Exercise 1283Logic, sets and proofs › Proof techniquesL1Added 4 Nov 2026
Two implications imply the negation of $p$
#implication#truth table#contradiction
Statement
Let be propositions. Suppose both implications are true:
Show that is false, first directly, then using truth tables.
Hint
Examine the cases and separately.
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Solution
Direct reasoning. If is false, the antecedents and of (1) can be true only if , but then (1) requires , false. More systematically:
- If and : (1) is , false.
- If and : (2) is , false.
- If : both antecedents are always false, so both implications are vacuously true.
Hence both implications hold simultaneously iff .
Truth table. Writing , one checks that (1) and (2) are both true only in the rows where .
Conclusion. must be false.