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suppose the conditional p→q is true and the conditional q→r is false. m…

Question

suppose the conditional p→q is true and the conditional q→r is false. must the conditional p→r also be false? explain. choose the correct answer below. a. no, p→r is not false. if p→q is true and q→r is false, then the hypothesis of p→r is false. this means p→r is true. b. no, p→r is not false. if q→r is false, then q is true and r is false. this means that either p is true and r is false or p and r are both false. in either case, p→r is true. c. yes, p→r is false. if q→r is false, then q is true and r is false. this means that either p is true and r is false or p and r are both false. in either case, p→r is false. d. no, p→r is not false. the two conditionals p→q and q→r can be combined to form the single conditional p→r. this means p→r is true. e. no, p→r is not necessarily false. if p→q is true and q→r is false, then the conclusion of p→r is false. this means p→r could be either true or false. f. no, p→r is not necessarily false. if q→r is false, then q is true and r is false. this means that either p is true and r is false, so that p→r is false, or p and r are both false, so that p→r is true. therefore, p→r could be either true or false.

Explanation:

Brief Explanations

To determine if \( p \to r \) must be false, we analyze the truth values of conditionals. A conditional \( q \to r \) is false only when \( q \) is true and \( r \) is false (by the definition of a conditional: \( A \to B \) is false iff \( A \) is true and \( B \) is false).

Given \( p \to q \) is true, let's consider cases for \( p \):

  • Case 1: If \( p \) is true, then since \( p \to q \) is true, \( q \) must be true (because a true conditional with a true hypothesis has a true conclusion). We already know \( q \) is true (from \( q \to r \) being false) and \( r \) is false. So \( p \) is true and \( r \) is false. But wait, for \( p \to r \), a true hypothesis (\( p \)) and false conclusion (\( r \)) would make \( p \to r \) false? Wait, no—wait, no, let's re - examine. Wait, no, the option B says "in either case, \( p \to r \) is true". Wait, let's re - do the analysis.

Wait, the definition of a conditional \( A \to B \) is: it is false when \( A \) is true and \( B \) is false; otherwise, it is true.

We know \( q \to r \) is false, so \( q = \text{True} \) and \( r=\text{False} \).

Now, \( p \to q \) is true. Let's consider the two possibilities for \( p \):

  1. If \( p=\text{True} \): Since \( p \to q \) is true and \( p \) is true, \( q \) must be true (which matches our knowledge from \( q \to r \) being false). Now, for \( p \to r \), \( p \) is true and \( r \) is false. Wait, that would make \( p \to r \) false? But option B says "in either case, \( p \to r \) is true". Wait, I must have made a mistake.

Wait, no—wait, no, let's re - read option B: "If \( q \to r \) is false, then \( q \) is true and \( r \) is false. This means that either \( p \) is true and \( r \) is false or \( p \) and \( r \) are both false. In either case, \( p \to r \) is true."

Wait, when \( p \) is true and \( r \) is false: \( p \to r \) is false (because true \(\to\) false is false). But when \( p \) is false and \( r \) is false: \( p \to r \) is true (because false \(\to\) false is true). Wait, so there is a contradiction here. Wait, no, maybe my initial analysis of the cases is wrong.

Wait, \( p \to q \) is true. So the possible truth - value combinations for \( p \) and \( q \) are:

  • \( p=\text{False} \), \( q=\text{False} \) (false \(\to\) false is true)
  • \( p=\text{False} \), \( q=\text{True} \) (false \(\to\) true is true)
  • \( p=\text{True} \), \( q=\text{True} \) (true \(\to\) true is true)

But we know from \( q \to r \) being false that \( q = \text{True} \) and \( r=\text{False} \). So we can eliminate the cases where \( q=\text{False} \) (because \( q \) must be true). So the only possible cases for \( p \) and \( q \) (given \( p \to q \) is true and \( q=\text{True} \)) are:

  • \( p=\text{False} \), \( q=\text{True} \)
  • \( p=\text{True} \), \( q=\text{True} \)

Now let's analyze \( p \to r \) for these cases:

  • Case 1: \( p=\text{False} \), \( r=\text{False} \): \( p \to r \) is false \(\to\) false, which is true.
  • Case 2: \( p=\text{True} \), \( r=\text{False} \): \( p \to r \) is true \(\to\) false, which is false.

Wait, but option B says "in either case, \( p \to r \) is true". That seems wrong. Wait, maybe I misread the option. Wait, no, let's check the options again.

Wait, option B: "No, \( p \to r \) is not false. If \( q \to r \) is false, then \( q \) is true and \( r \) is false. This means that either \( p \) is true and \( r \) is false or \( p \) and \( r \) are both false. In either case, \( p \to r \) is true."

Wait, when \( p \) is true and \( r \) is false, \( p \to r \) is false. S…

Answer:

F. No, \( p \to r \) is not necessarily false. If \( q \to r \) is false, then \( q \) is true and \( r \) is false. This means that either \( p \) is true and \( r \) is false, so that \( p \to r \) is false, or \( p \) and \( r \) are both false, so that \( p \to r \) is true. Therefore, \( p \to r \) could be either true or false.