Republic of the Philippines

NORTHERN ILOILO POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE

Lemery Campus
Lemery, Iloilo

Module 1, Lesson 2
Mathematical Logic
(Conditional Proposition & Equivalence Proposition)

Introduction:
In English or in Mathematics, it is common to encounter sentences that contain certain type of condition. When
you make a logical inference or deduction, you reason from hypothesis to a conclusion. Your aim is to be able to say, “If
such and such is known, then something must be the case.”
Imagine that you are trying to solve a problem involving three statements: p, q and r. Suppose you know that
the truth of r follows from the truth of p and also that the truth of r follows from the truth of q. Then no matter whether
p or q is the case, the truth of r must follow.

Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this module, you are expected to:
1. Discuss conditional proposition and equivalence proposition.
2. Write the given sentence in If then form and decide its truth value.
3. Give the converse of the given implications and decide its truth value.
4. Write the given sentence in If and only if form and decide its truth value.

Discussion:
Consider the following sentences:

(1) If I study every day, then I will pass Algebra.

(2) If x is even, then x is divisible by 2.

Note that in either case, a condition under which a particular phenomenon will occur is clearly implied. Thus the first
sentence states the condition in order to pass the course in algebra while the second sentence states the condition
under which x is to be divisible by 2. Relative to sentence structure, both are expressed in the form “If …,then…” The
importance of this form to us lies on the fact that many propositions (definitions and theorems) in mathematics are
generally expressed this way.

Definition 1.4 If p and q are propositions, then the proposition “If p, then q” denoted symbolically by p q is called a
conditional proposition or an implication.

The logical connective “if …, then …” is called a conditional connective and is denoted by the symbol called
the implication sign. The expression p q is read “p implies q” . The proposition p is called the antecedent ( or
hypothesis) and q is called the consequence ( or conclusion). In the statement “If x is even, then x is divisible by 2”, the
antecedent is “x is even” and the consequent is “x is divisible by 2.”

Table 1 - F
p q p q
T T T
T F F
F T T
F F T

The truth table for p q is given by table 1 – F. This table shows that the only way for an implication to be
false is when its antecedent is true and its consequent is false.

Example
1. p = “3 is odd.” And q = 3 2 is even.”
The implication is a false proposition since p is true and q is false.

Discrete Mathematics Narra P. Listano, M.A.Ed.

NIPSC – LC BSIT Professor
Second Semester 2020 - 2021
Definition 1.5 If p and q denote propositions, the implications q p is called the converse of p q.

Table 1 – G is a combination of the truth tables of p q and the converse q p. This table shows that
whenever of p q and the converse q p. are both true, their components are either true together (TT) or false
together (FF).

Table 1 - G
p q p q q p
T T T T
T F F T
F T T F
F F T T

Example: p q = “If x = 2, then x + 3 = 5 ,” is TRUE

q p = “If x + 3 = 5, then x = 2,” Is TRUE.

Definition 1. 6 If p and q are propositions, the statement “p if and only if” denoted by p q is the shortened form
for (p q) ꓥ (q p)

Table 1 - F
p q p q
T T T
T F F
F T F
F F T

Example If p = “Triangles are similar.”

q = “Triangles are congruent.”

Then p q is false because not all similar triangles are congruent.

Summary:

 If p and q are propositions, then the proposition “If p, then q” denoted symbolically by p q is
called a conditional proposition or an implication.

 If p and q denote propositions, the implications q p is called the converse of p q.

Assessment:

A. Write the following pairs of sentences in the If then form and decide its truth value.

1. 3 + 3 = 6, 3(3) ≠6 4. X2 = 36, x = 6 or x = -6

2. x = 5, x2 = 25 5. 8 is divisible by 4, 8 + 4 is odd

3. 1 = 2, 1 + 2 is even 6. Taal is in Laguna, Laguna is in Luzon

Discrete Mathematics Narra P. Listano, M.A.Ed.

NIPSC – LC BSIT Professor
Second Semester 2021- 2022
B. Express each of the following in the If then form expressing the same idea as the given statement.

1. Two lines intersect only if they are not parallel.

2. I get paid only when I have worked.

3. A three – sided figure is a triangle.

4. A prime number greater than 5 is odd.

5. Congruent triangles are similar triangles.

6. An even integer is divisible by 2.

C. Write each of the following in the if and only if form and decide its truth value.

1. If a polygon has three sides, then it is a triangle.

2. If x2 = 16, then x = 4.

3. The vector sum of forces in equilibrium is zero.

4. 8 ÷ 2 = 4 only when 8 = 4(2).

5. If two numbers are equal, their squares are equal.

6. An equilateral triangle has three equal sides.

D. Give the converse of the following implications and determine the truth value.

1. If a triangle is equilateral, then it is isosceles.

2. If x = 10, then x2 = 100.

3. If two lines are parallel, then they are equidistant.

4. If 3 x 2 - 6x = 0, then x = 0.

5. If a polygon is a square, then it is a rectangle.

6. If x = 1 or x = -1, then x 2 -1 = 0

References:

1. Cabero, Jonathan B., et al, Discrete Mathematics, (2010), Navotas Press, Navotas City Philippines
2. Epp, Sussana S., ( 2012 ), Discrete Mathematics, Hiyas Press Inc., Pasig City, Philippines
3. Feliciano, Florentino T., ( 1991) Modern College Algebra, Merriam and Webster Inc. Manila, Philippines