Prepared by: Engr. Ma. Kristina P.

Borbon
June 21, 2010

The dean has announced that
If the Mathematics Department gets an additional Php 1M,
then it will hire one new faculty member.

This proposition is called a conditional proposition.

Definition 1

If p and q are propositions, the compound proposition
If p and q
is called a conditional proposition and is denoted
p
q

The proposition p is called hypothesis (or antecedent)

and the proposition q is called the conclusion (or
consequent)
Example 1

If we define
p: If the Mathematics Department gets an additional Php
1M.
q: The Mathematics Department hires one new faculty
member.

p is the hypothesis statement .

q is the conclusion statement.
Example 2

Restate each proposition in the form of a conditional
proposition.
a) Mary will be a good student if she studies hard.
Ans: If Mary studies hard, then she will be a good
student.
b) John may take calculus only if he has sophomore, junior,
or senior standing.
Ans: If John takes calculus, then he has sophomore,
junior, or senior standing.
c) When you sing, my eyes hurt.
Ans: If you sing, then my eyes hurt.
d) A necessary condition for the Cubs to win the World
Series is that they sign a right-handed relief pitcher.
Ans: If the Cubs win the World Series, then they sign
a right-handed relief pitcher.
e) A sufficient condition for Ralph to visit California is
that he goes to Disneyland.
Ans: If Ralph goes to Disneyland, then he visits
California.
Definition 2

The truth table for the conditional proposition p
q:

If the Mathematics Department gets an additional Php 1M,

then it will hire one new faculty member.
Example 2

Let
p: 1 > 2, q: 4 < 8
then p is false and q is true. Therefore,
p
q is true, q
p is false
Example 3

Assuming that p is true, q is false, and r is true, find
the truth value of each proposition.
a) (p Λ q)
r
b) (p Ѵ q)
r’
c) p Λ (q
r)
d) p
(q
r)
Example 3 - solution

We replace each symbol p, q, and r by its truth value to
obtain the truth value of the proposition:
a) (T Λ F)
T = F
T = true
b) (T Ѵ F)
T’ = T
F = false
c) T Λ (F
T) = T Λ T = true
d) T
(F
T) = T
T = true

Logic is concerned with the form of propositions and
the relation of propositions to each other and not with
the subject matter itself.

The proposition p
q can be true while the
proposition q
p is false.

q
p is the converse of p
q.

Thus, a conditional proposition can be true while its
converse is false.
Example 4

Write each conditional proposition symbolically. Write
the converse of each statement symbolically and in
words. Also, find the truth value of each conditional
proposition and its converse.
a) If 1 < 2, then 3 < 6.
b) If 1 > 2, then 3 < 6.
Example 4 - solution
a) Let
p: 1 < 2, q: 3 < 6.
- Symbolically, p
q
- Since p and q are both true, this statement is true.
- Converse: symbolically, q
p
- In words: if 3 < 6, then 1 < 2.
- Since p and q are both true, the converse q
p is
true.
Example 4 - solution
b) Let
p: 1 > 2, q: 3 < 6.
- Symbolically, p
q
- Since p is false and q is true, this statement is true.
- Converse: symbolically, q
p
- In words: if 3 < 6, then 1 > 2.
- Since q is true and p is false, the converse q
p is
false.
Definition 3

If p and q are propositions, the compound
proposition
p if and only if q
is called a biconditional proposition and is
denoted
p 
q

The truth table of the proposition p 
q:

“ p if and only if q”
“p is a necessary and

sufficient condition for q.”

“ p if and only if q”
“p iff q”
Example 5

The statement
1 < 5 if and only if 2 < 8

Symbolically: p 
q

If we define
p: 1 < 5, q: 2 < 8

Since both p and q are true, p 
q is true.

Alternative statement: A necessary and sufficient condition
for 1 < 5 is that 2 < 8.

In some cases, two different compound
propositions have the same truth values no
matter what the truth values their
constituent propositions have.

This propositions are said to be
logically equivalent.
Definition 4

Suppose that the compound propositions P and Q are
made up of the propositions p1,. . ., pn.

We say that P and Q are logically equivalent and write
P ≡ Q,
provided that given any truth values of p1,. . ., pn, either P
and Q are both true or P and Q are both false.
De Morgan’s Laws for Logic
(p Ѵ q)’ ≡ p’ Λ q’
(p Λ q)’ ≡ p’ Ѵ q’

Truth table:

Thus P and Q are

logically equivalent.
Example 6

Show that the negation of p
q is logically equivalent
p Λ q’.
(p
q)’ ≡ p Λ q’
Truth table:
Thru this Truth
Table, we can verify
that given any truth
values of p and q,
either P and Q are
both true or P and Q
are both false.
Example 7

p 
q ≡ (p
q) Λ (q
p)

Truth table:
Definition 5

Contrapositive – is an alternative, logically equivalent
form of the conditional proposition.

The contrapositive (or transposition) of the

conditional proposition p
q is the proposition
q’
p’ .
Example 8

Write the proposition
If 1 < 4, then 5 > 8
symbolically. Write the converse and
contrapositive both symbolically and in
words. Find the truth table of each
proposition.
Example 8 - solution

If we define
p: 1 < 4, q: 5 > 8

Proposition: p
q

Converse: q
p

In words: If 5 > 8, then 1 < 4.

Contrapositive: q’
p’

In words: if 5 is not greater than 8, then 1 is
not less than 4.
Example 8 - solution

p
q is false, q
p is true

q
p is false.

An important fact is that a conditional proposition and its
contrapositive are logically equivalent.

Truth Table:
Assignment (1 whole)
In exercises 1-4, restate each proposition in the form of a
conditional proposition:
1. Joey will pass the discrete mathematics exam if he studies
hard.
2. A sufficient condition for Katrina to take the algorithms
course is that she pass discrete mathematics.
3. The program is readable only if it is well structured.
4. Rosa may graduate is she has 160 quarter-hours of credits.
Assignment
In exercises 5-8, assuming that p and r are false and that
q and s are true, find the truth value of each
proposition:
5. p
q
6. (p
q)’
7. (p
q ) Λ (q
r)
8. (s
(p Λ r’)) Λ((p
(r Ѵ q)) Λ s)
Assignment
In exercises 9 -11, write each conditional proposition
symbolically. Write the converse and contrapositive of
each statement symbolically and in words. Also, find
the truth value of each conditional proposition, its
converse, and its contrapositive
9. If 4 < 6, then 9 > 12.
10. If 4 > 6, then 9 > 12.
11. |4| < 3 if -3 < 4 < 3.
Assignment
In exercises 12-15, for each pair of propositions P and Q,
state whether or not P ≡ Q.
12. P = p, Q = p Ѵ q
13. P = p Λ q, Q = p’ Ѵ q’
14. P = p Λ (q’ Ѵ r), Q = p Ѵ (q Λ r’)
15. P = p
q, Q = p
q