Equivalence Question between when-then statement and if then statement

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the interpretation of logical statements, specifically the equivalence between "when p is true, then q is true" and "if p, then q." Participants are exploring the implications of these phrases in the context of a homework problem related to proof writing.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Cbarker1 expresses confusion about which proposition statement to assume for the proof, questioning whether to assume "when" or "if."
  • One participant suggests that "if" can generally be assumed in such cases, unless the statement is time-dependent.
  • Another participant raises the possibility of a language issue, noting that "when" in German translates to "wenn," which might affect interpretation.
  • It is mentioned that "when" can be used similarly to "if," without necessarily implying a time scale.
  • Cbarker1 reiterates the question of equivalence, stating that "when p is true, then q is true" does not seem to imply "if q, then p."
  • Participants discuss various phrases that might be used interchangeably with "if," indicating a potential overlap in meaning.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the equivalence of "when" and "if," with multiple interpretations and viewpoints presented. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the implications of these terms in logical statements.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights potential ambiguities in language and translation that may affect the understanding of logical implications. There are also unresolved assumptions regarding the context in which "when" and "if" are used.

Who May Find This Useful

Students and individuals interested in logic, proof writing, and the nuances of language in mathematical contexts may find this discussion relevant.

cbarker1
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TL;DR
What is the equivalence between when then and if-then statement
Dear Everybody,

I am working on my homework. I am trying to prove a problem that was written by my professor in an odd way: Prove that when p is true, then q is true. Which proposition statement should I assume? I personally thought that I should assume the first one. But reading my introduction to proof writing it says "Q, when P for implication statement." Now, I am confused on what to assume?

Thanks,
Cbarker1
 
Last edited:
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Who wrote the book? I'm pretty sure we can assume "if" in those cases, except in case the statement is time-dependent.
 
I forgot to add that my professor wrote the problem.
 
I was asking because it might be a language issue. "If" in German is "wenn" so it could be a translation problem. Another, possibly more likely reason could be that "when" is commonly used in the same sense as "if", disregarding the timely connotation of "when". When it happens it does not necessarily require a time scale. It simply means if it happens.
 
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cbarker1 said:
TL;DR Summary: What is the equivalence between when then and if-then statement

Dear Everybody,

I am working on my homework. I am trying to prove a problem that was written by my professor in an odd way: Prove that when p is true, then q is true. Which proposition statement should I assume?
I can't see that "when p is true, then q is true" could possibly mean "if q, then p". Words and phrases like "assuming", "whenever", "when", "in the event that", "under the assumption that" etc. are sometimes used instead of the more formal "if".
 

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