Question

Write the contrapositive of the conditional statement. Determine whether the contrapositive is true or false. If it is false, find a counterexample. If you have a gerbil, then you are a pet owner

Answer 1

The contrapositive is false.

Explanation:

Given conditional statement is :

If you have a gerbil, then you are a pet owner (conditional statement is in the form of if p, then q)

The contrapositive is represented as (if not q, then not p)

So, the contrapositive sentence will be :

If you are not a pet owner, then you do not have a gebril.

This statement is false as if you are not a pet owner then you will not have any animal with you and not only gebril.

Answer 2

Answer: The contrapositive statement :"If you do not have a gerbil, then you are not a pet owner.”

It is false.

Counter example : If you have a dog, then you are a pet owner.

Explanation:

We know that the contrapositive of a statement of the form " If a then b" is "If not a then not b.

Given: The conditional statement is "If you have a gerbil, then you are a pet owner.”

Then the contrapositive statement will be "If you do not have a gerbil, then you are not a pet owner.”

The contrapositive statement is false.

Counter example : If you have a dog, then you are a pet owner.

Means if you area pet owner then it can be any pet not just gerbil.