2.

2 Definitions and Biconditional

Statements
Perpendicular lines
• Perpendicular lines intersect to form
four right angles.
• Perpendicular Symbol: ⊥
Definitions
• All definitions can be interpreted
“forward” and “backward”
• Ex:
– If two lines are perpendicular, then they
intersect to form a right angle.
– If two lines intersect to form a right angle,
then they are perpendicular.
Biconditional Statements
• A biconditional statement is a statement
that contains the phrase “if and only if.”
• Writing a biconditional statement is the
equivalent to writing a conditional
statement and its converse.
Examples: Decide if each statement
is a biconditional statement:
1. Two lines intersect if and only if their
intersection is exactly one point.
2. Points are coplanar if and only if they
lie in the same plane.
3. I will go to the movies only if you go.
Examples: Rewriting a biconditional
statement
• Rewrite as a conditional and its
converse:
– Three lines are coplanar if and only if they
lie in the same plane.
– Points are collinear if and only if they lie on
the same line.
Example: Analyzing a biconditional
statement
• Consider the following statement:
X=3 if and only if x²=9.

a) Is this a biconditional statement?

b) Is the statement true?
• Consider the following statement:
x²<49 if and only if x<7

a) Is this a biconditional statement?

b) Is the statement true?
True Biconditionals
• Biconditional statements can be either
true or false.
• True: both the conditional statement
and its converse must be true
• False: If either the conditional
statement or its converse is false
Example:The following statement is
true. Write the converse of each
statement and decide whether the
converse is true or false. If the
converse is true, combine it with the
original statement to forma true
biconditional. If the converse is
false, state a counterexample.
1. If two points lie in a plane, then the
line containing them lies in the plane.
2. 2. If a number ends in 0, then the
number is divisible by 5.