F & F & F \\ F & T & F & T & T & T & T & F & F & T & T & F & F & T \\ F & T & T & T & F & T & F & F & F & F & T & T & F & F \\ F & T & T & T & F & T & T & F & F & F & T & T & T & T \\ F & T & T & F & T & F & F & F & F & T & T & T & F & F \\ F & T & T & T & T & T & T & F & F & T & T & T & T & T \\ T & F & F & F & F & T & F & T & F & F & T & F & F & F \\ T & F & F & F & F & T & T & T & F & F & T & F & F & T \\ T & F & F & F & T & F & F & T & T & T & F & F & F & F \\ T & F & F & F & T & T & T & T & T & T & F & F & F & T \\ T & T & T & T & F & T & F & T & F & F & T & T & F & F \\ T & T & T & T & F & T & T & T & F & F & T & T & T & T \\ T & T & T & F & T & F & F & T & T & T & F & T & F & F \\ T & T & T & T & T & T & T & T & T & T & T & T & T & T \\ \hline \end{array}$$

Hence the result.

Note that the two formulas are not equivalent, as the relevant columns do not match exactly.

Also see
Compare the Constructive Dilemma, which is similar in appearance.

History
The praeclarum theorema was noted and named by G. W. Leibniz, who stated and proved it in the following manner:


 * If $$a$$ is $$b$$ and $$d$$ is $$c$$, then $$ad$$ will be $$bc$$.


 * This is a fine theorem, which is proved in this way:


 * $$a$$ is $$b$$, therefore $$ad$$ is $$bd$$ (by what precedes),


 * $$d$$ is $$c$$, therefore $$bd$$ is $$bc$$ (again by what precedes),


 * $$ad$$ is $$bd$$, and $$bd$$ is $$bc$$, therefore $$ad$$ is $$bc$$.


 * Q.E.D.


 * (Leibniz, Logical Papers, p. 41).

Readings

 * Sowa, John F. (2002), "Peirce's Rules of Inference", Online.

Resources

 * Dau, Frithjof (2008), Computer Animated Proof of Leibniz's Praeclarum Theorema.


 * Megill, Norman (2008), Praeclarum Theorema @ Metamath Proof Explorer.