4.4 Implication

(A) Antecedent and Consequent of an Implication

  1. For two statements p and q, the sentence ‘if p, then q’ is called an implication.
  2. p is called the antecedent.
    q is called the consequent.


Example:

Identify the antecedent and consequent of the following implications.

(a) If m = 2, then 2m2 + m = 10

(b) I f P Q = P , t h e n Q P

Solution:

  1. Antecedent: m = 2
    Consequent: 2m2 + m = 10
  2. Antecedent : P Q = P Consequent : Q P

(B) Implications of the Form ‘p if and only if q

  1. Two implications ‘if p, then q and ‘if q, then p can be written as ‘p if and only if q.
  2. Likewise, two statements can be written from a statement in the form ‘p if and only if q as follows:
    Implication 1: If p, then q.
    Implication 2: If q, then p.


Example 1:

Given that p: x + 1 = 8
q: x = 7
Construct a mathematical statement in the form of implication

  1. If p, then q.
  2. p if and only if q.

Solution:

  1. If x + 1 = 8, then x = 7.
  2. x + 1 = 8 if and only if x = 7.

Example 2:

Write down two implications based on the following sentence:
x3 = 64 if and only if x = 4.

Solution:

If x3 = 64, then x = 4.
If x = 4, then x3 = 64.

(C) Converse of an Implication

  1. The converse of an implication ‘if p, then q’ is if q, then p’.

Example:

State the converse of each of the following implications.

  1. If x2 + x – 2 = 0, then (x – 1)(x + 2) = 0.
  2. If x = 7, then x + 2 = 9.

Solution:

  1. If (x – 1)(x + 2) = 0, then x2 + x – 2.
  2. If x + 2 = 9, then x = 7.