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Logical reasoning

Statements

A statement is any sentence that is either true or false, but not both. For example, Austin is a city
in USA; 2× 3 = 10; A triangle has 3 sides.
But these sentences are not statements: Do your homework (a command); Did you get your Math
POT homework? (a question); This flower is more beautiful than that one( an opinion).

Conditional statements

A conditional statement is a statement that can be written in the form “If P then Q,” where P and
Q are sentences, P is the hypothesis and Q is the conclusion. For example, If today is Monday,
then yesterday was Sunday. This is a conditional statement. The hypothesis is "today is Monday."
The conclusion is "yesterday was Sunday."

Converse, Inverse, Contrapositive; Biconditional

For a direct statement : If p, then q

Its converse is : If q, then p
Its inverse is : If not p, then not q
Its contrapositive is : If not q, then not p.
A statement and its contrapositive are logically equivalent, both are true or both are false. The
inverse and converse are logically equivalent, both are true or both are false. If the statement and
its converse are both true, we call this statement biconditional.

Counterexample

An example which proves a statement false. For example, the prime number 2 is a counterexample
to the statement "All prime numbers are odd."

Law of Detachment

In geometry, the law of detachment states that if P, then Q and P is true, then Q must be true.
Keep in mind Law of Detachment works only one direction, if Q is true, one can’t say then P
must be true. For example, If a student has studied more than 8 hours before the test, then he or
she will get a “A”. Law of Detachment gives us “Peter has studied 9 hours, then Peter will get a
A”. But one can’t say “Peter gets a A, then Peter must have studied more than 8 hours”. Maybe
the test is too easy, Peter did not study at all but still gets a A

Law of Syllogism

In geometry, the law of syllogism states that if P, then Q; if Q then R; and P is true, then R must
be true. Keep in mind Law of Syllogism works only one direction, if R is true, one can’t say then

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P must be true. For example, If a student has studied more than 8 hours before the test, then he
or she will get a “A”; If a student gets a “A” in the test, then he or she will get a movie ticket
from the teacher. Law of Syllogism gives us “Peter has studied 9 hours, then Peter will get a
movie ticket from the teacher”. But one can’t say “Peter gets a movie ticket from the teacher,
then Peter must have studied more than 8 hours”. Maybe Peter’s birthday is coming and his
teacher gives him a movie ticket as a gift, Peter did not study at all.

Example 1: Use the statement: If 𝑛 > 3, then 𝑛2 > 9 . Find the converse, inverse, and
contrapositive. Determine if the statements are true or false. If they are false, find a
counterexample.

Solution: The original statement is true.

Its converse is: If 𝑛2 > 9, then 𝑛 > 3. It is false, a counterexample is 𝑛 = −5.
Its inverse is: If 𝑛 ≤ 3, then 𝑛2 ≤ 9 . It is false, a counterexample is 𝑛 = −10.
Its contrapositive is: If 𝑛2 ≤ 9, then 𝑛 ≤ 3. It is true.

Example 2: Use the statement: If it is a rectangle, then it is square. Find the converse, inverse, and
contrapositive. Determine if the statements are true or false.

Solution: The original statement is false.

Its converse is: If it is a square, then it is a rectangle. It is true.
Its inverse is: If it is not a rectangle, then it is not square. It is true.
Its contrapositive is: If it is not square, then it is not rectangle. It is false.

Two-column geometry proofs

Statements

A statement is any sentence that is either true or false, but not both. For example, Austin is a city
in USA; 2× 3 = 10; A triangle has 3 sides.
But these sentences are not statements: Do your homework (a command); Did you get your Math
POT homework? (a question); This flower is more beautiful than that one( an opinion).

Postulates

Some beginning principles in geometry, called postulates, are so basic that they cannot be arrived
at using simpler facts. A postulate is a statement is accepted without proof. For example, “Exactly
one line can be drawn through two points” is a postulate.

Theorems

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Unlike a postulate, a theorem is a generalization that can be proved to be true. “Prove” simply
means presenting a valid argument that uses a set of known facts and logic reasoning to show that
a statement is true. For example, “ In a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the
sum of the squares of the other two sides.” is a theorem.

