The meaning of implication in logic











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How to remember implication logic by remembering a simple english.



I read some sentence like



if P,then Q
P only if Q
Q if P


But i am unable to correlate these sentences with the following logic. Although truth table is very simple but i don't want to just remember it without it's actual meaning.



P Q P=>Q
0 0 1
0 1 1
1 0 0
1 1 1









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  • 5




    It may help to read the implication "$P implies Q$" as "buy $P$, get $Q$ free (whether you want it or not!)". Buying $P$ means that you also get $Q$, so you have both; not-buying $P$ doesn't rule out the possibility of getting (or not-getting) $Q$ by other means; however, not-getting $Q$ does rule out having bought $P$.
    – Blue
    Jan 20 '12 at 6:04










  • See also math.stackexchange.com/questions/439987/…
    – amWhy
    Jan 10 at 20:45















up vote
7
down vote

favorite
10












How to remember implication logic by remembering a simple english.



I read some sentence like



if P,then Q
P only if Q
Q if P


But i am unable to correlate these sentences with the following logic. Although truth table is very simple but i don't want to just remember it without it's actual meaning.



P Q P=>Q
0 0 1
0 1 1
1 0 0
1 1 1









share|cite|improve this question




















  • 5




    It may help to read the implication "$P implies Q$" as "buy $P$, get $Q$ free (whether you want it or not!)". Buying $P$ means that you also get $Q$, so you have both; not-buying $P$ doesn't rule out the possibility of getting (or not-getting) $Q$ by other means; however, not-getting $Q$ does rule out having bought $P$.
    – Blue
    Jan 20 '12 at 6:04










  • See also math.stackexchange.com/questions/439987/…
    – amWhy
    Jan 10 at 20:45













up vote
7
down vote

favorite
10









up vote
7
down vote

favorite
10






10





How to remember implication logic by remembering a simple english.



I read some sentence like



if P,then Q
P only if Q
Q if P


But i am unable to correlate these sentences with the following logic. Although truth table is very simple but i don't want to just remember it without it's actual meaning.



P Q P=>Q
0 0 1
0 1 1
1 0 0
1 1 1









share|cite|improve this question















How to remember implication logic by remembering a simple english.



I read some sentence like



if P,then Q
P only if Q
Q if P


But i am unable to correlate these sentences with the following logic. Although truth table is very simple but i don't want to just remember it without it's actual meaning.



P Q P=>Q
0 0 1
0 1 1
1 0 0
1 1 1






logic






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share|cite|improve this question













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edited Jan 18 '12 at 23:14









Austin Mohr

19.9k35097




19.9k35097










asked Jan 18 '12 at 23:04









P K

506259




506259








  • 5




    It may help to read the implication "$P implies Q$" as "buy $P$, get $Q$ free (whether you want it or not!)". Buying $P$ means that you also get $Q$, so you have both; not-buying $P$ doesn't rule out the possibility of getting (or not-getting) $Q$ by other means; however, not-getting $Q$ does rule out having bought $P$.
    – Blue
    Jan 20 '12 at 6:04










  • See also math.stackexchange.com/questions/439987/…
    – amWhy
    Jan 10 at 20:45














  • 5




    It may help to read the implication "$P implies Q$" as "buy $P$, get $Q$ free (whether you want it or not!)". Buying $P$ means that you also get $Q$, so you have both; not-buying $P$ doesn't rule out the possibility of getting (or not-getting) $Q$ by other means; however, not-getting $Q$ does rule out having bought $P$.
    – Blue
    Jan 20 '12 at 6:04










  • See also math.stackexchange.com/questions/439987/…
    – amWhy
    Jan 10 at 20:45








5




5




It may help to read the implication "$P implies Q$" as "buy $P$, get $Q$ free (whether you want it or not!)". Buying $P$ means that you also get $Q$, so you have both; not-buying $P$ doesn't rule out the possibility of getting (or not-getting) $Q$ by other means; however, not-getting $Q$ does rule out having bought $P$.
– Blue
Jan 20 '12 at 6:04




It may help to read the implication "$P implies Q$" as "buy $P$, get $Q$ free (whether you want it or not!)". Buying $P$ means that you also get $Q$, so you have both; not-buying $P$ doesn't rule out the possibility of getting (or not-getting) $Q$ by other means; however, not-getting $Q$ does rule out having bought $P$.
– Blue
Jan 20 '12 at 6:04












See also math.stackexchange.com/questions/439987/…
– amWhy
Jan 10 at 20:45




See also math.stackexchange.com/questions/439987/…
– amWhy
Jan 10 at 20:45










9 Answers
9






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12
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accepted










If you start out with a false premise, then, as far as implication is concerned, you are free to conclude anything. (This corresponds to the fact that, when $P$ is false, the implication $P rightarrow Q$ is true no matter what $Q$ is.)



If you start out with a true premise, then the implication should be true only when the conclusion is also true. (This corresponds to the fact that, when $P$ is true, the truth of the implication is the same as the truth of $Q$.)






share|cite|improve this answer




























    up vote
    10
    down vote













    Not really as an answer but as an anecdote I'll sketch the following real life situation (in abstract terms to avoid controversy).



