Lecture 2: Conditional and Bi-Conditional Propositions P a g e | 1
Discrete Structure / Discrete Mathematics
Lecture 2: CONDITIONAL and BICONDITIONAL PROPOSITIONS
CONDITIONAL CONNECTIVE
Let p and q be propositions. The implication p q is the proposition that is false only when p is true and q is false; otherwise it is true. p is called the hypothesis and q is called the conclusion. The connective is called the conditional connective
Example 2.1
Construct the truth table of the implication p q
Solution. The truth table is:
. Example 2.2
Show that p q p v q.
Solution. The truth table is:
p q p p v q p q F F T T T F T T T T T F F F F T T F T T
It follows from the previous example that the proposition pq is always true if the hypothesis p is false, regardless of the truth value of q.
In terms of words the proposition p q also reads:
(a) if p then q. (b) p implies q (c) p is a sufficient condition for q (d) q is a necessary condition for p (e) p only if q
Example 2.3
Use the if-then form to rewrite the statement: I am on time for work if I catch the 8:05 bus."
Solution. If I catch the 8:05 bus then I am on time for work.
In propositional functions that involve the connectives , v, . and the order of operations is that is performed first and is performed last.
Example 2.4
a. Show that (p q) p . q. b. Find the negation of the statement: If my car is in the repair shop, then I cannot go to class.
Solution. c. Show that (p q) p . q. p q p q (p q) q p . q F F T F T F F T T F F F T F F T T T T T T F F F
a. My car is in the repair shop and I can get to class."
CONVERSE, OPPOSITE and CONTRAPOSITIVE
- The converse of p q is the proposition q p. - The opposite or inverse of p q is the proposition p q. - The contrapositive of p q is the proposition q p.
Example 2.5
Find the converse, opposite, and the contrapositive of the implication:
If today is Thursday, then I have a test today."
Solution.
The converse If I have a test today then today is Thursday. The opposite If today is not Thursday then I don't have a test today. The contrapositive If I don't have a test today then today is not Thursday
Lecture 2: Conditional and Bi-Conditional Propositions P a g e | 2 Example 2.6
Show that p q q p.
p q q p q p p q F F T T T T F T F T T T T F T F F F T T F F T T
Example 2.7
Using truth tables show the following: a. p q = q p b. p q = p q
Solution:
a. p q = q p
//example 2.2: p q p v q //therefore: q p q v p //and: p v q q v p
p q p q p v q q v p F F T T T T F T T F T = F T F F T F = T T T F F T T
p q p q q p q p F F T F F T F T T = T F F T F F = F T T T T T T T T
Solution:
b. p q = p q
p q p q p q p q F F T T T T F T T F F = T T F F T T = F T T F F T T
BICONDITIONAL CONNECTIVE
The biconditional proposition of p and q, denoted by p q, is the propositional function that is true when both p and q have the same truth values and false if p and q have opposite truth values. Also reads, p if and only if q" or p is a necessary and sufficient condition for q."
Example 2.8
Construct the truth table for p q:
Solution:
Example 2.9
Show that the biconditional proposition of p and q is logically equivalent to the conjunction of the conditional propositions p q and q p:
Solution:
p q pq q p q p (p q)v( q p) F F T F F T T F T T T F F F T F F F T T F T T T T T T T