IT 104 Discrete Mathematics

Propositions and Connectives

PROPOSITIONS
A proposition is a declarative sentence that is either true or false, but not both.

If a proposition is true, then its truth value is true, which is denoted by T (or 1); otherwise, its
truth value is false, which is denoted by F (or 0).

Examples: Propositions
1. 3 is an odd integer.
2. Quezon City was once the capital of the Philippines.
3. 12 ÷ 4 = 3.
4. Michael Jackson is a professional basketball player.

Examples: Not Propositions

1. Who are you talking to? (because this is an interrogative sentence)
2. Read this sentence carefully. (because this is an imperative sentence)
3. x + 4 = 7. (because the value of x cannot be determined and does not justify the statement)
4. Welcome to the Philippines! (because this is an exclamatory sentence)

Propositions are usually denoted by small letters.

For example, the proposition

p: Everyone should study logic.
may be read as
p is the proposition “Everyone should study logic.”

If a sequence of propositions is considered, we denote the propositions by p1, p2, …

EXAMPLES:
Determine whether each of the following statements is a proposition or not.

1. If you are Grade 11, then you are a junior high school student. PROPOSITION (False)
2. Philippines is an archipelago. PROPOSITION (True)
3. Clean up your room. NOT PROPOSITION
4. The sun rises in the East and sets in the West. PROPOSITION (True)
5. The Earth is further from the sun than Venus. PROPOSITION (True)
6. x + y > 10. NOT PROPOSITION
7. Do you want to build a snowman? NOT PROPOSITION
8. All cows are brown. PROPOSITION (False)
9. 3 + 4 = 7. PROPOSITION (True)
10. How am I supposed to live without you? NOT PROPOSITION
COMPOUND PROPOSITIONS

LOGICAL OPERATORS
Many mathematical statements are constructed by combining one or more propositions. These
new propositions are formed from existing propositions using logical operators.
The logical operators that are used to form new propositions from two or more existing
propositions are called connectives.
The truth value of a true proposition is T or 1. The truth value of a false proposition is F or 0. A
truth value or truth matrix displays the relationships between the truth values of propositions.

NEGATION
Definition: Let p be a proposition. The statement “It is not the case that p” is another
proposition, called the negation of p.
The proposition ~p is read “not p”.
Examples:
This book is interesting.
¬ p can be read as:
(i.) This book is not interesting.
(ii.) This book is uninteresting.
(iii.) It is not the case that this book is interesting.

The Truth Matrix of the Negation of a Proposition

CONJUNCTION
Definition: Let p and q be propositions. The proposition “p and q” denoted by p ^ q, is the
proposition that is true when both p and q are true and is false otherwise. The
proposition p ^ q is called the conjunction of p and q.

The Truth Matrix for the Conjunction of Two Propositions

DISJUNCTION
Definition: Let p and q be propositions. The proposition “p or q” denoted by p v q, is the
proposition that is false when both p and q are false and true otherwise. The
proposition p v q is called the disjunction of p and q.

The Truth Matrix for the Disjunction of Two Propositions

IMPLICATION or CONDITIONAL
Definition: Let p and q be propositions. The implication p → q is the proposition that is false
when p is true and q is false, and true otherwise. In this implication p is called the
premise or the hypothesis, and q is called the consequence or the conclusion.

Examples:
 “If all men are mortal, then Mario is mortal.” (logical implication)
 “If this polygon is a rectangle, then it has four sides.” (definitional implication)
 “If today is Monday, then tomorrow is Tuesday.” (sequential implication)
 “If sugar is placed in water, it will dissolve.” (causal implication)
 “If x = 0 → y = 10, x ≠ 0 → y ≠ 10 .” (material implication)

The Truth Matrix for Implication

For the compound statement p → q

• p is called the premise, hypothesis, or the antecedent.
• q is called the conclusion or consequent.
• q → p is the converse of p → q.
• ¬p → ¬q is the inverse of p → q.
• ¬q → ¬p is the contrapositive of p → q.

Implication: If this book is interesting, then I am staying at home.