    A politician $s$ declares, in a menacing voice: "if we would do $P$ then $Q$ will ensue!" where $P$ is something like electing his adversary, or not adopting the Draconic measures he proposes, and $Q$ are catastrophic events like people losing their jobs and the country plunging into a deep crisis. Now suppose $s$ is lucky and manages to avoid $P$, but that then $Q$ happens anyway. Now does this show that $s$ lied? Since $P$ is false and $Q$ is true, we are in the second line of your table, you can read off that $PRightarrow Q$ is deemed true in this case. In fact since $s$ prophesized about a circumstance $P$ that did not happen, later events could not have shown him a liar either way. An this in spite of the fact that by common sense the statement he made was either false (if doing $P$ would actually have prevented $Q$) or irrelevant (if $Q$ would have happened independently of $P$, or depending on other conditions than those of $P$).



    You see how smart politicians are? (Of course $s$ can be shown to be a liar if he does not manage to avoid $P$, but then being out of office anyway, $s$ probably won't care much about being proven a liar as well.)






    share|cite|improve this answer





















    • This anecdote leads to the answer; or at least the explanation of why the truth table for "If P then Q" doesn't quite match what some people expect. In everyday situations, when we say "If ... then ...", this actually implies some degree of causation; that is, that P somehow causes Q, or makes Q more likely. Of course, propositional logic doesn't express causation or likelihood; so the propositional logic meaning of "If P then Q" differs ever-so-slightly from the everyday meaning.
      – user22805
      Jan 19 '12 at 9:21










    • Thanks Marc for nice explanation.
      – P K
      Jan 19 '12 at 17:54










    • thanks Marc! This really helped me understand implication :)
      – ambertch
      Aug 5 '12 at 23:25


















    up vote
    4
    down vote













    Remember that "implies" is equivalent to "subset of". It works in exactly the same way: "if an element is in the subset (e.g A), it MUST also be in the superset (e.g. B)". By definition, it is impossible that an element is in the subset, but not in the superset. That's the P=1, Q=0; P=>Q = 0 case. In fact, "A ⊆ B" means that a ∈ A implies that a ∈ B. If a is not in subset A then you can't draw any conclusions on whether a is in the superset B. That's how I keep remembering it.






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      down vote













      "if P then Q" is equivalent to P=>Q

      "P only if Q" is also equivalent to P=>Q (example here)

      "Q if P" is same as "if P then Q" and equivalent to P=>Q



      However, note (following statement which is not given in the original question): P if Q is equivalent to "if q then p" or Q=>P






      share|cite|improve this answer





















      • linked example makes sense to me. thanks.
        – P K
        Jan 18 '12 at 23:25


















      up vote
      1
      down vote













      In your truth table, look only at the lines where $Pimplies Q$ holds (is $1$), i.e., drop the third line. In the remaining lines, for each line where $P$ holds (i.e., the last one) $Q$ holds as well. Moreover, the column $Pimplies Q$ has $1$s in all lines possible where this property holds (i.e., if we made its unique entry $0$ in the third line a $1$ as well, the property would fail).






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        up vote
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        down vote













        Here's a good rule to follow when you're at a university (or working on the job):



        "If the fire alarm is going off, you are to go outside"



        This can be expressed as P -> Q:



        P = "Is the alarm going off?"
        Q = "Are you going outside?"



        begin{array}{|r|r|r|} text{P} & text{Q} & text{Answer} & text{Have you followed the rule?} \ hline
        text{F} & text{F} & text{T} & text{Yes, the rule has been followed} \ hline
        text{F} & text{T} & text{T} & text{Yes, the rule has been followed (you can still go outside during a break)} \ hline
        text{T} & text{F} & text{F} & text{No, the rule has been broken!} \ hline
        text{T} & text{T} & text{T} & text{Yes, the rule has been followed} \ hline
        hline
        end{array}






        share|cite|improve this answer




























          up vote
          0
          down vote













          Here's your truth table:




          $$ begin{align}mathbf P & mathbf Q & mathbf{P implies Q} \ 1 & 1&1 \ 1&0&0 \ 0&1&1 \ 0&0&1end{align}$$




          $1$ means true and $0$ means false.



          What does logical implication mean? "If $Phi$ then $Psi$" can be written as $mathbf{Phi Rightarrow Psi}$. Albeit, it's much more defined than real life. Remember that Mathematical thinking is different than general thinking.






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            down vote













            From the MIT CS Math course




            The truth table for implications can be summarized in words as
            follows:



            An implication is true exactly when the if-part is false or the
            then-part is true.







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              up vote
              0
              down vote













              I would like to share my own understanding of this.
              I like to think of Implication as a Promise rather than Causality which is the natural tendency when you come across it the first time.



              Example:



              You have a nice kid and you make him the following promise to him:



              If you get an A in your exam, then I will buy you a car.



              In this case P is kid gets A in exam and Q is You buy him a car.



              Now let's see how this promise holds with various values for P and Q



              If P is true (Kid gets A in exam) and Q is true (You bought him car) then your promise has held and $P Rightarrow Q$ is true.



              If P is true (Kid gets A in exam) and Q is false (You didn't buy him a car) then your promise didn't hold so $P Rightarrow Q$ is false.



