I keep trying to reason how is letter C the answer to this question, but I can't fully understand how can one find the solution to this type of problems. What I understand:
There's 2 arguments in the given truth function, therefore we have 2^(2) = 4 total statements. This is because we have f(x, y) = k. In the case we had 3 arguments/variables, then we would have f(x, y, z) = k.
The f( T, F) = T is the only statement that results true for when the values T, F are assigned to the respective variables. (i.e. In the case P = T and Q = F, or Q = T, and P = F).
For any compound statement the function F(T, F) has to result in true.
The algorithm for TRUE function:
Input: A truth function F with an n number of arguments x_1, x_2, x_3, ..., x_n.
Output: A statement S whose truth function is f. This statement can only involve the connectives of conjunction "AND", disjunction "OR" , and negation "~".
Step 1:
Consider a basic statement q_i for each argument x_i of f, where i = 1,2,3, .., n.
Step 2:
For each combination of values for the arguments x_1, x_2, x_3, ..., x_n. Consider the statement:
S_j = P^(1)_j "AND" P^(2)_j "AND"... "AND" P^(n)_j.
where, P^i _ j {
q_i IF x_i = T
~q_i IF x_i = F
}
Step 3:
Let J_1, J_2, J_3, ..., J_k. Be the index for the combination of values for x_1, x_2, x_3, ..., x_n that force f to produce T.
S = S_ J_1 "OR" S_ J_2 "OR" S_ J_3
CLAIM I: Every statement S_J is only true for the combination of values that we used to construct it.
CLAIM II: For each combination of values, there is only one S_J that is true for that combination.
PICTURE OF THE PROBLEM HERE:
https://i.stack.imgur.com/iJOln.jpg
Sorry for the notation, I don't know any text editors for this sort of syntax. I hope is readable.
Thank you in advance!
The problem uses $f(p,q)$, so $p$ is the first argument, and $q$ the second. So, the truth table shows that the only case where $f$ returns True is if $p=T$ and $q=F$. If $q=T$ and $p=F$ then $f(p,q)=F$. So, what you have at the very end of the second bullet point is wrong. (And maybe now it is easier to see what the correct answer is!)