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In logic, do the $\Longrightarrow$ and $\rightarrow$ signify different things? Are there contexts where one is more appropriate than the other?

I had believed that the $\Longrightarrow$ was for metalogic, and the $\rightarrow$ was for logic. However, recently, I've noticed $\Longrightarrow$ used more often than $\rightarrow$ in non-metalogical logical contexts.

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    $\begingroup$ Usually $\implies$ is metalinguistic. I've never seen it used as part of the language, but I've heard it some times is. $\endgroup$
    – Git Gud
    Nov 10, 2014 at 19:04
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    $\begingroup$ math.stackexchange.com/questions/630391/… $\endgroup$
    – Asaf Karagila ♦
    Nov 10, 2014 at 19:17
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    $\begingroup$ math.stackexchange.com/questions/68932/… $\endgroup$
    – Asaf Karagila ♦
    Nov 10, 2014 at 19:19
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    $\begingroup$ I'll add to Asaf Karagila's links that A. N. Prior's textbook Formal Logic has parts of it which read like the following: "Rule: Detachment ($\alpha$, D$\alpha$D$\beta$$\gamma$ $\rightarrow$ $\gamma$) and (In all cases the sole rule beside substitution is E-detachment: $\alpha$, E$\alpha$$\beta$ $\rightarrow$ $\beta$. And in my opinion Prior's symbolism comes as clearer here than writing {E$\alpha$$\beta$, $\alpha$} $\vdash$ $\beta$, since the "$\rightarrow$" symbol suggests that one transitions from the left-hand side to the right hand side. $\endgroup$
    – Doug Spoonwood
    Nov 10, 2014 at 19:25
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    $\begingroup$ Does this answer your question? What's the difference between material implication and logical implication? $\endgroup$
    – user1147844
    Feb 23 at 0:26

3 Answers 3

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Long story short, $\rightarrow$ is a logic operator, whereas $\implies$ is a statement (where you know the outcome must be true).

$\rightarrow$ : can have result "false". $\\$ $\implies$ : Always true, by definition cannot be false. Not used as an operator.

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    $\begingroup$ Statements are easily false. $0=1$ is a statement which is demonstrably false in the natural numbers (assuming the consistency of Peano axioms, anyway). Moreover $\psi\rightarrow\varphi$ is a tautology if and only if $\psi\implies\varphi$ when talking about classical propositional calculus. $\endgroup$
    – Asaf Karagila ♦
    Nov 10, 2014 at 20:17
  • $\begingroup$ @AsafKaragila: How do you prove falseness of $0=1$ and in particular why does it rely on the consistency of the Peano axioms? Can't you show $\neg(0=1)$ in any case? Or does it mean more than showing this when you say "demonstrably false". $\endgroup$
    – Nikolaj-K
    Feb 11, 2015 at 14:01
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    $\begingroup$ @Nikolaj: Those are just two constant symbols, nothing more. In a structure which interprets them as the same object, e.g. a singleton, they are equal. Assuming $\sf PA$ is consistent ensures that $\sf PA$ does not prove $0=1$ since it proves the negation of that statement. $\endgroup$
    – Asaf Karagila ♦
    Feb 11, 2015 at 14:06
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The logical definition for "$A\to B$" is equivalent to $\neg A\vee B$:

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"$A\Rightarrow B$" is hereby defined as an $A\to B$ which is always true (tautology).

E.g. "$n>4\to n>2$" is always true, hence it holds "$n>4\Rightarrow n>2$".

The converse does not hold: "$n>2\to n>4$" is an eligible statement, but "$n>2\Rightarrow n>4$" does not hold.

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  • $\begingroup$ I can't think of any mathematical statements for which $\rightarrow$ is true, but $\longrightarrow$ is not. Could you give me an example? $\endgroup$
    – Hal
    Nov 10, 2014 at 19:57
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    $\begingroup$ Using the last example given by emcor, consider "$1>2\to 1>4$" is a valid and true statement since the premise is false, but "$1>2\implies 1>4$" is not a valid implication from a mathematical standpoint. $\endgroup$
    – Cure
    Nov 10, 2014 at 20:07
  • $\begingroup$ Since you define the single line arrow as not being the regular logical implication (A therefore B) but a statement, then what are the use and usefulness of statements like "A→B". Do you have an example? $\endgroup$
    – mins
    Nov 7 at 17:12
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From what I've seen, $\longrightarrow$ and $\implies$ mean material implication, "if then". $\vdash$ and $\therefore$ are used for logical implication. $\implies$ seems to be more common in modern books and $\longrightarrow$ seems to be more common in older books.

Thus $p \implies q$ means that p is a sufficient condition for q and is false precisely when $\neg p \land q$. $p \vdash q$ means q follows from p by axioms, definitions, and theorems.

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