BICONDITIONAL
Objective
Write and analyze biconditional statements.
A biconditional statement combinesconditional
a _______________
statement and its ________________.
converse
A biconditional statement is written in the form
“p if and only if q.”
_____________________ “if p, then q”
This means ____________________ and
“if q, then p.”
_______________________
p q means p q and q
p
Example
For each conditional, write the converse and a biconditional statement.
a. If 5x – 8 = 37, then x = 9.
Converse: If x = 9, then 5x – 8 = 37.
Biconditional: 5x – 8 = 37 if and only if x = 9.
b. If two angles have the same measure, then they are congruent.
Converse: If two angles are congruent, then they have the same measure.
Biconditional: Two angles have the same measure if and only if they are
congruent.
c. If points lie on the same line, then they are collinear.
Converse: If points are collinear, then they lie on the same line.
Biconditional: Points lie on the same line if and only if they are collinear.
For a biconditional statement to be true, both the conditional
statement and its converse must be true.
Determine if the biconditional is true. If false, give a counterexample.
A rectangle has side lengths of 12 cm and 25 cm if and only if its area is
300 cm2.
Conditional: If a rectangle has side lengths of 12 The conditional is true.
cm and 25 cm, then its area is 300 cm2.
Converse: If a rectangle’s area is 300 cm2,
then it has side lengths of 12 cm and 25 cm. The converse is false.
Counter Example: If a rectangle’s area is 300 cm2, it could have
side lengths of 10 cm and 30 cm.
Because the converse is false, the biconditional is false.
A natural number n is odd n2 is odd.
Conditional: If a natural number n is
odd, then n2 is odd. The conditional is true.
Converse: If the square n2 of a natural The converse is true.
number is odd, then n is odd.
Since the conditional and its converse
are true, the biconditional is true.
Practice
Determine if the biconditional is true. If false, give a counterexample.
1. An angle is a right angle iff its measure is 90°.
Conditional: If an angle is a right angle, then its measure is 90°.
Converse: If the measure of an angle is 90°, then it is a right
angle.
Since the conditional and its converse are true, the biconditional is
true.
2. y = –5 y2 = 25
Conditional: If y = –5, then y2 = 25.
Converse: If y2 = 25, then y = –
5.
The converse is false when y = 5. Thus, the biconditional is false.
When is a biconditional statement true?
false?
Truth Value
TRUE if the conditional and its converse are
both true.
FALSE if either its conditional or converse is
false.
