Operations on

Propositions
Truth Table and Operations on
Propositions
 Operations involving two or more
propositions make use of connectives.
 Combining propositions using a connective

will result in the formation of a new

proposition.
 To determine whether this resulting

proposition is true or false, a scheme of

listing all possible truth values will be used.
 This scheme can be done with the help of the

so-called truth table.

5 Common Propositions that are
results of five common connectives:
 Conjunction
 Disjunction
 Implication
 Equivalence
 Negation
Conjunction
 This is a proposition which is the result of
combining two other propositions called
conjuncts with the connective word and.
 Rule: The conjunction of two statements is

true only if both conjuncts are true.

 Conjunction: p ˄ q

p q p˄q
T T T
T F F
F T F
F F F
Determine whether each conjunction
is true or false.
 A. 3 is odd and prime.
 B. 5 is a factor and a multiple of 25.
 C. 3 and -3 are roots of x2+6x+9 = 0.
 D. The quadratic function y = x2 is symmetric

with respect to the x-axis, and has a

maximum value.
Disjunction
 This is a proposition which is the result of
combining two other propositions called disjuncts
with the connective word or. Note: that the word or
will be considered with inclusive sense.
 Rule: The disjunction of two statements is false
only if both disjuncts are false.
 Disjunction: p ˅ q
p q p ˅q
T T T
T F T
F T T
F F F
Determine whether each disjunction
is true or false.
 A. Tarsiers are nocturnal primates or arboreal
mammals.
 B. Male seahorse is a fish or female seahorse

carries the eggs until their release into the

water.
 C. Platypus is a fish or it lays eggs.
 D. A group of dogs is a herd or a group of

horses is a flock.
Implication
 This proposition, which is also called conditional proposition,
is a proposition which is the result of combining a hypothesis
or antecedent to a conclusion or consequent in the form If
… , then …
 Rule: The implication is true in all cases, except when the
antecedent is true and the consequent is false. In other
words, a true hypothesis cannot imply a false conclusion.
 Implication: p → q

p q p →q
T T T
T F F
F T T
F F T
Determine whether each implication
is true or false.
 A. If 2+5=7, then (2)(5)=10.
 B. If 2+5=7, then 2-5=7.
 C. If 2+7=5, then 7-5=2.
 D. If 2+7=5, then 2-5=7.
Equivalence
 This proposition, which is also called biconditional
proposition, is a proposition which is the result of
combining two propositions in the form … if and
only if …
 Rule: The equivalence is true both propositions are
true or both are false.
 Equivalence: p ↔ q
p q p ↔q
T T T
T F F
F T F
F F T
Determine whether each equivalence
is true or false.
 A. A square is a polygon if and only if the
square is a rectangle.
 B. A right triangle is a triangle if and only if

the sum of the lengths of its sides is equal to

the length of the hypotenuse.
 C. The diagonals of a square are parallel if

and only if the square is a quadrilateral.

 D. Parallel segments intersect at a point if

and only if the segments have only one

endpoint.
Negation
 This is a proposition which is the result of
reversing the truth value of a given proposition.
 Rule: If a proposition is true, its negation is false,
and if a proposition is false, its negation is true.
 Negation: ~ p

p ~p
T F
F T
Determine the negation of each proposition
and tell whether each negation is true or false.
 A. Manila is the capital city of the Philippines.
 B. Washington D.C. is not the capital of USA.
 C. 1=2
 D. Bryan is Albee’s best friend.
 E. All policemen are honest.
Determine the truth value of each
proposition.
 A. ~ (p ˄ q)

 B. ~(p → ~ q)
Express each proposition in symbolic
form, and find its truth value.
 A. It is not the case that if it is not sunny, it
will rain.
 B. It is not the case that if the crown prince

died or he will marry a commoner, his

younger sister would inherit the throne.