              If P is false (Kid didn't get A in exam) and Q is true (You bought him car) then your promise still holds and $P Rightarrow Q$ is true and that's because you only said what will happen if he get's an A, you basically didn't say what will happen if he doesn't which could imply anything. Basically you didn't break your promise and this is the weak property which most people find confusing in implication.



              If P is false (Kid didn't get A in exam) and Q is false (you didn't buy him a car) then your promise has also held and $P Rightarrow Q$ is true because you only promised and guaranteed a car if he gets an A.






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                9 Answers
                9






                active

                oldest

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                9 Answers
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                up vote
                12
                down vote



                accepted










                If you start out with a false premise, then, as far as implication is concerned, you are free to conclude anything. (This corresponds to the fact that, when $P$ is false, the implication $P rightarrow Q$ is true no matter what $Q$ is.)



                If you start out with a true premise, then the implication should be true only when the conclusion is also true. (This corresponds to the fact that, when $P$ is true, the truth of the implication is the same as the truth of $Q$.)






                share|cite|improve this answer

























                  up vote
                  12
                  down vote



                  accepted










                  If you start out with a false premise, then, as far as implication is concerned, you are free to conclude anything. (This corresponds to the fact that, when $P$ is false, the implication $P rightarrow Q$ is true no matter what $Q$ is.)



                  If you start out with a true premise, then the implication should be true only when the conclusion is also true. (This corresponds to the fact that, when $P$ is true, the truth of the implication is the same as the truth of $Q$.)






                  share|cite|improve this answer























                    up vote
                    12
                    down vote



                    accepted







                    up vote
                    12
                    down vote



                    accepted






                    If you start out with a false premise, then, as far as implication is concerned, you are free to conclude anything. (This corresponds to the fact that, when $P$ is false, the implication $P rightarrow Q$ is true no matter what $Q$ is.)



                    If you start out with a true premise, then the implication should be true only when the conclusion is also true. (This corresponds to the fact that, when $P$ is true, the truth of the implication is the same as the truth of $Q$.)






                    share|cite|improve this answer












                    If you start out with a false premise, then, as far as implication is concerned, you are free to conclude anything. (This corresponds to the fact that, when $P$ is false, the implication $P rightarrow Q$ is true no matter what $Q$ is.)



                    If you start out with a true premise, then the implication should be true only when the conclusion is also true. (This corresponds to the fact that, when $P$ is true, the truth of the implication is the same as the truth of $Q$.)







                    share|cite|improve this answer












                    share|cite|improve this answer



                    share|cite|improve this answer










                    answered Jan 18 '12 at 23:11









                    Austin Mohr

                    19.9k35097




                    19.9k35097






















                        up vote
                        10
                        down vote













                        Not really as an answer but as an anecdote I'll sketch the following real life situation (in abstract terms to avoid controversy).



                        A politician $s$ declares, in a menacing voice: "if we would do $P$ then $Q$ will ensue!" where $P$ is something like electing his adversary, or not adopting the Draconic measures he proposes, and $Q$ are catastrophic events like people losing their jobs and the country plunging into a deep crisis. Now suppose $s$ is lucky and manages to avoid $P$, but that then $Q$ happens anyway. Now does this show that $s$ lied? Since $P$ is false and $Q$ is true, we are in the second line of your table, you can read off that $PRightarrow Q$ is deemed true in this case. In fact since $s$ prophesized about a circumstance $P$ that did not happen, later events could not have shown him a liar either way. An this in spite of the fact that by common sense the statement he made was either false (if doing $P$ would actually have prevented $Q$) or irrelevant (if $Q$ would have happened independently of $P$, or depending on other conditions than those of $P$).



                        You see how smart politicians are? (Of course $s$ can be shown to be a liar if he does not manage to avoid $P$, but then being out of office anyway, $s$ probably won't care much about being proven a liar as well.)






                        share|cite|improve this answer





















                        • This anecdote leads to the answer; or at least the explanation of why the truth table for "If P then Q" doesn't quite match what some people expect. In everyday situations, when we say "If ... then ...", this actually implies some degree of causation; that is, that P somehow causes Q, or makes Q more likely. Of course, propositional logic doesn't express causation or likelihood; so the propositional logic meaning of "If P then Q" differs ever-so-slightly from the everyday meaning.
                          – user22805
                          Jan 19 '12 at 9:21










                        • Thanks Marc for nice explanation.
                          – P K
                          Jan 19 '12 at 17:54










                        • thanks Marc! This really helped me understand implication :)
                          – ambertch
                          Aug 5 '12 at 23:25















                        up vote
                        10
                        down vote













                        Not really as an answer but as an anecdote I'll sketch the following real life situation (in abstract terms to avoid controversy).



                        A politician $s$ declares, in a menacing voice: "if we would do $P$ then $Q$ will ensue!" where $P$ is something like electing his adversary, or not adopting the Draconic measures he proposes, and $Q$ are catastrophic events like people losing their jobs and the country plunging into a deep crisis. Now suppose $s$ is lucky and manages to avoid $P$, but that then $Q$ happens anyway. Now does this show that $s$ lied? Since $P$ is false and $Q$ is true, we are in the second line of your table, you can read off that $PRightarrow Q$ is deemed true in this case. In fact since $s$ prophesized about a circumstance $P$ that did not happen, later events could not have shown him a liar either way. An this in spite of the fact that by common sense the statement he made was either false (if doing $P$ would actually have prevented $Q$) or irrelevant (if $Q$ would have happened independently of $P$, or depending on other conditions than those of $P$).



