Conditional Statements Lesson 2-1
Conditional Statements have two parts: Hypothesis ( denoted by p) and Conclusion ( denoted by q)
Hypothesis (p) Phrase following “if” the given information
Conclusion (q) Phrase following “then” the result of the given information
Conditional statements can be put into an “if-then” form to clarify which part is the hypothesis and which is the conclusion.
Example: Vertical angles are congruent. If two angles are vertical, then they are congruent. can be written as...
If two angles are vertical, then they are congruent. p implies q Hypothesis (p): two angles are vertical Conclusion (q): they are congruent
Conditional Statements can be true or false: A conditional statement is false only when the hypothesis is true, but the conclusion is false. A counterexample is an example used to show that a statement is not always true and therefore false.
Giving a Counterexample Therefore ( ) the statement is false. Statement: If you live in Virginia, then you live in Richmond. True or False? Give a counterexample: Henry lives in Virginia, BUT he lives in Ashland.
Symbolic Logic
Symbols can be used to modify or connect statements.
is used to represent the word “therefore”
Example H : I watch football HH Therefore, I watch football
is used to represent implies used in if … then
Example p: a number is prime q: a number has exactly two divisors p q: If a number is prime, then it has exactly two divisors.
~ is used to represent the word “not” or “negate”
Example w: the angle is obtuse ~w: the angle is not obtuse Be careful because ~w means that the angle could be acute, right, or straight
Example r: I am not happy ~r: I am happy Notice: ~r took the “not” out… it would have been a double negative (not not)
is used to represent the word “and”
Example a: a number is even b: a number is divisible by 3 a b: A number is even and it is divisible by 3. 6,12,18,24,30,36,42...
is used to represent the word “or”
Example a: a number is even b: a number is divisible by 3 a b: A number is even or it is divisible by 3. 2,3,4,6,8,9,10,12,14,15,...
iff is used to represent the phrase “if and only if”
Example h: I watch football k: the Eagles are playing h iff k I watch football if and only if the Eagles are playing
Different Forms of Conditional Statements
A conditional statement can be written in three different ways. These three new conditional statements can be true or false. EXAMPLE: p q If two angles are vertical, then they are congruent.
Converse: q p SWITCH (p and q but not if or then) If two angles are congruent, then they are vertical.
Inverse: ~p ~q NEGATION (keep same order) If two angles are not vertical, then they are not congruent.
Contrapositive:~ q ~p SWITCH and NEGATE If two angles are not congruent, then they are not vertical.
Contrapositives are logically equivalent to the original conditional statement. If p q is true, then q p is true. If p q is false, then q p is false.
Biconditional If a conditional statement and its converse are both true, then the two statements may be combined. using the phrase if and only if (iff)
Definitions are always biconditional Statement: If an angle is right then it has a measure of 90 . Converse: If an angle measures 90 , then it is a right angle. Biconditional: An angle is right iff it measures 90