MODULE 3 – The Conditional

Math Elective: Logic

Every day we have to make decisions, as simple as which route to take in going to school. The
decisions we make normally depend on some conditions or premises or information given. For
example, if it rains, then you will not walk going to school or not go to class at all. We also
encounter a lot of conditional statements or “if –then’s” in advertisements, instructions,
arguments, and ordinary conversations. Hence, it is important to understand the conditional and
the many forms it takes and statements which are not equivalent to a given conditional.

3.1 Equivalent forms for the Conditional

The conditional p → q or "If p then q" is equivalent to the following statements:

q if p. q is necessary for p.

p only if q. All p are q.

p is sufficient for q. Either not p or q.

Example 3.1 Consider the conditional

If it is a bird then it flies.
The premise is the statement
p: It is a bird.
The conclusion is the statement
q: It flies.
The conditional p → q is equivalent to
1. q if p:
It flies if it is a bird.
2. p only if q:
It is a bird only if it flies.
 3. p is sufficient for q:
Being a bird is sufficient for it to fly.
4. q is necessary for p.
Flying is necessary for it to be a bird.
5. All p are q. (This is referred to as a universal statement)
All birds fly.
6. Either not p or q.
Either is not a bird or it flies.

Exercises 3.1
1. Give five (5) equivalent statements for the following:
a) If you care for the environment, then you should recycle.
b) All animals are friendly.
c) No insect is useless.
Answer:1.) If you care for the environment, then you should recycle.
Not p or q------- If you are not should not recycle or you care for the environment.
Q or not p-------- It is recycling, or the environment.
If not q then not p------ If you should not recycle, then you are not care for the
environment.
2.) All animals are friendly.
P= It is animals
Q= It is friendly
q if p: If friendly if it is animal.
p only if q = It is an animal if is friendly.
p is sufficient for q = Being an animal is sufficient for friendly.
q is necessary for = Friendly is necessary for it to be an animal.
All p are q = All animals are friendly.
3.) No insect is useless.
q if p = If not useless it is an insect.
P only if q = It is an insect it is not useless
P is sufficient for q = useless is not necessary for it to one insect.
P is sufficient for q = Being insect is not sufficient to be useless.
All p are q = all insect are not useless.

2. Using the equivalent form “~p ∨ q” of the conditional, determine the negations

of p → q and verify this using a truth table.

3. State the negation of the statements in (1).

3.2 The Converse, Inverse, and Contrapositive

A common mistake in restating conditionals is interchanging the premise and the conclusion.
Consider the conditional
p → q : If it is a bird then it flies.
Which of the following statements is equivalent to p → q?
q → p : If it is a bird then it flies.
~p → ~q : If it is not a bird then it does not fly.
~q → ~p : If it does not fly then it is a bird.
The correct answer is ~q → ~p which is called the contrapositive of p → q. Let us use a truth
table to compare the truth values of p → q, q → p, ~p → ~q, and ~q →~p .

p q p→q q→p ~p → ~q ~q → ~p
T T T T T T
T F F T T F
F T T F F T
F F T T T T

Hence, we have the equivalent statements:

p → q ⇔ ~q → ~p

q → p ⇔ ~p → ~q
Definition : Given the conditional p → q, we call
 1. ~p → ~q the contrapositive of p → q ;
2. q → p the converse of p → q;
3. ~p → ~q the inverse of p → q.
Remark: From the above truth table, we have seen that the conditional is equivalent to its
contrapositive and not equivalent to its converse and inverse.

Example 3.2 : Consider the statement:

All even numbers are divisible by two.
Formulate the statement as a conditional and give its converse, inverse and
contrapositive.
Answer:
Conditional: If it is an even number, then it is divisible by two.
Converse: If a number is divisible by two, then it is an even number.
Inverse: If it is not an even number then it is not divisible by two.
Contrapositive: If it is not divisible by two, then it is not an even number.

Exercises 3.2
1. Which of the following statements is/are equivalent to
“All Filipinos are law-abiding.”
A. If you are a Filipino, then you are law-abiding.
B. If you are not a Filipino, then you are not law-abiding.
C. If you are not law-abiding, then you are not a Filipino.
D. If you are law-abiding, then you are a Filipino.
E. You are law-abiding if you are a Filipino.
 F. You are law-abiding only if you are a Filipino
Answer:
A. Not p or q
B. q or not p
C. If not q then not p
D. If q then p
E. q if p
F. q if only p
2. Which of the following statements is/are NOT equivalent to
“No gorilla is playful.”
A. If you are playful, then you are a gorilla.
B. If you are a gorilla, then you are not playful.
C. Either you are playful or you are a gorilla.
D. If you are not a gorilla, then you are playful
E. If you are playful then you are not a gorilla.
F. You are not playful only if you are a gorilla.
Answer:
A. q if p
B. p only if q
C. p sufficient for q
D. q is necessary for p
E. All p are q
F. Either not p or q

3. ACTIVITY: Give five (5) examples of conditional statements coming from

advertisements (TV, radio, magazines or newspapers).