                        You see how smart politicians are? (Of course $s$ can be shown to be a liar if he does not manage to avoid $P$, but then being out of office anyway, $s$ probably won't care much about being proven a liar as well.)






                        share|cite|improve this answer





















                        • This anecdote leads to the answer; or at least the explanation of why the truth table for "If P then Q" doesn't quite match what some people expect. In everyday situations, when we say "If ... then ...", this actually implies some degree of causation; that is, that P somehow causes Q, or makes Q more likely. Of course, propositional logic doesn't express causation or likelihood; so the propositional logic meaning of "If P then Q" differs ever-so-slightly from the everyday meaning.
                          – user22805
                          Jan 19 '12 at 9:21










                        • Thanks Marc for nice explanation.
                          – P K
                          Jan 19 '12 at 17:54










                        • thanks Marc! This really helped me understand implication :)
                          – ambertch
                          Aug 5 '12 at 23:25













                        up vote
                        10
                        down vote










                        up vote
                        10
                        down vote









                        Not really as an answer but as an anecdote I'll sketch the following real life situation (in abstract terms to avoid controversy).



                        A politician $s$ declares, in a menacing voice: "if we would do $P$ then $Q$ will ensue!" where $P$ is something like electing his adversary, or not adopting the Draconic measures he proposes, and $Q$ are catastrophic events like people losing their jobs and the country plunging into a deep crisis. Now suppose $s$ is lucky and manages to avoid $P$, but that then $Q$ happens anyway. Now does this show that $s$ lied? Since $P$ is false and $Q$ is true, we are in the second line of your table, you can read off that $PRightarrow Q$ is deemed true in this case. In fact since $s$ prophesized about a circumstance $P$ that did not happen, later events could not have shown him a liar either way. An this in spite of the fact that by common sense the statement he made was either false (if doing $P$ would actually have prevented $Q$) or irrelevant (if $Q$ would have happened independently of $P$, or depending on other conditions than those of $P$).



                        You see how smart politicians are? (Of course $s$ can be shown to be a liar if he does not manage to avoid $P$, but then being out of office anyway, $s$ probably won't care much about being proven a liar as well.)






                        share|cite|improve this answer












                        Not really as an answer but as an anecdote I'll sketch the following real life situation (in abstract terms to avoid controversy).



                        A politician $s$ declares, in a menacing voice: "if we would do $P$ then $Q$ will ensue!" where $P$ is something like electing his adversary, or not adopting the Draconic measures he proposes, and $Q$ are catastrophic events like people losing their jobs and the country plunging into a deep crisis. Now suppose $s$ is lucky and manages to avoid $P$, but that then $Q$ happens anyway. Now does this show that $s$ lied? Since $P$ is false and $Q$ is true, we are in the second line of your table, you can read off that $PRightarrow Q$ is deemed true in this case. In fact since $s$ prophesized about a circumstance $P$ that did not happen, later events could not have shown him a liar either way. An this in spite of the fact that by common sense the statement he made was either false (if doing $P$ would actually have prevented $Q$) or irrelevant (if $Q$ would have happened independently of $P$, or depending on other conditions than those of $P$).



                        You see how smart politicians are? (Of course $s$ can be shown to be a liar if he does not manage to avoid $P$, but then being out of office anyway, $s$ probably won't care much about being proven a liar as well.)







                        share|cite|improve this answer












                        share|cite|improve this answer



                        share|cite|improve this answer










                        answered Jan 19 '12 at 7:41









                        Marc van Leeuwen

                        86.1k5105218




                        86.1k5105218












                        • This anecdote leads to the answer; or at least the explanation of why the truth table for "If P then Q" doesn't quite match what some people expect. In everyday situations, when we say "If ... then ...", this actually implies some degree of causation; that is, that P somehow causes Q, or makes Q more likely. Of course, propositional logic doesn't express causation or likelihood; so the propositional logic meaning of "If P then Q" differs ever-so-slightly from the everyday meaning.
                          – user22805
                          Jan 19 '12 at 9:21










                        • Thanks Marc for nice explanation.
                          – P K
                          Jan 19 '12 at 17:54










                        • thanks Marc! This really helped me understand implication :)
                          – ambertch
                          Aug 5 '12 at 23:25


















                        • This anecdote leads to the answer; or at least the explanation of why the truth table for "If P then Q" doesn't quite match what some people expect. In everyday situations, when we say "If ... then ...", this actually implies some degree of causation; that is, that P somehow causes Q, or makes Q more likely. Of course, propositional logic doesn't express causation or likelihood; so the propositional logic meaning of "If P then Q" differs ever-so-slightly from the everyday meaning.
                          – user22805
                          Jan 19 '12 at 9:21










                        • Thanks Marc for nice explanation.
                          – P K
                          Jan 19 '12 at 17:54










                        • thanks Marc! This really helped me understand implication :)
                          – ambertch
                          Aug 5 '12 at 23:25
















                        This anecdote leads to the answer; or at least the explanation of why the truth table for "If P then Q" doesn't quite match what some people expect. In everyday situations, when we say "If ... then ...", this actually implies some degree of causation; that is, that P somehow causes Q, or makes Q more likely. Of course, propositional logic doesn't express causation or likelihood; so the propositional logic meaning of "If P then Q" differs ever-so-slightly from the everyday meaning.
                        – user22805
                        Jan 19 '12 at 9:21




                        This anecdote leads to the answer; or at least the explanation of why the truth table for "If P then Q" doesn't quite match what some people expect. In everyday situations, when we say "If ... then ...", this actually implies some degree of causation; that is, that P somehow causes Q, or makes Q more likely. Of course, propositional logic doesn't express causation or likelihood; so the propositional logic meaning of "If P then Q" differs ever-so-slightly from the everyday meaning.
                        – user22805
                        Jan 19 '12 at 9:21












                        Thanks Marc for nice explanation.
                        – P K
                        Jan 19 '12 at 17:54




                        Thanks Marc for nice explanation.
                        – P K
                        Jan 19 '12 at 17:54












                        thanks Marc! This really helped me understand implication :)
                        – ambertch
                        Aug 5 '12 at 23:25




                        thanks Marc! This really helped me understand implication :)
                        – ambertch
                        Aug 5 '12 at 23:25










                        up vote
                        4
                        down vote













                        Remember that "implies" is equivalent to "subset of". It works in exactly the same way: "if an element is in the subset (e.g A), it MUST also be in the superset (e.g. B)". By definition, it is impossible that an element is in the subset, but not in the superset. That's the P=1, Q=0; P=>Q = 0 case. In fact, "A ⊆ B" means that a ∈ A implies that a ∈ B. If a is not in subset A then you can't draw any conclusions on whether a is in the superset B. That's how I keep remembering it.






                        share|cite|improve this answer

























                          up vote
                          4
                          down vote













                          Remember that "implies" is equivalent to "subset of". It works in exactly the same way: "if an element is in the subset (e.g A), it MUST also be in the superset (e.g. B)". By definition, it is impossible that an element is in the subset, but not in the superset. That's the P=1, Q=0; P=>Q = 0 case. In fact, "A ⊆ B" means that a ∈ A implies that a ∈ B. If a is not in subset A then you can't draw any conclusions on whether a is in the superset B. That's how I keep remembering it.






                          share|cite|improve this answer























                            up vote
                            4
                            down vote










                            up vote
                            4
                            down vote









                            Remember that "implies" is equivalent to "subset of". It works in exactly the same way: "if an element is in the subset (e.g A), it MUST also be in the superset (e.g. B)". By definition, it is impossible that an element is in the subset, but not in the superset. That's the P=1, Q=0; P=>Q = 0 case. In fact, "A ⊆ B" means that a ∈ A implies that a ∈ B. If a is not in subset A then you can't draw any conclusions on whether a is in the superset B. That's how I keep remembering it.






                            share|cite|improve this answer












                            Remember that "implies" is equivalent to "subset of". It works in exactly the same way: "if an element is in the subset (e.g A), it MUST also be in the superset (e.g. B)". By definition, it is impossible that an element is in the subset, but not in the superset. That's the P=1, Q=0; P=>Q = 0 case. In fact, "A ⊆ B" means that a ∈ A implies that a ∈ B. If a is not in subset A then you can't draw any conclusions on whether a is in the superset B. That's how I keep remembering it.







                            share|cite|improve this answer












                            share|cite|improve this answer



                            share|cite|improve this answer










                            answered Jan 20 '12 at 5:12









                            plutoniumium

                            413




                            413






















                                up vote
                                2
                                down vote













                                "if P then Q" is equivalent to P=>Q

                                "P only if Q" is also equivalent to P=>Q (example here)

                                "Q if P" is same as "if P then Q" and equivalent to P=>Q



                                However, note (following statement which is not given in the original question): P if Q is equivalent to "if q then p" or Q=>P






                                share|cite|improve this answer





















                                • linked example makes sense to me. thanks.
                                  – P K
                                  Jan 18 '12 at 23:25















                                up vote
                                2
                                down vote













                                "if P then Q" is equivalent to P=>Q

                                "P only if Q" is also equivalent to P=>Q (example here)

                                "Q if P" is same as "if P then Q" and equivalent to P=>Q



                                However, note (following statement which is not given in the original question): P if Q is equivalent to "if q then p" or Q=>P






                                share|cite|improve this answer





















                                • linked example makes sense to me. thanks.
                                  – P K
                                  Jan 18 '12 at 23:25













                                up vote
                                2
                                down vote










                                up vote
                                2
                                down vote









                                "if P then Q" is equivalent to P=>Q

                                "P only if Q" is also equivalent to P=>Q (example here)

                                "Q if P" is same as "if P then Q" and equivalent to P=>Q



                                However, note (following statement which is not given in the original question): P if Q is equivalent to "if q then p" or Q=>P






                                share|cite|improve this answer












                                "if P then Q" is equivalent to P=>Q

                                "P only if Q" is also equivalent to P=>Q (example here)

                                "Q if P" is same as "if P then Q" and equivalent to P=>Q



                                However, note (following statement which is not given in the original question): P if Q is equivalent to "if q then p" or Q=>P







                                share|cite|improve this answer












                                share|cite|improve this answer



                                share|cite|improve this answer










                                answered Jan 18 '12 at 23:18









                                Sniper Clown

                                52021333




                                52021333












                                • linked example makes sense to me. thanks.
                                  – P K
                                  Jan 18 '12 at 23:25


















                                • linked example makes sense to me. thanks.
                                  – P K
                                  Jan 18 '12 at 23:25
















                                linked example makes sense to me. thanks.
                                – P K
                                Jan 18 '12 at 23:25




                                linked example makes sense to me. thanks.
                                – P K
                                Jan 18 '12 at 23:25










                                up vote
                                1
                                down vote













                                In your truth table, look only at the lines where $Pimplies Q$ holds (is $1$), i.e., drop the third line. In the remaining lines, for each line where $P$ holds (i.e., the last one) $Q$ holds as well. Moreover, the column $Pimplies Q$ has $1$s in all lines possible where this property holds (i.e., if we made its unique entry $0$ in the third line a $1$ as well, the property would fail).






                                share|cite|improve this answer

























                                  up vote
                                  1
                                  down vote













                                  In your truth table, look only at the lines where $Pimplies Q$ holds (is $1$), i.e., drop the third line. In the remaining lines, for each line where $P$ holds (i.e., the last one) $Q$ holds as well. Moreover, the column $Pimplies Q$ has $1$s in all lines possible where this property holds (i.e., if we made its unique entry $0$ in the third line a $1$ as well, the property would fail).






                                  share|cite|improve this answer























                                    up vote
                                    1
                                    down vote










                                    up vote
                                    1
                                    down vote









                                    In your truth table, look only at the lines where $Pimplies Q$ holds (is $1$), i.e., drop the third line. In the remaining lines, for each line where $P$ holds (i.e., the last one) $Q$ holds as well. Moreover, the column $Pimplies Q$ has $1$s in all lines possible where this property holds (i.e., if we made its unique entry $0$ in the third line a $1$ as well, the property would fail).






                                    share|cite|improve this answer












                                    In your truth table, look only at the lines where $Pimplies Q$ holds (is $1$), i.e., drop the third line. In the remaining lines, for each line where $P$ holds (i.e., the last one) $Q$ holds as well. Moreover, the column $Pimplies Q$ has $1$s in all lines possible where this property holds (i.e., if we made its unique entry $0$ in the third line a $1$ as well, the property would fail).







                                    share|cite|improve this answer












                                    share|cite|improve this answer



                                    share|cite|improve this answer










                                    answered Jan 18 '12 at 23:13









                                    Marc van Leeuwen

                                    86.1k5105218




                                    86.1k5105218






















                                        up vote
                                        1
                                        down vote













                                        Here's a good rule to follow when you're at a university (or working on the job):



                                        "If the fire alarm is going off, you are to go outside"



                                        This can be expressed as P -> Q:



                                        P = "Is the alarm going off?"
                                        Q = "Are you going outside?"



                                        begin{array}{|r|r|r|} text{P} & text{Q} & text{Answer} & text{Have you followed the rule?} \ hline
                                        text{F} & text{F} & text{T} & text{Yes, the rule has been followed} \ hline
                                        text{F} & text{T} & text{T} & text{Yes, the rule has been followed (you can still go outside during a break)} \ hline
                                        text{T} & text{F} & text{F} & text{No, the rule has been broken!} \ hline
                                        text{T} & text{T} & text{T} & text{Yes, the rule has been followed} \ hline
                                        hline
                                        end{array}






                                        share|cite|improve this answer

























                                          up vote
                                          1
                                          down vote













                                          Here's a good rule to follow when you're at a university (or working on the job):



                                          "If the fire alarm is going off, you are to go outside"



                                          This can be expressed as P -> Q:



                                          P = "Is the alarm going off?"
                                          Q = "Are you going outside?"



                                          begin{array}{|r|r|r|} text{P} & text{Q} & text{Answer} & text{Have you followed the rule?} \ hline
                                          text{F} & text{F} & text{T} & text{Yes, the rule has been followed} \ hline
                                          text{F} & text{T} & text{T} & text{Yes, the rule has been followed (you can still go outside during a break)} \ hline
                                          text{T} & text{F} & text{F} & text{No, the rule has been broken!} \ hline
                                          text{T} & text{T} & text{T} & text{Yes, the rule has been followed} \ hline
                                          hline
                                          end{array}






                                          share|cite|improve this answer























                                            up vote
                                            1
                                            down vote










                                            up vote
                                            1
                                            down vote









                                            Here's a good rule to follow when you're at a university (or working on the job):



                                            "If the fire alarm is going off, you are to go outside"



                                            This can be expressed as P -> Q:



                                            P = "Is the alarm going off?"
                                            Q = "Are you going outside?"



                                            begin{array}{|r|r|r|} text{P} & text{Q} & text{Answer} & text{Have you followed the rule?} \ hline
                                            text{F} & text{F} & text{T} & text{Yes, the rule has been followed} \ hline
                                            text{F} & text{T} & text{T} & text{Yes, the rule has been followed (you can still go outside during a break)} \ hline
                                            text{T} & text{F} & text{F} & text{No, the rule has been broken!} \ hline
                                            text{T} & text{T} & text{T} & text{Yes, the rule has been followed} \ hline
                                            hline
                                            end{array}






                                            share|cite|improve this answer












                                            Here's a good rule to follow when you're at a university (or working on the job):



                                            "If the fire alarm is going off, you are to go outside"



                                            This can be expressed as P -> Q:



                                            P = "Is the alarm going off?"
                                            Q = "Are you going outside?"



