Biconditionals and Conjunctions in Truth Tables Given that a biconditional p <mspace width="

pablos28spainzd

pablos28spainzd

Answered question

2022-07-08

Biconditionals and Conjunctions in Truth Tables
Given that a biconditional p q is True what can be concluded from the statement ¬ p ¬ q?
In a worded example:
I wear my running shoes if and only if I exercise. (True)
I am not exercising AND I am not wearing my running shoes. (?)
If we set up a truth table, the biconditional is True in two of the four occurrences, but we see that ¬ p ¬ q is both True and False, which would mean there is no conclusion, correct?

Answer & Explanation

earendil666h1

earendil666h1

Beginner2022-07-09Added 10 answers

Step 1
1. p q means that p and q have identical truth values, which means that ¬ p and ¬ q have identical truth values, which means that ¬ p ¬ q is a conjunction of propositions with identical truth vaulues (i.e., both true or both false).
Step 2
2. ¬ p ¬ q, by definition, true precisely when both conjuncts are true.So, (2) entails that both p and q are false.
And, (1) neither entails that (2) is true nor that (2) is false.
tripes3h

tripes3h

Beginner2022-07-10Added 5 answers

Step 1
Restating Ryan G's answer, which I completely agree with:
Given P Q you know that there are only two possibilities:
Possibility (1): P Q.
Possibility (2): ( ¬ P ) ( ¬ Q ) ..
Step 2
Since the only information available is that the biconditional is true, there is no way of determining which of Possibility (1) or Possibility (2) pertains.

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