Equivalence Question between when-then statement and if then statement

In summary: This can cause confusion when reading and writing proofs. In summary, the student is trying to prove a problem where they must assume a proposition statement, but is confused about whether to assume "when p is true, then q is true" or "if p is true, then q is true". They also mention potential confusion due to language and translation issues.
  • #1
cbarker1
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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 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
 
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  • #2
Who wrote the book? I'm pretty sure we can assume "if" in those cases, except in case the statement is time-dependent.
 
  • #3
I forgot to add that my professor wrote the problem.
 
  • #4
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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  • #5
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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