 Converse: If I am staying at home, then this book is interesting.
 Inverse: If this book is not interesting, then I am not staying at home.
  Contrapositive: If I am not staying at home, then this book is not interesting.
BI-CONDITIONAL
Definition: Let p and q be propositions. The bi-conditional proposition is denoted by
(p → q) ^ ( q → p). In other words, for p ↔ q to be true we must have both
p and q true or both false.

The Truth Matrix for the Bi-Conditional Propositions

LEARNING ACTIVITIES

NAME: ___________________________ COURSE/YEAR/BLOC.: ___________

ACTIVITY 1 PROPOSITION OR NOT?

Directions: Identify if the given statement is a proposition or not, and if a proposition, identify if it
is a true proposition or a false proposition.
1. Please fasten your seatbelt.
2. Do you want to go to the plaza?
3. Ninoy Aquino is a former Philippine president.
4. Blue is a primary color.
5. Forgive and forget.
6. If a person is disabled, then he or she is entitled to obtain a PWD ID.
7. Hearing is the last sense to go in the dying process.
8. 1 + 1 = 11.
9. x + 8 = 6 if x = 2.
10. a + b = c.

ACTIVITY 2 NEGATION
Direction: Write the negations of each of these propositions.

1. p: Today is Thursday.
¬p: _______________________________________
2. p: Andres Bonifacio is not a hero.
¬p: _______________________________________
3. p: Eleven is less than twelve.
¬p: _______________________________________
4. p: Honesty is the best policy.
¬p: _______________________________________
5. p: Not telling the truth is lying.
 ¬p: _______________________________________
ACTIVITY 3 CONVERSE, INVERSE, AND CONTRAPOSITIVE
Direction: Write the converse, inverse, and contrapositive of the following implications.

1. If Pluto is not a planet, then sun is the center of the Solar System.
converse: _____________________________________________________
inverse: _____________________________________________________
contrapositive: _____________________________________________________
2. If Superman is the Man of Steel, then Batman is the Dark Knight.
converse: _____________________________________________________
inverse: _____________________________________________________
contrapositive: _____________________________________________________
3. For you to get a 1.0, it is necessary that you learn how to solve Math problems.
converse: _____________________________________________________
inverse: _____________________________________________________
contrapositive: _____________________________________________________
4. If it rains today, I will stay at home and read my lessons.
converse: _____________________________________________________
inverse: _____________________________________________________
contrapositive: _____________________________________________________
5. You get promoted if you work hard.
converse: _____________________________________________________
inverse: _____________________________________________________
contrapositive: _____________________________________________________

ACTIVITY 4 LOGICAL CONNECTIVES

Direction: Identify the logical connectives (conjunction, disjunction, implication & bi-conditional) of
the following compound propositions, then identify the truth value (1 for true and 0 for
false).

Example: Manny Pacquiao is a boxing champion and Gloria Macapagal - Arroyo is the first female
Philippine president.
p: Manny Pacquiao is a boxing champion. ( 1 )

q: Gloria Macapagal - Arroyo is the first female Philippine president. ( 0 )

logical connective: CONJUNCTION truth value: FALSE ( 0 )

1. If vinegar is sweet, then sugar is sour.

p:

q:

logical connective: truth value:

 2. Man is a mammal and 2 + 6 = 9.
p:
q:
logical connective: truth value:
3. Cebu is in Visayas or Zamboanga del Sur is in Region IX.
p:
q:
logical connective: truth value:
4. Manila is the capital of the Philippines is equivalent to fish live in moon.
p:
q:
logical connective: truth value:
5. Estrada is the only Philippine President who resigns or Duterte is the incumbent president.
p:
q:
logical connective: truth value:
6. MacBook Air is an Apple product if and only if the sky is blue.
p:
q:
logical connective: truth value:
7. Snakes are reptiles and elephants are small animals.
p:
q:
logical connective: truth value:
8. If 5 times 7 is 35, therefore 7 times 5 is 53.
p:
q:
logical connective: truth value:
9. If the sky is blue, then deserts are dry.
p:
q:
logical connective: truth value:
10. If Microsoft is partly-owned by Bill Gates, then dogs are amphibians.
p:
q:
logical connective: truth value: