Definition:Conditional

Definition
The conditional is a binary connective:
 * $p \implies q$

defined as:
 * If $p$ is true, then $q$ is true.

This is known as a conditional statement.

$p \implies q$ is voiced:
 * if $p$ then $q$

or:
 * $p$ implies $q$

We are at liberty to write this the other way round. $q \ \Longleftarrow \ p$ means the same as $p \implies q$.

$q \ \Longleftarrow \ p$ is sometimes known as a reverse implication.

Also known as
A conditional is also referred to as an implication. Both terms are used more or less interchangeably on.

It is also known as:
 * logical implication
 * material implication

but also see the Rule of Material Implication for a more specific usage of the latter term.

A conditional statement is also known as a conditional proposition or just a conditional.

Complement
The complement of $\implies$ does not have a recognised symbol of its own.

However, the complement of $p \implies q$ can of course be written $\neg \left({p \implies q}\right)$.

Truth Function
The conditional connective defines the truth function $f^\to$ as follows:

Fallacies Concerning the Conditional
If we know that $q$ is true, and that $p \implies q$, this tells us nothing about the truth value of $p$. This also takes some thinking about. Here is a plausible example which may illustrate this.

Let $P$ be the statement:
 * $x$ is a whole number divisible by $4$.

Let $Q$ be the statement:
 * $x$ is an even whole number.

It is straightforward to prove the implication $P \implies Q$. (We see that if $P$ is true, that is, that $x$ is a whole number divisible by $4$, then $x$ must be an even whole number, so $Q$ is true.) However, $Q$ can quite possibly be an even number that is not divisible by $4$, for example, $x = 6$. In this case, $Q$ is true, but $P$ is false.

To suppose otherwise is to commit a fallacy. So common are the fallacies that may be committed with regard to the conditional that they have been given names of their own:

Relationship between Inverse, Converse and Contrapositive
Notice that:
 * The inverse of a conditional is the converse of its contrapositive
 * The inverse of a conditional is the contrapositive of its converse
 * The converse of a conditional is the inverse of its contrapositive
 * The converse of a conditional is the contrapositive of its inverse.

Notational Variants
Various symbols are encountered that denote the concept of the conditional:

In mathematics, as opposed to works concerned purely with logic, it is usual to use "$\implies$", as then it can be ensured that it is understood to mean exactly the same thing when we use it in the "mathematical" context. There are other uses in mathematics for the other symbols.

Also see

 * Therefore
 * Because
 * Interderivable (Logical Equivalence)
 * Biconditional