Definitions

A definition is to make the meaning of a term clear. All geometric definitions are biconditional
statements. For example, “A right triangle is a triangle that has a right angle.” is a definition.

Inductive reasoning

Inductive reasoning involves examining a few examples, observing a pattern, and then assuming
that the pattern will never end. For example, “ Find the ones digit of 22017 by examining the ones
digits of 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , … and observing a pattern and concluding the answer is 2.” is an inductive
reasoning. Inductive reasoning is not a valid method of proof, although it often suggests statements
that can be proved by other methods.

Deductive reasoning

Rather than begin with a few specific examples as is common with inductive processes, deductive
reasoning uses accepted facts (i.e., definitions, postulates, theorems) to reason in a step-by-step
fashion until a desired conclusion is reached.

Some common properties used in geometry proofs

Reflexive Property of Equality. For example: 8=8.

Reflexive Property of Congruence. For example: ∠𝐴𝐵𝐶 ≅ ∠𝐴𝐵𝐶.

Symmetric Property of Equality. For example: If 4 = 𝑥, then 𝑥 = 4.

Symmetric Property of Congruence. For example: If∠𝐴𝐵𝐶 ≅ ∠𝐷𝐸𝐹, then ∠𝐷𝐸𝐹 ≅ ∠𝐴𝐵𝐶.

Transitive Property of Equality. For example: If AB=CD, CD=PQ, then AB=PQ.

Transitive Property of Congruence. For example: If ∠𝐴 ≅ ∠𝐵, ∠𝐵 ≅ ∠𝐶, then ∠𝐴 ≅ ∠𝐶.

Substitution Property. For example: If x=5, x+y=z, then 5+y=z.

Addition Property of Equality. For example, If x=10, then x+3=10+3.

Subtraction Property of Equality. For example, If x=10, then x-4=10-4.

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Multiplication Property of Equality. For example, If x=10, then 𝑥 ∙ 3 = 10 ∙ 3.

𝑥 10
Division Property of Equality. For example, If x=10, then 3 = .
3

1 1
Halves of equals are equal. For example, If AB=CD, a=2 𝐴𝐵,b=2 𝐶𝐷, then 𝑎 = 𝑏.

CPCTC (Corresponding Parts of Congruent Triangles are Congruent). For example, If ∆𝐴𝐵𝐶 ≅
∆𝐷𝐸𝐹, then 𝐴𝐵 ≅ 𝐷𝐸.

Two-Column Proofs

A two-column proof is one common way to organize a proof in geometry. Two-column proofs
always have two columns: statements and reasons. When writing your own two-column proof,
keep these things in mind:
• Number each step.
• Start with the given information.
• You must have a reason for EVERY statement.
• Restrict the “Reasons” to the following types of statements: Given, Definition, Postulate,
Theorem, and Algebraic Property.
• Continue until you are able to write a statement that corresponds to what you needed to prove.

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Example 3: Write a two-column proof for the following:

Given: ∠L is supplementary to ∠M , ∠P is supplementary to ∠O , ∠L≅∠O
Prove: ∠P≅∠M

Proof:
Statements Reasons
1.∠L is supplementary to ∠M , ∠P is 1.Given
supplementary to ∠O
2.𝑚∠𝑀 + 𝑚∠𝐿 = 180° , 𝑚∠𝑃 + 𝑚∠𝑂 = 180° 2. Definition of supplementary angles
3. Substitution Property of Equality
3. 𝑚∠𝑀 + 𝑚∠𝐿 = 𝑚∠𝑃 + 𝑚∠𝑂
4. Given
4. ∠L≅∠O
5. If two angles are congruent, they are
5. 𝑚∠𝐿 = 𝑚∠𝑂 equal in measure
6. 𝑚∠𝑀 + 𝑚∠𝑂 = 𝑚∠𝑃 + 𝑚∠𝑂 6. Substitution Property of Equality

7. 𝑚∠𝑀 = 𝑚∠𝑃 7. Subtraction Property of Equality

8. 𝑚∠𝑃 = 𝑚∠𝑀 8. Symmetric Property of Equality

9. If two angles are equal in measure, they
9. ∠𝑃 ≅ ∠𝑀 are congruent.

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