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Exercise 498Logic, sets and proofs › Proof techniquesHigh schoolAdded 3 Nov 2026

Converse, inverse, contrapositive

#implication#converse#contrapositive

Statement

For the implication P⇒QP\Rightarrow Q, describe its converse, inverse, and contrapositive. Which are logically equivalent to P⇒QP\Rightarrow Q?

Hint

Contrapositive is equivalent; converse and inverse are not.

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Solution

Definitions.
- Converse: Q⇒PQ\Rightarrow P.
- Inverse: ¬P⇒¬Q\neg P\Rightarrow\neg Q.
- Contrapositive: ¬Q⇒¬P\neg Q\Rightarrow\neg P.

Equivalence. P⇒QP\Rightarrow Q is equivalent to its contrapositive ¬Q⇒¬P\neg Q\Rightarrow\neg P. Converse and inverse are equivalent to each other but not to the original.

Example. P⇒QP\Rightarrow Q: "if nn even then n2n^2 even". Contrapositive: "if n2n^2 odd then nn odd". Converse: "if n2n^2 even then nn even" (true here, but not always).

Conclusion. Contrapositive is logically equivalent to the implication.