Table of Contents

PALAWAN STATE UNIVERSITY

College of Sciences

MATHEMATICS IN
THE MODERN
WORLD
MATHEMATICAL
LANGUAGE AND
SYMBOLS

THE LANGUAGE OF
MODULE 2 MATHEMATICS
 Discussion
F. THE CONDITIONAL
.
Definition: If two propositions are connected by the pair “if … then” the resulting
proposition is called an implication or conditional proposition. The statement
following the word “if” and before “then” is called the antecedent or hypothesis while
the statement after the word “then” is called the consequent or conclusion.

The symbol used to denote the connective “if … then” is →. Thus, if p is the
antecedent and q the conclusion of an implication, the proposition is written a “p → q” and
is read, “if p, then q “or “p implies q”

Following is a list of other expressions that have the same meaning as “if p, then
q”:

q if p
q provided p
q given p
q in case p
p only if q
p only when q
p implies q
p is sufficient for q
q whenever p
when p, q
a necessary condition for p is q
a sufficient condition for q is p

Note: Unlike in conjunction and disjunction, where the order of the conjuncts or disjuncts
does not affect the truth value of the compound proposition, here in conditional
proposition, order matters. It is important that we know which phrase is the antecedent
and which phrase is the consequent because it will affect the truth value of the
conditional proposition. It is easiest to determine the antecedent and the consequent
when the conditional proposition is expressed in standard form “If p, then q”.

At this point, let us try to translate some conditional propositions into their
equivalent “if p, then q” format. Then let’s identify which phrase is the antecedent p and
which is the consequent q. Use the list given above and the tips given below to understand
how this works.

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 Discussion
Tips:
✓ The hypothesis is the clause following the word if.
✓ The “if p then q” formulation emphasizes the hypothesis, whereas the “p only if q”
formulation emphasizes the conclusion; the difference is only stylistic.
✓ “When” means the same as “if”.
✓ A necessary condition is just that: a condition that is necessary for a particular
outcome to be achieved. The conclusion expresses a necessary condition.
✓ A sufficient condition is a condition that suffices to guarantee a particular
outcome. The hypothesis expresses a sufficient condition.
✓ Given the conditional “p → q” proposition p is referred to as a sufficient condition
for q while q is a necessary condition for p.

Example 9:
a. If I get a bonus, then I will buy a car.
Answer: Since the statement is already in the standard form, we just identify p and q.
p: I get a bonus.
q: I will buy a car.
b. Mary will be a good student if she studies hard.
Answer: If Mary studies hard, then she will be a good student.
p: Mary studies hard.
q: Mary will be a good student.
c. John takes calculus only if he has a sophomore, junior, or senior standing.
Answer: If John takes calculus, then he has sophomore, junior, or senior standing.
p. John takes calculus.
q: John has sophomore, junior, or senior standing.
d. When you sing, my ears hurt.
Answer: If you sing, then my ears hurt.
p: You sing.
q: My ears hurt.
e. A necessary condition for PSU Bearcats to win the baseball in STRASUC Meet is
that they sign a right- handed relief pitcher.
Answer: If the PSU Bearcats win the baseball in STRASUC Meet, then they signed a
right- handed relief pitcher.
p: The PSU Bearcats win the baseball in STRASUC Meet.
q: The PSU Bearcats signed a right- handed relief pitcher.
f. A sufficient condition for Maria to visit France is that she goes to the Eiffel Tower.
Answer: If Maria goes to the Eiffel Tower, then she visits France.

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 Discussion
p:Maria goes to the Eiffel Tower.
q:Maria visits France.

Caution: A common mistake of students in activities like this is including the words “if”
and “then”, or other compounding words in writing the component simple propositions.
For instance, in Example 5a, some students would write: p: If I get a bonus, and q:
Then I will buy a car. In Example 5f., some students would write: p: A sufficient
condition for Maria to visit France, and q: She goes to the Eiffel Tower. These are
incorrect. Observe how compounding words are dropped in writing the component
simple propositions in our answers. Also, do not forget to “listen” to your proposition if
it sounds right, or if it is grammatically correct.

Example 10: Write the following conditionals in symbolic form.

a. If two numbers are even, then their product is even.

b. x + 1 is odd provided x is even.
c. Two nonzero numbers are equal only if their reciprocals are equal.
d. Joey will pass the discrete mathematics exam if he studies hard.

Solutions:
a. Let m: Two numbers are even.
n: The product of two numbers are even.
Then, conditional (a) is written as m → n

b. Suppose t: x + 1 is odd
s: x is even
Hence, conditional (b) is written s → t.

c. Let p: Two nonzero numbers are equal.

q: The reciprocals of two numbers are equal.
Thus, conditional (c) can be written as p → q

d. Suppose u: Joey will pass the discrete mathematics exam.

v: Joey studies hard.
Then, conditional number (d) is written: v → u

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 Discussion
Following is the truth value table for implication:

p q p→q
T T T

T F F

F T T

F F T

Note: The table tells us that an implication is false only when the antecedent is true and
the consequent false. Otherwise, the implication is always true. A conditional
proposition that is true because the hypothesis is false is said to be true by default or
vacuously true.

Try this!

I. Suppose propositions m, n, and s are assigned the truth values F, T, and F, respectively.
Determine the truth values of the following conditionals.
1. m → n
2. n → s
3. s → m
Solutions:
1. Since the antecedent m is false, it follows that regardless of the truth value of
the consequent n, the conditional proposition m → n is true. In fact, it is true by
default.

