Alfred Tarski was the first mathematician to give a formal definition of what it means for a formula   to be βtrueβ in a structure
 to be βtrueβ in a structure   . To do this, we need to provide a meaning to terms, and truth-values to the formulas. In doing this, free variables
 . To do this, we need to provide a meaning to terms, and truth-values to the formulas. In doing this, free variables   cause a problem : what value are they going to have ? One possible answer is to supply temporary values for the free variables, and define our notions in terms of these temporary values.
 cause a problem : what value are they going to have ? One possible answer is to supply temporary values for the free variables, and define our notions in terms of these temporary values.

Let π be a structure with signature Ο . Suppose β is an interpretation , and Ο is a function that assigns elements of A to variables, we define the function Val β , Ο inductively on the construction of terms :
| Val β , Ο β‘ ( c ) | = | β β’ ( c ) c β’ a constant symbol | 
| Val β , Ο β‘ ( x ) | = | Ο β’ ( x ) x β’ a variable | 
| Val β , Ο β‘ ( f β’ ( t 1 , β¦ , t n ) ) | = | β β’ ( f ) β’ ( Val β , Ο β‘ ( t 1 ) , β¦ , Val β , Ο β‘ ( t n ) ) f β’ an β’ n β’ -ary function symbol | 
Now we are set to define satisfaction   . Again we have to take care of free variables by assigning temporary values to them via a function Ο . We define the relation
 . Again we have to take care of free variables by assigning temporary values to them via a function Ο . We define the relation   π , Ο β§ Ο by induction
 π , Ο β§ Ο by induction   on the construction of formulas :
 on the construction of formulas :
| π , Ο | β§ | t 1 = t 2 β’ if and only if β’ Val β , Ο β‘ ( t 1 ) = Val β , Ο β‘ ( t 2 ) | 
| π , Ο | β§ | R β’ ( t 1 , β¦ , t n ) β’ if and only if β’ ( Val β , Ο β‘ ( t 1 ) , β¦ , Val β , Ο β‘ ( t 1 ) ) β β β’ ( R ) | 
| π , Ο | β§ | Β¬ β’ Ο β’ if and only if β’ π , Ο β§ΜΈ Ο | 
| π , Ο | β§ | Ο β¨ Ο β’ if and only if either β’ π , Ο β§ Ο β’ or β’ π , Ο β§ Ο | 
| π , Ο | β§ | β x . Ο β’ ( x ) β’ if and only if for some β’ a β A , π , Ο β’ [ x / a ] β§ Ο | 
| Ο β’ [ x / a ] β’ ( y ) β’ < a if β’ x = y Ο β’ ( y ) else. | 

In case for some Ο of L , we have π , Ο β§ Ο , we say that π models , or is a model of , or satisfies Ο . If Ο has the free variables x 1 , β¦ , x n , and a 1 , β¦ , a n β A , we also write π β§ Ο β’ ( a 1 , β¦ , a n ) or π β§ Ο β’ ( a 1 / x 1 , β¦ , a n / x n ) instead of π , Ο β’ [ x 1 / a 1 ] β’ β― β’ [ x n / a n ] β§ Ο . In case Ο is a sentence (formula with no free variables), we write π β§ Ο .
| Title | satisfaction relation | 
|---|---|
| Canonical name | SatisfactionRelation | 
| Date of creation | 2013-03-22 12:43:56 | 
| Last modified on | 2013-03-22 12:43:56 | 
| Owner | CWoo (3771) | 
| Last modified by | CWoo (3771) | 
| Numerical id | 14 | 
| Author | CWoo (3771) | 
| Entry type | Definition | 
| Classification | msc 03C07 | 
| Related topic | Model | 
| Defines | satisfaction | 
| Defines | satisfy | 
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