Mathematical Reasoning has less weightage in JEE Main Mathematics section as compared to chapters like Coordinate Geometry and Integral Calculus. However, the questions asked from this chapter require lesser logical thinking and are very easy to score. Read JEE Main Mathematics Syllabus

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Around 1-2 questions are generally asked from this chapter which carry a total of 4 marks. Therefore, the total weightage of Mathematical Reasoning in JEE Main is 1-2%. Some important concepts tested under this chapter are Tautology, Fallacy, and various Mathematical Reasoning Laws. 

Read the article to find notes on Mathematical Reasoning for JEE Main Preparation.

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• ​​JEE Main Study Notes for Differential Calculus

What is Mathematical Reasoning?

• A sentence is considered to be a mathematically reasonable one if it is either true or false, but not both. 
• A sentence is not obligatory, probing, or exclamatory. 
• An open statement is a declarative sentence containing variables if it is turned into a statement when the variables are substituted by some definite meaning. 
• A compound statement is a statement that consists of two statements or more. Each of these declarations is called a compound statement. 
• The word "and" (^) combines the compound statements to call the resulting statement a conjunction indicated as p q q. 
• The compound statement with "And" is valid when all of its component statements are correct.
• A truth table is an overview of truth values of the resulting statements for all the possible assignment of values to the variables displayed in a compound statement.

The truth table given below displays the truth values of p ∧ q ( p and q) and q ∧ p ( q and p) -

• Compound statements p and q are merged through the connective 'OR' (v). Then, the compound statement indicated as p q q is termed as a disjunction. 

The truth table of p ∨ q, q ∨ p is given below -

• The denial of a sentence is known as the negation of the statement. 

The truth table of ~p is given below -

• Negation is not considered as a binary operation. It is, in fact, a unary operation, that is, a modifier.
• There are three kinds of implications -
• “If ….... then” 
• “Only if”
• “If and only if”
• The “if …. then” kind of compound statement is known as a conditional statement. The statement ‘if p then q’ is expressed as p → q or as p ⇒ q.
• p → q also indicates -

• p is enough for q
• q is required for p
• p only if q
• p leads to q
• q if p
• q when p
• if p then q

The truth table for p → q is given below -

• If and when the kind of compound statement is known as biconditional, equivalence or double conditional, it is expressed as p ⇔ q or p ↔ q. This means -

• p is a sufficient and essential condition for q
• q is a sufficient and essential condition for p
• If p then q and if q then p
• q if and only if p

The truth table for p ↔ q or q ↔ p is given below -

• The contrapositive of p → q is ~ q → ~ p.
• The converse of p → q is q → p.

The truth table for p → q is given below - 

• The compound statements that are true for any truth value of their elements are known as tautologies.

The truth table for a tautology ‘p ∨ ~p’, p being a logical statement is given below - 

• The negation of a tautology is known as a fallacy or a contradiction.

The truth table for ‘p ∧ ~ p” which is a fallacy, p being a logical statement is given below -

Must Read:

• JEE Main Study Notes for Trigonometry
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Points to Remember for Mathematical Reasoning

• p ∨ q is true when at least one among p and q is true.
• p ∧ q is true when both p and q are true.
• A tautology is typically true
• A fallacy is typically false.

Given below are some laws that are satisfied by statements - 

• Idempotent Laws: Suppose p is any statement, then, p ∨ p = p and p ∧ p = p.
• Associative Laws: Suppose p, q, and r are any three statements, then, p ∨ (q ∨ r) = (p ∨ q) ∨ r and p ∧ (q ∧ r) = (p ∧ q) ∧ r.
• Commutative Laws: Suppose p and q are any two statements, then, p ∨ q = q ∨ p and p ∧ q = q ∧ p.
• Distributive Laws: Suppose p, q, and r are any three statements, then, p ∧ (q ∨ r) = (p ∧ q) ∨ (p ∧ r) and p ∨ (q ∧ r) = (p ∨ q) ∧ (p ∨ r).
• Identity Laws: Suppose p is any statement, t is a tautology, and c is a contradiction, then, p ∨ t = t, p ∧ t = p, p ∨ c = p and p ∧ c = c.
• Complement Laws: Suppose t is a tautology, c is a contradiction, and p is any statement, then, p ∨ (~p) = t, p ∧ (~p) = c, ~t = c and ~c = t.
• Involution Law: Suppose p is any statement, then, ~(~p) = p.
• De-Morgan’s Law: Suppose p and q are two statements, then, ~(p ∨ q) = (~p) ∧ (~q) and ~(p ∧ q) = (~p) ∨ (~q).

• Two compound statements, S1 and S2, are said to duals of one another if one can be obtained from the other through the replacement of ∧ with ∨, or ∨ with ∧, that is, S∗ (p,q)=p∨q.

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Solved Examples on Mathematical Reasoning

Question 1: What is the contrapositive of the inverse of p ⇒ ~q?

Solution: The inverse of p ⇒ ∼q is ∼ p ⇒ q.

As the contrapositive of p ⇒ q is ∼ q ⇒ p,

Therefore, the contrapositive of ∼ p ⇒ q is ∼ q ⇒ p. 

