Course: Discrete Mathematics

Faculty: Dr. Venkatakrishnan Ramaswamy

Module 1: Proof Methods
Lesson 1: Basics of Logic

Topic: Conditional, Converse, Contrapositive, and Inverse

Reading Objective
This reading acts as a supplement to the concepts you have learned in the videos so far. In this reading,
you will learn about the definition of a conditional, which is a fundamental one, converse, contrapositive,
and inverse. You will also look at additional examples and some worked-out exercises. It is important
to understand and internalize the concept of a conditional/implication since it will be used frequently
in the course ahead.

1 Conditional Statements
Definition: Let p and q be propositions. The implication or conditional statement p → q is the propo-
sition “if p then q.” In the conditional statement, p → q is called the hypothesis, premise, or antecedent,
and q is called the consequence or conclusion.
Truth value of implication: p → q is false only when p is true, and q is false and true in all other cases.

p q p→q
F F T
Truth table for p → q: F T T
T F F
T T T

Intuitive examples to understand conditionals:

Example 1:
p: John is late.
q: John will miss the bus.
p → q can be expressed as “If John is late, then John will miss the bus.”
Explanation: If John is late, then we expect that he will miss the bus. If John is not late, then he may
or may not miss the bus (based on other factors). However, if John is late, then it does not logically
follow that he will be able to catch the bus on time.
Example 2:
p: The weather is sunny.
q: We will go trekking.
p → q can be expressed as “If the weather is sunny, then we will go trekking.”
Explanation: If the weather is sunny, then it is expected that we will go trekking. If the weather is not
sunny, then we may or may not go trekking. However, if the weather is sunny, then there is no reason
why we would not go trekking.

Some alternate ways to express conditional:

• “p implies q”
• “p only if q”
• “p is sufficient for q”

1
 • “q if p”
• “q when p”
• “q is necessary for p”
• “q follows from p”
• “q unless ¬p”
Equivalence: When two compound propositional statements have the same truth values, then they
are said to be equivalent. Two propositions, p and q, are logically equivalent if their truth tables are
the same. Denoted by the symbol ≡. (*NOTE: Logical equivalence will be covered in detail in the next
video.)
The statement “q unless ¬p” can be logically expressed as ¬p ∨ q. The statement would be false only
when p is true, and q is false and true for all other cases. Thus ¬p ∨ q and p → q always has the same
truth value and are said to be logically equivalent to each other, that is, ¬p ∨ q ≡ p → q.

p q ¬p ¬p ∨
q
F F T T
Truth table for ¬p ∨ q:
F T T T
T F F F
T T F T

Compare the truth values of the above truth table with the previously given truth table for the condi-
tional statement!

Some facts about conditional p → q:

1. If p is False, then p → q is automatically True.
2. If q is True, then p → q is automatically True.
3. The only way for p → q to be False is when p is True, and q is False.

2 Converse, Contrapositive, and Inverse

Converse:
The converse of a conditional statement is obtained by switching the positions of its constituent ele-
ments.
q → p is the converse of p → q.
Inverse:
The inverse of a conditional statement is obtained by negating the constituent elements on both sides.
¬p → ¬q is the inverse of p → q.
Contrapositive:
The contrapositive of a conditional statement is obtained by taking the converse of the inverse proposi-
tion.
¬q → ¬p is the contrapositive of p → q.

Example: Let us consider the statement, “The children are playing when they are in the field.”
The above statement is of the form “q when p.” The equivalent conditional statement can be expressed
as “If children are in the field, then they are playing.” Thus, it can be deduced that
p: Children are in the field.
q: Children are playing.
The converse for the above conditional statement would be “If children are playing, then they are in the
field.”
The inverse for the above conditional statement would be “If children are not in the field, then they are

2
not playing.”
The contrapositive for the above conditional statement would be “If children are not playing, then they
are not in the field.”

Try and construct the truth tables for each converse, inverse, and contrapositive of the conditional
statement p → q and verify the following statements:
1. The conditional statement and its contrapositive are equivalent.
2. The converse and inverse of a conditional statement are equivalent.

3 Solved Examples
1. Construct the truth table for (((p → q)→ r)→ s)
Solution:
p q r s p→q ((p → q)→ (((p → q)→
r) r)→ s)
F F F F T F T
F F F T T F T
F F T F T T F
F F T T T T T
F T F F T F T
F T F T T F T
F T T F T T F
F T T T T T T
T F F F F T F
T F F T F T T
T F T F F T F
T F T T F T T
T T F F T F T
T T F T T F T
T T T F T T F
T T T T T T T

2. Express each conditional statement as p → q by identifying p and q. Also, state

the converse, contrapositive, and inverse in each case.
1. If it rains today, I will stay at home.
2. I will come to eat whenever I am hungry.
3. Jack will go to the beach unless the weather is not sunny.
Solution:
1.
p: It rains today.
q: I will stay at home.
The given statement can be expressed as: p → q
Converse: q → p: If I will stay at home, then it rains today.
Inverse: ¬p → ¬q: If it does not rain today, I will not stay at home.
Contrapositive: ¬q → ¬p: If I will not stay at home, then it does not rain today.
2.
p: I am hungry.
q: I will come to eat.
The given statement can be expressed as: p → q: If I am hungry, I will come to eat.
Converse: q → p: If I will come to eat, then I am hungry.
Inverse: ¬p → ¬q: If I am not hungry, I will not come to eat.

3
Contrapositive: ¬q → ¬p: If I will not come to eat, then I am not hungry.
3.
p: The weather is sunny.
q: Jack will go to the beach.
The given statement can be expressed as: p → q: If the weather is sunny, Jack will go to the beach.
Converse: q → p: If Jack will go to the beach, the weather is sunny.
Inverse: ¬p → ¬q: If the weather is not sunny, then Jack will not go to the beach.
Contrapositive: ¬q → ¬p: If Jack will not go to the beach, then the weather is not sunny.

3. Evaluate the truth value of the following conditional statements.

1. If 2 > 3, then it rains today.
2. If the sun rises in the east, then 2+6 = 9.

3. If today is Monday, then 4=4.

Solution:
1. True
2. False
3. True
Check the section Some facts about conditional p → q and verify the solutions yourself !

Reading Summary
In this reading, you have learned the following:
• Basic definitions of conditional, contrapositive, converse, and inverse

• Examples of building truth tables

• How to build truth tables for a given compound proposition