universal quantifier
- noun
- /ˈjuːnɪvɜrsəl ˈkwɒntɪfaɪər/
- Specialized
:
cuantificador universal
- When we say 'for every x, P(x) holds,' we are using a universal quantifier to express a statement about all elements in the universe of discourse.
Yes, you can also think of universal quantifiers where if all of the paths going out of here end up with yes, then we're happy.
- Yes, you can also think of universal quantifiers where if all of the paths going out of here end up with yes, then we're happy.
Examples
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Mathematical statements often utilize a universal quantifier to indicate that a property is true for all elements of a given group.
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Yes, you can also think of universal quantifiers where if all of the paths going out of here end up with yes, then we're happy.
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In logic, the symbol ∀ represents the universal quantifier, meaning that the statement applies to every member of the set.
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'universal' = applying to all, and 'quantifier' = an operator that specifies scope, so together they denote an operator that applies to all members of a set. Although the phrase is technical vocabulary in logic, the semantic combination is transparent and predictable for a learner who already knows both constituent words.
Etymology
The term universal quantifier comes from logic. Imagine a big stamp put on a sentence that says universal ('for every') and quantifier ('how many'), so the stamp shows the sentence is true for all members of a group.