Question 2: Which of the given statements is the contrapositive of, if two triangles are identical, then, these are similar?

A) if two triangles are not similar, they are not identical

B) If two triangles are not identical, they these are not similar

C) If two triangles are not identical, they are similar

D) If two triangles are not similar, they are identical

Solution: Look at the given statements -

p: Two triangles are identical.

q: Two triangles are similar.

Evidently, the given statement in representative form is p ⇒ q.

Thus, its contrapositive is expressed as ∼ q ⇒ ∼ p

Now,

∼p: two triangles are not identical.

∼q: two triangles are not similar.

Therefore, ~ q ⇒ ~ p: If two triangles are not similar, they are not identical.

Question 3: Suppose p is true and q is false, then which of the statements given below is not true?

A) p ∨ q

B) p ⇒ q

C) p ∧ ( ~q)

D) p ⇒ p

Solution: If p is true and q is false, then p∨q is true, q ⇒ p is true and p ∧ (∼q) is true.

Thus, both p and ∼q are true.

Here, p ⇒ q is not true as a true statement. 

Question 4: What is ~( p ∨ q) ∨ (~p ∧ q) is equivalent to?

Solution: ∼ (p ∨ q) ∨ (∼p ∧ q) = (∼p ∧ ∼q) ∨ (∼p ∧ q) =∼q ∧ ∼(∼ (p ∧ q))

Question 5: Which of the options given below is logically equivalent to ~( ~ p ⇒ q)?

A) p ∧ q

B) p ∧ ~q

C) ~p ∧ q

D) ~p ∧ ~q

Solution: From the table given below, it is clear that ∼ (∼p ⇒ q) is equivalent to ∼p ∧ ∼q.

Question 6: Suppose (p ∧ ~r) ∧ ( ~p / q) is false, write the truth values of p, q and r.

Solution:

Since (p ∧ ∼r) ⇒ (∼p ∨ q) is F.

Then, p = T, q = F, r = F.

Question 7: Suppose p and q are two statements, then what is (p ⇒ q) ⇔ ( ~q ⇒ ~p)?

Solution:

Therefore, the (p ⇒ q) ⇔ ( ~q ⇒ ~p) is a tautology.

Question 8: Suppose each of the given statements is true, then, P ⇒ ~q, q ⇒ r, ~r

A) p is false

B) p is true

C) q is true

D) None of these

Solution: As ∼r is true, r is false. Also, q ⇒ r is true. Thus, q is false.

Hence, a true statement cannot indicate a false one.

p ⇒ q is also true.

Therefore, p is false.

Question 9: Find the negation of the compound proposition given below. 

Suppose the examination is difficult, then I will pass if I study hard.

Solution: Let p: Examination is difficult

q: I shall pass

r: I study hard

Given result, P ⇒ (r ⇒ q)

Now, ∼ (r ⇒ q) = r ∧ ∼q ∼(p ⇒ (r ⇒ q)) = p ∧ (r ∧ ∼q)

The examination is difficult and I study hard but I will not pass.

Question 10: What is the statement p → (p → q) equivalent to?

Solution: p → (q → p) = −p (q → p) = ∼p ∨ (∼q ∨ p)

Since p ∨∼p is always true,

 ∼p ∨ p ∨ q = p → (p ∨ q)

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Tricks to Solve Questions from Mathematical Reasoning

Pro Tip - Use the elimination method whenever you feel stuck in a Mathematical reasoning problem. 

Question 1: Take a look at the following statements -

P: Suman is brilliant

Q: Suman is rich

R: Suman is honest

How can the negation of the statement: Suman is brilliant and dishonest if and only if Suman is rich be expressed as?

Trick to solve this question: Express “Suman is brilliant and dishonest” first. You will get P∧∼R. Then, express “Suman is brilliant and dishonest if and only if Suman is rich” using Q. You will get Q ↔ (P ∧ ∼R). Write the expression of negation from this.

Solution: ∼(Q ↔ (P ∧ ∼R)

Question 2: The statement ~(p ↔ ~q)is ________.

Trick to solve this question: Use the truth table for easily identifying the answer. Find the nature of each element - p, q, and ~q. Then, find p ↔ ~q, ∼(p↔∼q), and p↔q. 

Solution: 

Question 3: What is the Boolean Expression (p ∧ ~q) ∨ q ∨( ~p ∧ q) equivalent to?

Trick to solve this question: Write [(p ∧ ∼q) ∨ q] ∨ (∼p ∧ q) and find its equivalent. Continue shortening the equivalent until you arrive at the correct solution. 

Solution: p ∨ q

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Study Tips for JEE Main Mathematics

1. Make your own formula book that you can refer to as often as possible. 

2. Solve a minimum of 20 questions from Mathematics everyday. 

3. Make use of logical thinking to solve JEE Main Mathematics questions. 

4. Use NCERT, R. D Sharma, and Arihant books for learning and practice. 

5. Solve as many mock tests and previous years’ questions as you can.

The article above comprises all important notes for JEE Main Mathematical Reasoning. Adoption of study tips will help in acing the topic.