Inverse (logic)
|
In logic, if S is a statement of the form P implies Q then the inverse of S is a statement of the form (not P) implies (not Q).
S and its inverse are not logical equivalents. For example, let S be the true statement "If I am a human, then I am mortal." The inverse of S is the statement "If I am not a human, then I am not mortal," which is not necessarily true.
A truth table makes it clear that S and the inverse of S are not logically equivalent:
P | Q | ¬P | ¬Q | P→Q | ¬P→¬Q |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
T | T | F | F | T | T |
T | F | F | T | F | T |
F | T | T | F | T | F |
F | F | T | T | T | T |
See also: Converse, Contrapositive, Denying the antecedent.