                                            begin{array}{|r|r|r|} text{P} & text{Q} & text{Answer} & text{Have you followed the rule?} \ hline
                                            text{F} & text{F} & text{T} & text{Yes, the rule has been followed} \ hline
                                            text{F} & text{T} & text{T} & text{Yes, the rule has been followed (you can still go outside during a break)} \ hline
                                            text{T} & text{F} & text{F} & text{No, the rule has been broken!} \ hline
                                            text{T} & text{T} & text{T} & text{Yes, the rule has been followed} \ hline
                                            hline
                                            end{array}







                                            share|cite|improve this answer












                                            share|cite|improve this answer



                                            share|cite|improve this answer










                                            answered Nov 20 at 19:31









                                            DavidHulsman

                                            111




                                            111






















                                                up vote
                                                0
                                                down vote













                                                Here's your truth table:




                                                $$ begin{align}mathbf P & mathbf Q & mathbf{P implies Q} \ 1 & 1&1 \ 1&0&0 \ 0&1&1 \ 0&0&1end{align}$$




                                                $1$ means true and $0$ means false.



                                                What does logical implication mean? "If $Phi$ then $Psi$" can be written as $mathbf{Phi Rightarrow Psi}$. Albeit, it's much more defined than real life. Remember that Mathematical thinking is different than general thinking.






                                                share|cite|improve this answer

























                                                  up vote
                                                  0
                                                  down vote













                                                  Here's your truth table:




                                                  $$ begin{align}mathbf P & mathbf Q & mathbf{P implies Q} \ 1 & 1&1 \ 1&0&0 \ 0&1&1 \ 0&0&1end{align}$$




                                                  $1$ means true and $0$ means false.



                                                  What does logical implication mean? "If $Phi$ then $Psi$" can be written as $mathbf{Phi Rightarrow Psi}$. Albeit, it's much more defined than real life. Remember that Mathematical thinking is different than general thinking.






                                                  share|cite|improve this answer























                                                    up vote
                                                    0
                                                    down vote










                                                    up vote
                                                    0
                                                    down vote









                                                    Here's your truth table:




                                                    $$ begin{align}mathbf P & mathbf Q & mathbf{P implies Q} \ 1 & 1&1 \ 1&0&0 \ 0&1&1 \ 0&0&1end{align}$$




                                                    $1$ means true and $0$ means false.



                                                    What does logical implication mean? "If $Phi$ then $Psi$" can be written as $mathbf{Phi Rightarrow Psi}$. Albeit, it's much more defined than real life. Remember that Mathematical thinking is different than general thinking.






                                                    share|cite|improve this answer












                                                    Here's your truth table:




                                                    $$ begin{align}mathbf P & mathbf Q & mathbf{P implies Q} \ 1 & 1&1 \ 1&0&0 \ 0&1&1 \ 0&0&1end{align}$$




                                                    $1$ means true and $0$ means false.



                                                    What does logical implication mean? "If $Phi$ then $Psi$" can be written as $mathbf{Phi Rightarrow Psi}$. Albeit, it's much more defined than real life. Remember that Mathematical thinking is different than general thinking.







                                                    share|cite|improve this answer












                                                    share|cite|improve this answer



                                                    share|cite|improve this answer










                                                    answered Sep 25 '12 at 15:29









                                                    Parth Kohli

                                                    5,99012860




                                                    5,99012860






















                                                        up vote
                                                        0
                                                        down vote













                                                        From the MIT CS Math course




                                                        The truth table for implications can be summarized in words as
                                                        follows:



                                                        An implication is true exactly when the if-part is false or the
                                                        then-part is true.







                                                        share|cite|improve this answer

























                                                          up vote
                                                          0
                                                          down vote













                                                          From the MIT CS Math course




                                                          The truth table for implications can be summarized in words as
                                                          follows:



                                                          An implication is true exactly when the if-part is false or the
                                                          then-part is true.







                                                          share|cite|improve this answer























                                                            up vote
                                                            0
                                                            down vote










                                                            up vote
                                                            0
                                                            down vote









                                                            From the MIT CS Math course




                                                            The truth table for implications can be summarized in words as
                                                            follows:



                                                            An implication is true exactly when the if-part is false or the
                                                            then-part is true.







                                                            share|cite|improve this answer












                                                            From the MIT CS Math course




                                                            The truth table for implications can be summarized in words as
                                                            follows:



                                                            An implication is true exactly when the if-part is false or the
                                                            then-part is true.








                                                            share|cite|improve this answer












                                                            share|cite|improve this answer



                                                            share|cite|improve this answer










                                                            answered Jun 18 '14 at 6:20









                                                            Ahmad Ajmi

                                                            1011




                                                            1011






















                                                                up vote
                                                                0
                                                                down vote













                                                                I would like to share my own understanding of this.
                                                                I like to think of Implication as a Promise rather than Causality which is the natural tendency when you come across it the first time.



                                                                Example:



                                                                You have a nice kid and you make him the following promise to him:



                                                                If you get an A in your exam, then I will buy you a car.



