11. Show that each conditional statement in Exercise 9 is a tautology without using truth tables

See below the truth table for a conditional statement, and conjunction and disjunctions of two propositions. We will use them to solve this exercise.

Truth tables for conjunction and disjunction
Truth tables for conjunction and disjunction
Truth table for the conditional statement
Truth table for the conditional statement

Table of Contents

a) (p∧q)→p

From the truth table for the conjunction, we know that if p^q is true, then p and q must be true.

If p is true, then (p^q)->p is also true as both sides are true.

If the hypothesis (p^q) is false, then (p^q)->p is true. Notice from the truth table for the conditional statement that if the hypothesis is false, then the conditional statement is true.

Therefore, (p^q)->p is a tautology.

b) p→(p∨q)

If p is true, then pVq is also true (see the truth table for the disjunction -V- of two propositions).

If p is false, the conditional statement is true (truth table for the conditional statement).

Therefore, p→(p∨q) is a tautology.

c) ¬p→(p→q)

If ¬p is true, then p is false. If p is false, p->q is always true (truth table for the conditional statement). It follows that ¬p→(p→q) is true (T->T is T).

If ¬p is false, then ¬p→(p→q) is true (truth table for the conditional statement).

Therefore, ¬p→(p→q) is a tautology.

d) (p∧q)→(p→q)

If p^q is true, then p and q are also true (truth table for the conjunction of two propositions). It follows that p->q is true as both p and q are true (truth table for the conditional statement).

If p and q are true, then (p∧q)→(p→q) is also true (truth table for the conditional statement).

If p^q is false, then (p∧q)→(p→q)  is true (truth table for the conditional statement).

Therefore, (p∧q)→(p→q)  is a tautology.

e) ¬(p→q)→p

If ¬(p→q) is true, then p->q is false.

According to the truth table for conditional statements, p->q is false only when p is true and q is false. Because p is true, it follows that ¬(p→q)→p is true.

If ¬(p→q) is false, then ¬(p→q)→p is true (truth table for the conditional statement).

Therefore, ¬(p→q)→p is a tautology.

f) ¬(p→q)→¬q

If ¬(p→q) is true, then p->q is false.

According to the truth table for conditional statements, p->q is false only when p is true and q is false.

If q is false, then ¬q is true. It follows that ¬(p→q)→¬q is true.

If ¬(p→q) is false, then ¬(p→q)→ ¬q is true (truth table for the conditional statement).

Therefore, ¬(p→q)→¬q is a tautology.

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