If a variable does not exist is it bound?

77 Views Asked by At

I've been doing Logic equivalences questions and I've been taught that a variable $x$ is bound if it is under any quantifier such as $ \exists $ or $ \forall$ however I've come across a question where in the answer it states that a variable is bound even though no quantifier exists to bound it:

$ \forall y [\exists x P(x,y) \Rightarrow \neg S(y)] $

$ \forall y \forall x [P(x,y) \Rightarrow \neg S(y)] $ by equivalence 37: note that $x$ is not free in $S(y)$.

Equivalence 37 in my notes states

Note: If $x$ does not occur free in $B$

$ \forall x (A\Rightarrow B) $ eqv $ \exists x A \Rightarrow B $

$ \exists x (A \Rightarrow B) $ eqv $ \forall x A \Rightarrow B $

Maybe I'm misunderstanding something here? Can someone please explain what it means?