Conditional Statement Math Example 1

Follow the full solution, then compare it with the other examples linked below.

Example 1

easy
Write the converse, inverse, and contrapositive of: 'If a number is divisible by 6, then it is divisible by 3.'

Solution

  1. 1
    Let pp: 'a number is divisible by 6' and qq: 'it is divisible by 3.' The original is pqp \Rightarrow q.
  2. 2
    Converse (qpq \Rightarrow p): 'If a number is divisible by 3, then it is divisible by 6.' (False; e.g., 9.)
  3. 3
    Inverse (¬p¬q\neg p \Rightarrow \neg q): 'If a number is not divisible by 6, then it is not divisible by 3.' (False; e.g., 9.)
  4. 4
    Contrapositive (¬q¬p\neg q \Rightarrow \neg p): 'If a number is not divisible by 3, then it is not divisible by 6.' (True.)

Answer

Contrapositive: If not divisible by 3, then not divisible by 6 (true).\text{Contrapositive: If not divisible by 3, then not divisible by 6 (true).}
A conditional pqp \Rightarrow q is logically equivalent to its contrapositive ¬q¬p\neg q \Rightarrow \neg p, but not necessarily to its converse or inverse.

About Conditional Statement

A conditional PQP \to Q is a statement meaning "if PP is true, then QQ must be true," read as "if PP then QQ."

Learn more about Conditional Statement →

More Conditional Statement Examples