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Math Coach Amy
Amy Ferguson Moncure

Geometry · Unit 1

Conditional Statements

Write if-then form, then the converse, inverse, and contrapositive.

Jump to section:

conditional p → q

converse q → p

contrapositive ∼q → ∼p

inverse ∼p → ∼q

What to Remember

If p, then q

A conditional is p → q. p is the hypothesis. q is the conclusion.

Logically equivalent

A conditional and its contrapositive are logically equivalent. The converse and the inverse are logically equivalent to each other, not to the conditional.

Writing statements

Example: If it is Tuesday, then I will take a test. Write the contrapositive.

First rewrite the statement and write p and q above the parts.

pq
Ifit is Tuesday, thenI will take a test.

Contrapositive: ∼q → ∼p

If I don’t take a test, then it is not Tuesday.

This takes a little more work, but you will always get it right!

Level 1

Easy

Write a sentence as If p, then q. Then write one related statement.

Example
Write in if-then form: A square has four congruent sides.

Hypothesis: a figure is a square.

Conclusion: it has four congruent sides.

If a figure is a square, then it has four congruent sides.

Answer: If a figure is a square, then it has four congruent sides.

1
Write in if-then form: Vertical angles are congruent.
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If two angles are vertical, then they are congruent.

Answer: If two angles are vertical, then they are congruent.

2
Conditional: If a figure is a rectangle, then it has four right angles. Write the converse.
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Converse: switch.

q → p

If a figure has four right angles, then it is a rectangle.

Answer: If a figure has four right angles, then it is a rectangle.

3
Conditional: If a figure is a rectangle, then it has four right angles. Write the inverse.
Show Answer

Inverse: negate both.

∼p → ∼q

If a figure is not a rectangle, then it does not have four right angles.

Answer: If a figure is not a rectangle, then it does not have four right angles.

4
Conditional: If a figure is a rectangle, then it has four right angles. Write the contrapositive.
Show Answer

Contrapositive: switch and negate.

∼q → ∼p

If a figure does not have four right angles, then it is not a rectangle.

Answer: If a figure does not have four right angles, then it is not a rectangle.

5
Write in if-then form: You can check out a book when you have a library card.
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“q when p” means If p, then q.

If you have a library card, then you can check out a book.

Answer: If you have a library card, then you can check out a book.

Level 2

Medium

Watch “when,” “if,” “only if,” and “after.” Write one related statement.

Example
Write in if-then form, then write the converse: When it is raining, the track is closed.

p: It is raining.

q: The track is closed.

If p, then q.

If it is raining, then the track is closed.

Converse: q → p

If the track is closed, then it is raining.

Answer: If the track is closed, then it is raining.

Example
Write in if-then form, then write the inverse: You may use the 3D printer only if you finished the safety quiz.

p: You may use the 3D printer.

q: You finished the safety quiz.

“p only if q” means If p, then q.

If you may use the 3D printer, then you finished the safety quiz.

Inverse: ∼p → ∼q

If you may not use the 3D printer, then you did not finish the safety quiz.

Answer: If you may not use the 3D printer, then you did not finish the safety quiz.

1
Write in if-then form, then write the contrapositive: Students stay after school when they have rehearsal.
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If students have rehearsal, then they stay after school.

Contrapositive: If students do not stay after school, then they do not have rehearsal.

Answer: If they do not stay after school, then they do not have rehearsal.

2
Conditional: If two lines are perpendicular, then they form a right angle. Write the inverse. Is the inverse true?
Show Answer

Inverse: If two lines are not perpendicular, then they do not form a right angle.

Two lines can form a right angle only if they are perpendicular, so this inverse is true for lines in a plane. The original is true, so the inverse matches the converse, which is also true here.

Yes. The inverse is true.

Answer: If two lines are not perpendicular, then they do not form a right angle. Yes.

3
Write in if-then form: A number is divisible by 10 only if it is divisible by 5.
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“p only if q” means If p, then q.

If a number is divisible by 10, then it is divisible by 5.

Answer: If a number is divisible by 10, then it is divisible by 5.

4
Conditional: If a polygon is a pentagon, then it has 5 sides. Write the converse. Is the converse true?
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Converse: If a polygon has 5 sides, then it is a pentagon.

That is the definition of pentagon, so yes.

Answer: If a polygon has 5 sides, then it is a pentagon. Yes.

5
p: A figure is a square. q: A figure is a rhombus. Write p → q in words, then write the converse in words.
Show Answer

If a figure is a square, then it is a rhombus.

Converse: If a figure is a rhombus, then it is a square.

Answer: If square, then rhombus. Converse: If rhombus, then square.

6
Write in if-then form, then write the inverse: When the marching band takes the field, the crowd stands up.
Show Answer

p: The marching band takes the field.

q: The crowd stands up.

If p, then q.

If the marching band takes the field, then the crowd stands up.

Inverse: ∼p → ∼q

If the marching band does not take the field, then the crowd does not stand up.

Answer: If the marching band does not take the field, then the crowd does not stand up.

7
Write in if-then form, then write the converse: Practice is canceled if the field is frozen.
Show Answer

p: The field is frozen.

q: Practice is canceled.

“q if p” means If p, then q.

If the field is frozen, then practice is canceled.

Converse: q → p

If practice is canceled, then the field is frozen.

Answer: If practice is canceled, then the field is frozen.

8
Write in if-then form, then write the contrapositive: After the bus arrives, students scan their IDs.
Show Answer

p: The bus arrives.

q: Students scan their IDs.

If p, then q.

If the bus arrives, then students scan their IDs.

Contrapositive: ∼q → ∼p

If students do not scan their IDs, then the bus does not arrive.

Answer: If students do not scan their IDs, then the bus does not arrive.

Level 3

Hard

True conditional, false converse. The contrapositive keeps the conditional’s truth.

Example
Assume this is true: If a figure is a square, then it is a rhombus. Write the converse, inverse, and contrapositive. Which of those three must be true?

Converse: If a figure is a rhombus, then it is a square. False (a non-square rhombus).

Inverse: If a figure is not a square, then it is not a rhombus. False.

Contrapositive: If a figure is not a rhombus, then it is not a square. True.

Only the contrapositive must be true.

Answer: Only the contrapositive must be true.

1
Conditional: If you are in band, then your concert is on Friday. Write the converse. Must the converse be true?
Show Answer

Converse: If your concert is on Friday, then you are in band.

Other groups can also have a Friday concert.

No.

Answer: If your concert is on Friday, then you are in band. No.

2
Conditional: If you are in band, then your concert is on Friday. Write the inverse. Must the inverse be true?
Show Answer

Inverse: If you are not in band, then your concert is not on Friday.

The inverse matches the converse, which is not forced.

No.

Answer: If you are not in band, then your concert is not on Friday. No.

3
Conditional: If you are in band, then your concert is on Friday. Write the contrapositive. Must the contrapositive be true?
Show Answer

Contrapositive: If your concert is not on Friday, then you are not in band.

A conditional and its contrapositive are logically equivalent.

Yes.

Answer: If your concert is not on Friday, then you are not in band. Yes.

4
Write in if-then form, then write the contrapositive: A student may park on campus only if the student has a permit.
Show Answer

If a student may park on campus, then the student has a permit.

Contrapositive: If a student does not have a permit, then the student may not park on campus.

Answer: If a student does not have a permit, then the student may not park on campus.

5
Rewrite as a conditional, then name which related statement this is of “If a figure is a square, then it has four right angles”: If a figure does not have four right angles, then it is not a square.
Show Answer

That switches and negates both parts.

It is the contrapositive.

Answer: contrapositive

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