2. The antecedent n is true, while the consequent s is false. So, the conditional
proposition n → s is false.

3. Since the antecedent s is false, it follows that regardless of the truth value of
the consequent m, the conditional proposition s → m is true. In fact, it is true by
default.

II. Assuming that p and r are false and that q and s are true, find the truth value of the
statement formula: (p → q) ∧ (q → r)

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 Discussion
Solution: We will replace each proposition by their corresponding truth values and
slowly work on performing each operation.
(p → q) ∧ (q → r) given
(F→T) ∧ (T→F) replace each proposition by corresponding
truth value
(T) ∧ (F) apply the rules in the truth table for implication
F apply the rule in the truth table for conjunction

Therefore, the truth value of the statement formula (p → q) ∧ (q → r) is false.

III. Formulate the symbolic expression ~p → (q ∨ r) in words using

p: Today is Monday.
q: It is raining.
r: It is hot.

Answer: If today is not Monday, then it is raining unless it is hot.

(Answers may vary but the logical connectives must have the same meaning.)

CONVERSE, INVERSE, AND CONTRAPOSITIVE

Definition: Let p and q be propositions.

i. The proposition q → p is called the converse of the implication p → q.
ii. The proposition ~p → ~q is called the inverse of the implication of p → q.
iii. The statement ~q → ~p is called the contrapositive of the implication p → q.

Example 11:
Let p: Today is Sunday.
q: I will go for a walk.

p → q: If today is Sunday then I will go for a walk.

Converse: q → p: If I will go for a walk then today is Sunday.

Inverse: ~p → ~q: If today is not Sunday then I will not go for a walk.
Contrapositive: ~q → ~p: If I will not go for a walk then today is not Sunday.

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 Learning Check
ACTIVITY # 6

1. Suppose a conditional proposition is true and its antecedent also true, what is the
truth value of its consequent?

2. If an implication is true and its consequent is false, what is the truth value of its
antecedent?

3. Let the propositions r and s be true and false, respectively.

r: Prices are high
s: Wages are high
Determine the truth value of the following conditionals.
a. Prices are high in case wages are high.
b. Prices are high only if wages are high.
c. Wages are high; hence inflation rate is high.

4. Write the converse, inverse, and contrapositive of the following conditional

propositions. (Hint: If applicable, write each conditional proposition in standard
form first.)
a. Rose may graduate if she has 120 hours of OJT credits.
b. A necessary condition for Bill to buy a computer is that he obtains
P20,000.
c. A sufficient condition for Katrina to take the algorithms course is that
she passes discrete mathematics.
d. The program is readable only if it is well- structured.

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 Discussion
G. THE BICONDITIONAL

Definition: When two propositions, say p and q, are connected by the phrase “if and only
if”, the resulting compound proposition is called a biconditional or double
implication. The symbol used for “if and only if” is “↔”, hence, the biconditional “p if
and only if q” is written as “p ↔ q”. This compound proposition is the compact way of
writing “(p → q) and (q → p)”.

Sometimes a biconditional is read as “p is a necessary and sufficient condition

for q” or “q is a necessary and sufficient condition for p”.

Other words that could replace “if and only if” are:
when and only when
just in case
granted that and only granted that

Truth value table for biconditional:

P q p↔q

T T T

T F F

F T F

F F T

Note: Observe from the table that a biconditional is true provided the proposition written
on both sides of the symbol ↔ are both true or both false.

Bonus knowledge: It is traditional in mathematical definitions to use “if” to mean “if and
only if”.

Definition: If two sets A and B are disjoint sets then A ∩ B = ∅.

This definition of disjoint sets means that if A and B are disjoint sets then A ∩ B =
∅ and also if A ∩ B = ∅ then A and B are disjoint sets.

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 Discussion
Try this!

I. Write in symbols the biconditional “6x = 2 if and only if x = 1/3”, then determine its truth
value assuming that the proposition “6x = 2” is true while “x = 1/3” is false.

Solution: Let p: 6x = 2
q: x = 1/3
Then the biconditional in symbols is: p ↔ q. And since p and q have different truth
values, the biconditional proposition is false.

II. Construct a truth value table for the statement below:

(p → q) ↔ ( ̴ q → ̴ p )

Solution: Since the statement formula is composed of two operands p and q, the truth
table will have 4 rows.

p q p→q ̴q ̴p ̴q→ ̴p (p → q) ↔ ( ̴ q → ̴ p )

T T T F F T T
T F F T F F T
F T T F T T T
F F T T T T T

✓ The entries in the columns of p, q, p → q, ̴ q, and ̴ p are easily derived using our
previous knowledge of tree diagram, rules of implication, and rules of negation.
✓ The entries in the ̴ q → ̴ p column are derived by applying the rules for implication,
but this time, the antecedent is ̴ q while the consequent is p̴ .
✓ The entries in the last column (p → q) ↔ ( ̴ q → ̴ p) are derived by applying the
rules for biconditional where the component propositions are (p → q) and ( ̴ q → ̴
p). That is, we take (p → q) and ( ̴ q → ̴ p) as two separate simple propositions.
✓ The last column resulted to “all T” entries so the statement formula (p → q) ↔ ( ̴ q
→ ̴ p) is a tautology.

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 References
ACTIVITY # 7

1. Suppose the biconditional p ↔ q is given a true value and proposition p is known

to be false. What is the truth value of q?

2. Suppose the biconditional m ↔ n is assumed to be false while proposition n is

given a true value. What is the truth value of m?

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