Conditional Propositions

Conditional Propositions
The dean has announced that
If the Mathematics Department gets an additional

Rs.5million, then it will hire one new faculty member.
This proposition is called a conditional proposition.
2
Definition 1
If p and q are propositions, the compound
proposition If p then 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)
3
Example 1
If we define
p: The Mathematics Department gets an additional Rs. 5
million.
q: The Mathematics Department hires one new faculty
member.
p is the hypothesis statement .
q is the conclusion statement.
4
Example 2
Restate each proposition in the form of a
conditional proposition.
a) Mary will be a good student if she studies hard.
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.
If John takes calculus, then he has sophomore,
junior, or senior standing.
c) When you sing, my ears hurt.
If you sing, then my eyes hurt.
5
d) A necessary condition for the Cubs to win the World
Series is that they sign a right-handed relief pitcher.
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.
If Ralph goes to Disneyland, then he visits
California.
6
Definition 2
The truth table for the conditional proposition p 
q:
7
Example 2
Let
p: 1 > 2, q: 4 < 8
• Write in descriptive and symbolic form.

• If 1>2, then 4<8.
•pq
• Find out truth values.
p  q is true,
8
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)
9
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F=
T’ false
c) T Λ (F  T) = T Λ T = true
d) T  (F T) = T  T = true
10
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.
11
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.
12
a)
Let p: 1 < 2, q: 3 <
- Symbolically, 6.
-  q true, this statement is
Since p and q arep both
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.
13
b)
Let p: 1 > 2, q: 3 <
- Symbolically, 6.
- Since p p and
is false q 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.
14
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
15
The truth table of the proposition p 
q:
“ p if and only if q”  “p iff q”
16
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.
17
Definition 4
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’ .
18
Example 6
Write the proposition
If 1 < 4, then 5 > 8
symbolically. Write the converse and
contrapositive both symbolically and in
words. Find the truth value of each
proposition.
19
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.
20
Inverse of Proposition
If p → q is a conditional proposition,
Converse = q → p
Contrapositive = q’ → p’
Inverse = p’ → q’
21
Write in symbolic form
You can access the internet from campus only if you

are a computer science major or you are not a
freshman.
22
Solution
p: You can access the internet from campus.

q: You are a computer science major.
r: You are a freshman.
p → (q v r’)
23
Find out the truth values
p = T, q =F, r = Unknown
pvr=?
True
p→r=?
Unknown
q→r=?
True
24
Write in symbolic form
• p: The message is scanned for viruses.

• q: The message was sent from an unknown system.
• The message is scanned for viruses whenever the message

was sent from an unknown system.
• q→p
25
Converse, Inverse, Contrapositive
p You are sleeping q you are breathing
Conditional p  q If you are sleeping, then you
are breathing.
Converse of p  q is q  p If you are breathing, then you

are sleeping.
Inverse of p  q is p  q If you are not sleeping, then

you are not breathing.
Contrapositive of p  q is the If you are not breathing,

proposition  q  p then you are not sleeping
.
Construct a truth table for the
following statement:
If the lyrics are not controversial, then the performance
is not banned.
p: The lyrics are controversial.
q: The performance is banned

Solution
p’ → q’
p q p' q' p'  q'
T T F F T
T F F T T
F T T F F
F F T T T
The End
29

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Conditional Propositions

The dean has announced that

If the Mathematics Department gets an additional

This proposition is called a conditional proposition.

The proposition p is called hypothesis (or

• Write in descriptive and symbolic form.

“ p if and only if q”  “p iff q”

The contrapositive (or transposition) of the

You can access the internet from campus only if you

p: You can access the internet from campus.

• p: The message is scanned for viruses.

• The message is scanned for viruses whenever the message

Converse of p  q is q  p If you are breathing, then you

Inverse of p  q is p  q If you are not sleeping, then

Contrapositive of p  q is the If you are not breathing,

p: The lyrics are controversial.

q: The performance is banned

p q p' q' p'  q'

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