The
Condition
al,
Biconditio
nal
I. Conditional
Statements
The conditional of the proposition p and q is denoted by p → q :
( If p, then q) and is define through its truth table.
p q p→q
T T T
T F F
F T T
F F T
The conditional p → q may also be read as “ p
implies q”. The proposition p is called the hypothesis,
while the proposition q is called the conclusion.
( T+F = F always ! )
p q r p→r
T T T T
T T F F
T F T T
T F F F
F T T T
F T F T
F F T T
F F F T
REAL LIFE APPLICATION
p1 : If Geebee is in Grade 11, then she is a
senior high school student.
p2 : If Geebee is in Grade 11, then she is
working as a lawyear.
p3 : If Geebee has degree in computer
science, then she believes in true love.
Example: Determine the truth value of each of the following.
a) If 2 is an integer, then 2 is a rational number.
b) If 3 is a negative number, then .
c) If , then
SOLUTION:
d) Because the conclusion is true, this is a true statement.
e) Because the premise is false, this is a true statement.
f) Because the premise is true and the conclusion is false, this is a false
statement.
Truth Table for the
Conditional
T T T
T F F
F T T
F F T
II. An Equivalent Form of
the Conditional
The conditional is equivalent to the disjunction .
Example: Write each of the following in its equivalent disjunctive form.
a. If I could play the guitar, I would join the band.
b. If David Beckham cannot play, then his team will lose.
Solution:
c. I cannot play the guitar or I would join the band.
d. David Beckham can play or his team will lose.
III. The Negation of the
Conditional
Example: Write the negation of each conditional statement.
a. If they pay me the money, I will sign the contract.
b. If the lines are parallel, then they do not intersect.
Solution:
c. They paid me the money and I did not sign the contract.
d. The lines are parallel and they intersect.
IV. The
Biconditional
The statement is called biconditional is denoted by ,
which is read as “ if and only if
is true if and have the SAME TRUTH VALUE.
Truth Table for the
Biconditional
T T T
T F F
F T F
F F T
Example: State whether each biconditional is true or false.
a. if and only if .
b. if and only if .
SOLUTION:
a. Both equations are true when , and both are false when.
Both equations have the same truth value for any value of , so this is a true
statement.
b. If , the first equation is true and the second equation is false. Thus, this is
a false statement.
V. Equivalent Forms of the
Conditional
Every conditional statement can be stated in many equivalent forms. It is not even
necessary to state the antecedent before the consequent. For instance, the
conditional
“If I live in Boston, then I must live in Massachusetts”
can also be stated as
I must live in Massachusetts, if I live in Boston.
Example: Write each of the following in “If , then ” form.
a) The number is an even number provided that it is divisible
by 2.
b) Today is Friday, only if yesterday was Thursday.
Solution:
c) If it is divisible by 2, then the number is an even number.
d) If today is Friday, then yesterday was Thursday,
VI. The Converse, Inverse
and the Contrapositive
Note:
the conditional (contrapositive)
the converse (inverse)
Example: Write the converse, inverse and contrapositive of
If I get the job, then I will rent the apartment.
Solution:
Converse: If I rent the apartment, then I get the job.
Inverse: If I do not get the job, then I will not rent the apartment.
Contrapositive: If I do not rent the apartment, then I did not get
the job.
Which are NOT
equivalent to
All cars have wheels.
A. If it is a car then it has wheels.
B. If it is not a car then it has no
wheels.
C. If it has no wheels then it is not a
car.
D. If it has wheels then it is a car.
E. It has wheels if it is a car.
Any questions?
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