Conditional Statements
word processor, you can create a webpage.”
Conditional statements can be written in if p,
then q form or in if p, q form. For instance, all
the following are conditional statements.
1. If you get 100% on the test, you will get
an A.
2. If n is even, then n is divisible by 2.
3. If Trisha has a smartphone, then 1 + 1 =
3.
In any conditional statement represented by “If
p, then q” or by “If p, q, ” the p statement is
called the antecedent and the q statement is
called the consequent
Example 3.3.1 Identify the antecedent and
consequent in the following statements.
a) If I have plenty of money, I will watch
BTS concert in South Korea.
b) If you love me, obey my commands.
c) If you strike me down, I shall become
more powerful than you can possibly
imagine.
Solution.
o Antecedent: I have plenty of money
Consequent: I will watch BTS concert in
South Korea
o Antecedent: You love me
Consequent: Obey my commands
o Antecedent: You strike me down
Consequent: I shall become more
powerful than you can possibly imagine
The Truth Table for the Conditional p → q
To determine the truth table for 𝑝 → 𝑞, consider
the advertising slogan for a web authoring
software product that states, “If you can use a
This slogan is a conditional statement.
The antecedent is p, “you can use a word
processor,” and the consequent is q, “you can
create a webpage.
Now, consider the truth value of p → q for each
of the following four possibilities.
The Truth Table for the Conditional 𝒑 → q
Row 1: Antecedent T, Consequent T
You can use a word processor, and you can
create a webpage. In this case the truth value of
the advertisement is true. To complete Table
3.3.1, we place a T in place of the question mark
in row 1.
Row 2: Antecedent T, Consequent F
You can use a word processor, but you cannot
create a webpage. In this case the
advertisement is false. We put an F in place of
the question mark in row 2 of Table 3.3.1.
Row 3: Antecedent F, Consequent T
You cannot use a word processor, but you can
create a webpage. Because the advertisement
does not make any statement about what you
might or might not be able to do if you cannot
use a word processor, we cannot state that the
advertisement is false, and we are compelled to
place a T in place of the question mark in row 3
of Table 3.3.1.
Row 4: Antecedent F, Consequent F
You cannot use a word processor, and you
cannot create a webpage. Once again, we must
consider the truth value in this case to be true
because the advertisement does not make any
statement about what you might or might not
be able to do if you cannot use a word
processor. We place a T in place of the question
mark in row 4 of Table 3.3.1.
The truth table for the conditional p → q is
given in Table 3.3.2.
Example 3.3.2 Construct a truth table for 𝑝⋀ 𝑞⋁
∼ 𝑝 →∼ 𝑝.
An Equivalent Form of the Conditional
The truth table for ~𝑝⋁𝑞 is shown in Table 3.3.3.
The truth values in this table are identical to the
truth values in Table 3.3.2.
Hence, the conditional p → q is equivalent to
the disjunction ~𝑝⋁𝑞. That is, ~𝑝⋁𝑞 ≡ p → q.
Example 3.3.3 Write each of the following in its
equivalent disjunctive form.
a) If I could play the guitar, I would join the
band.
b) If Thirdy Ravena cannot play, then his
team will lose.
Solution. In each case we write the disjunction
of the negation of the antecedent and the
consequent.
a) I cannot play the guitar or I would join
the band.
b) Thirdy Ravena can play or his team will
lose.
The Negation of the Conditional
Because 𝑝 → 𝑞 ≡ ~𝑝⋁𝑞, an equivalent form of
~(𝑝 → 𝑞) is given by~(~𝑝⋁𝑞), which by one of De
Morgan’s laws, can be expressed as the
conjunction 𝑝⋀ ∼ 𝑞. Hence, ∼ (𝑝 → 𝑞) ≡ 𝑝⋀ ∼ q
Example 3.3.4 Write the negation of each
conditional statement.
a) If I get high grades, my parents will buy
me an Ipad.
b) If the lines are parallel, then they do not
intersect.
Solution. In each case, we write the conjunction
of the antecedent and the negation of the
consequent.
a) I get high grades and my parents will
not buy me an Ipad.
b) The lines are parallel and they intersect.
The Biconditional
Example 3.3.5 State whether each biconditional
is true or false.
a) x + 4 = 7 if and only if x = 3.
b) 𝑥 2 = 36 if and only if x = 6.
Solution.
a) Both equations are true when x = 3, and
both are false when x ≠ 3. Both
equations have the same truth value for
any value of x, so this is a true
statement.
b) If x = – 6, the first equation is true and
the second equation is false. Thus, this
is a false statement.