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Exercise 1283Logic, sets and proofs › Proof techniquesL1Added 4 Nov 2026

Two implications imply the negation of $p$

#implication#truth table#contradiction

Statement

Let p,qp,q be propositions. Suppose both implications are true:
(1) p∧q  ⟹  qˉ,(2) pˉ∧qˉ  ⟹  q.(1)\ p\land q\implies\bar q,\qquad (2)\ \bar p\land\bar q\implies q.
Show that pp is false, first directly, then using truth tables.

Hint

Examine the cases p=1p=1 and p=0p=0 separately.

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Solution

Direct reasoning. If pp is false, the antecedents p∧qp\land q and pˉ∧qˉ\bar p\land\bar q of (1) can be true only if q=1q=1, but then (1) requires qˉ=1\bar q=1, false. More systematically:

  • If p=1p=1 and q=1q=1: (1) is 1⇒01\Rightarrow0, false.
  • If p=1p=1 and q=0q=0: (2) is 1⇒01\Rightarrow0, false.
  • If p=0p=0: both antecedents are always false, so both implications are vacuously true.

Hence both implications hold simultaneously iff p=0p=0.

Truth table. Writing impl(x,y)=xˉ∨y\text{impl}(x,y)=\bar x\lor y, one checks that (1) and (2) are both true only in the rows where p=0p=0.

Conclusion. pp must be false.