Aurora State College of Technology
GE4: Mathematics in the Modern Word
MODULE 9: THE CONDITIONAL AND THE BICONDITIONAL
Number of Hours: 3Hrs
Conditional statements can be written in if p, then q form or in if p, q form. For instance, all of the following are
conditional statements.
If we order pizza, then we can have it delivered.
If you go to the movie, you will not be able to meet us for dinner.
If n is a prime number greater than 2, then n is an odd number.
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 1. IDENTIFY THE ANTECEDENT AND CONSEQUENT OF A CONDITIONAL
Identify the antecedent and consequent in the following statements.
a. “If our school was this nice, I would go there more than once a week.” —The Basketball Diaries
b. “If you don’t get in that plane, you’ll regret it.” —Casablanca
c. “If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.” —Obi-Wan
Kenobi, Star Wars, Episode IV, A New Hope
Solution
a. Antecedent: our school was this nice
Consequent: I would go there more than once a week
b. Antecedent: you don’t get in that plane
Consequent: you’ll regret it
c. 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 word processor, you can create a webpage.” 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.
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 the table, we place a T in place of the question mark in row 1.
Row 2: Antecedent T, Consequent F
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Instructor: Neil B. Montero
Aurora State College of Technology
GE4: Mathematics in the Modern Word
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 the table.
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 the
table.
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 the table.
The truth table for the conditional 𝑝 → 𝑞 is given in the table below:
EXAMPLE 2 FIND THE TRUTH VALUE OF A CONDITIONAL
Determine the truth value of each of the following conditional statements.
a. If 2 is an integer, then 2 is a rational number.
b. If 3 is a negative number, then 5 > 7.
c. If 5 > 3, then 2 + 7 = 4.
Solution
a. Because the consequent is true, this is a true statement.
b. Because the antecedent is false, this is a true statement.
c. Because the antecedent is true and the consequent is false, this is a false statement.
EXAMPLE 3 CONSTRUCT A TRUTH TABLE FOR A STATEMENT INVOLVING A
CONDITIONAL
Construct a truth table for
Enter the truth values for each simple statement and its negation as shown in columns 1, 2, 3, and 4. Use the truth
values in columns 2 and 3 to determine the truth values to enter in column 5, under the “or” connective. Use the
truth values in columns 1 and 5 to determine the
truth values to enter in column 6 under the “and”
connective. Use the truth values in columns 6 and 4
to determine the truth values to enter in column 7
under the “If . . . then” connective.
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Instructor: Neil B. Montero
Aurora State College of Technology
GE4: Mathematics in the Modern Word
AN EQUIVALENT FORM OF THE CONDITIONAL
The truth table for ∼ 𝑝 ∨ 𝑞 is shown in table below. The truth values in this table are identical to the truth values
in the table. Hence, the conditional 𝑝 → 𝑞 is equivalent to the disjunction ∼ 𝑝 ∨ 𝑞.
EXAMPLE 4 WRITE A CONDITIONAL IN ITS EQUIVALENT DISJUNCTIVE FORM
Write each of the following in its equivalent disjunctive form.
a. If I could play the guitar, I would join the band.
b. If Cam Newton cannot play, then his team will lose.
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. Cam Newton can play or his team will lose.
c.
THE NEGATION OF THE CONDITIONAL
EXAMPLE 5 WRITE THE NEGATION OF A CONDITIONAL STATEMENT
Write the negation of each conditional statement.
a. If they pay me the money, I will sign the contract.
b. If the lines are parallel, then they do not intersect.
In each case, we write the conjunction of the antecedent and the negation of the
consequent.
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Instructor: Neil B. Montero
Aurora State College of Technology
GE4: Mathematics in the Modern Word
a. They paid me the money and I did not sign the contract.
b. The lines are parallel and they intersect.
THE BICONDITIONAL
EXAMPLE 6 WRITE SYMBOLIC BICONDITIONAL STATEMENTS IN WORDS
Let p, q, and r represent the following:
p: She will go on vacation.
q: She cannot take the train.
r: She cannot get a loan.
Write the following symbolic statements in words:
a. 𝑝 ↔ ∼ 𝑞
b. ∼ 𝑟 ↔ ∼ 𝑝
SOLUTION
a. She will go on vacation if and only if she can take the train.
b. She can get a loan if and only if she does not go on vacation.
EXAMPLE 7 DETERMINE THE TRUTH VALUE OF A BICONDITIONAL
State whether each biconditional is true or false.
a. x + 4 = 7 if and only if x = 3.
b. x2 = 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 given 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.
MODULE 9 ASSESSMENT: https://forms.gle/ey3BcHYwnTc5W2CV7
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Instructor: Neil B. Montero
