More on NOT

This page contains more examples of the use of NOT.

The logical operator NOT is written ! when writing a program in Java. here both NOT and ! are used because it is important to know both.

Often T is written for true and F for false.

Putting NOT before a true statement creates a false statement. Putting NOT before a false statement creates a true statement. This is summarised in the truth table for NOT.

Example 1

What is the truth value of NOT $3=3$?

Answer: $3=3$ is T (true). So NOT $3=3$ is F (false).

Example 2

What is the truth value of $!3=3$?

Answer: $!3=3$ could be written as $!(3=3)$. It is the same as NOT $3=3$. therefore it is F.

Example 3

What is the truth value of "\$1000 is not less money than \$5"?

Answer: We could write this as NOT (\$1000 is less money than \$5). We know that (\$1000 is less money than \$5) is F, so NOT (\$1000 is less money than \$5) is T.

Example 4

What is the truth value of $!!5\le 6$?

Answer: $5\le 6$ is T. So $!5\le 6$ is F. Therefore $!!5\le 6$ is T.

Some for you to try

Find the truth value of each statement (that is, decide whether each is true or false).

$5-3=0$ [ ]True [ ]False
$!5-3=0$ [ ]True [ ]False
$!!5-3=0$ [ ]True [ ]False
$!-1\lt 1$ [ ]True [ ]False
The sky is NOT always red. [ ]True [ ]False
$!0=0$ [ ]True [ ]False
$!!23\le 100$ [ ]True [ ]False

Check Answer

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Not quite. Try these questions for more practice.

$2+2=4$ [ ]True [ ]False
$!2+2=4$ [ ]True [ ]False
$!!2+2=4$ [ ]True [ ]False
Finnish is NOT the main language of Australia. [ ]True [ ]False
$!10\lt 100$ [ ]True [ ]False
NOT $10\lt 100$ [ ]True [ ]False

Check Answer

That's correct! You should move on to this page to continue your explorations.

Not quite. Read this page again and try the questions one more time.