                                                                In this case P is kid gets A in exam and Q is You buy him a car.



                                                                Now let's see how this promise holds with various values for P and Q



                                                                If P is true (Kid gets A in exam) and Q is true (You bought him car) then your promise has held and $P Rightarrow Q$ is true.



                                                                If P is true (Kid gets A in exam) and Q is false (You didn't buy him a car) then your promise didn't hold so $P Rightarrow Q$ is false.



                                                                If P is false (Kid didn't get A in exam) and Q is true (You bought him car) then your promise still holds and $P Rightarrow Q$ is true and that's because you only said what will happen if he get's an A, you basically didn't say what will happen if he doesn't which could imply anything. Basically you didn't break your promise and this is the weak property which most people find confusing in implication.



                                                                If P is false (Kid didn't get A in exam) and Q is false (you didn't buy him a car) then your promise has also held and $P Rightarrow Q$ is true because you only promised and guaranteed a car if he gets an A.






                                                                share|cite|improve this answer

























                                                                  up vote
                                                                  0
                                                                  down vote













                                                                  I would like to share my own understanding of this.
                                                                  I like to think of Implication as a Promise rather than Causality which is the natural tendency when you come across it the first time.



                                                                  Example:



                                                                  You have a nice kid and you make him the following promise to him:



                                                                  If you get an A in your exam, then I will buy you a car.



                                                                  In this case P is kid gets A in exam and Q is You buy him a car.



                                                                  Now let's see how this promise holds with various values for P and Q



                                                                  If P is true (Kid gets A in exam) and Q is true (You bought him car) then your promise has held and $P Rightarrow Q$ is true.



                                                                  If P is true (Kid gets A in exam) and Q is false (You didn't buy him a car) then your promise didn't hold so $P Rightarrow Q$ is false.



                                                                  If P is false (Kid didn't get A in exam) and Q is true (You bought him car) then your promise still holds and $P Rightarrow Q$ is true and that's because you only said what will happen if he get's an A, you basically didn't say what will happen if he doesn't which could imply anything. Basically you didn't break your promise and this is the weak property which most people find confusing in implication.



                                                                  If P is false (Kid didn't get A in exam) and Q is false (you didn't buy him a car) then your promise has also held and $P Rightarrow Q$ is true because you only promised and guaranteed a car if he gets an A.






                                                                  share|cite|improve this answer























                                                                    up vote
                                                                    0
                                                                    down vote










                                                                    up vote
                                                                    0
                                                                    down vote









                                                                    I would like to share my own understanding of this.
                                                                    I like to think of Implication as a Promise rather than Causality which is the natural tendency when you come across it the first time.



                                                                    Example:



                                                                    You have a nice kid and you make him the following promise to him:



                                                                    If you get an A in your exam, then I will buy you a car.



                                                                    In this case P is kid gets A in exam and Q is You buy him a car.



                                                                    Now let's see how this promise holds with various values for P and Q



                                                                    If P is true (Kid gets A in exam) and Q is true (You bought him car) then your promise has held and $P Rightarrow Q$ is true.



                                                                    If P is true (Kid gets A in exam) and Q is false (You didn't buy him a car) then your promise didn't hold so $P Rightarrow Q$ is false.



                                                                    If P is false (Kid didn't get A in exam) and Q is true (You bought him car) then your promise still holds and $P Rightarrow Q$ is true and that's because you only said what will happen if he get's an A, you basically didn't say what will happen if he doesn't which could imply anything. Basically you didn't break your promise and this is the weak property which most people find confusing in implication.



                                                                    If P is false (Kid didn't get A in exam) and Q is false (you didn't buy him a car) then your promise has also held and $P Rightarrow Q$ is true because you only promised and guaranteed a car if he gets an A.






                                                                    share|cite|improve this answer












                                                                    I would like to share my own understanding of this.
                                                                    I like to think of Implication as a Promise rather than Causality which is the natural tendency when you come across it the first time.



                                                                    Example:



                                                                    You have a nice kid and you make him the following promise to him:



                                                                    If you get an A in your exam, then I will buy you a car.



                                                                    In this case P is kid gets A in exam and Q is You buy him a car.



                                                                    Now let's see how this promise holds with various values for P and Q



                                                                    If P is true (Kid gets A in exam) and Q is true (You bought him car) then your promise has held and $P Rightarrow Q$ is true.



                                                                    If P is true (Kid gets A in exam) and Q is false (You didn't buy him a car) then your promise didn't hold so $P Rightarrow Q$ is false.



                                                                    If P is false (Kid didn't get A in exam) and Q is true (You bought him car) then your promise still holds and $P Rightarrow Q$ is true and that's because you only said what will happen if he get's an A, you basically didn't say what will happen if he doesn't which could imply anything. Basically you didn't break your promise and this is the weak property which most people find confusing in implication.



                                                                    If P is false (Kid didn't get A in exam) and Q is false (you didn't buy him a car) then your promise has also held and $P Rightarrow Q$ is true because you only promised and guaranteed a car if he gets an A.







                                                                    share|cite|improve this answer












                                                                    share|cite|improve this answer



                                                                    share|cite|improve this answer










                                                                    answered Oct 22 '17 at 19:05









                                                                    Ibrahim Najjar

                                                                    1385




                                                                    1385






























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